Ok, I got my new car back.

only one problem.

When I go to start the car sometimes the starter jsut clicks like the batter is dead, but if I rock the car in gear a bit it will start.

problem started after a high speed collision with a rabbit that ended up bouncing under the middle of my car. Not sure if its related.


It doesnt do this every time either.. seems irratic, but only happened when it sat for several hours and when it was cold.


I figure the gear on the starter is stripped or something and I will need to replace the starter, but I dont know how hard this is either.

but maybe its a wire that was knoked loose??

Any advice will help, thanks

 

Take it out and see if there is any metal chunks missing from the starter where it goes into the bellhousing, i had that happen to me and the chunk got stuck in between the teeth and the car would just click. Pulled it out and started right up. Make sure everything is tight too. The starter is just two bolts, cant miss it.

 

so its like a 10 minute thing to check it? (after the 20 minutes to get it high enough to get under it)

 

basically, its on the passenger side next to the oil pan

 

Thanks

hope when I go and get it from where I left it it starts right up, cause that thing is hard to get rocken on your own in gear.

 

Check the wiring to the starter. Disconnect the negative from the battery first as one of the leads to the starter comes from the battery, the other is the signal wire. See if either wire is damaged, loose or corroded.

 

Your problem could be three things or any combination of the 3. The starter could be drawing too much current which happens to older starters as the windings become shorted together. You could have a bad or dirty connection from either the positive or negative side of the battery (through several points) eventually down to the starter. ie the negative strap from the body to the frame. The negative cluster on the passenger inner fender. Or the battery could be weak and cold temperatures reduce cranking ability making a weak battery even worse. Since you can eventually get the starter to crank, you don't have "chunks" in it. Many motors eventually exhibit "bad" spots that cause it not turn. Jarring or rotating can sometimes get it past the bad spot. I suspect you have a bad starter that only gets exasorbated by the other conditions I mentioned.

 

Before you start messing with the starter make sure you DISCONNECT THE BATTERY.

 

So true! We found out the hard way on a LT install. Nothing like an open LT starting 5 inches from your ear while connecting a starter!

Sounds like it is doing the same thing mine did when it went out. I replaced it with the LT4. Cost me $150 at wholesale from the dealer.

 

After my long tube install i went to connect the battery and one of the starter wires was grounded out. The car was in gear and when i connected the battery the car moved forward and tipped over the Jack stands. Almost hit the front garage wall. I ruined the jack stands, luckily all the damage was underneath the car.

Now my car is always in neutral when i am working around the starter or reconnecting the battery after taking the starter out.

 

The car only has 9000 miles on it. would that make a difference?
When it does turn it fires right up cant even hear it crank, and hte no start is a sparatic thing, only did it twice of the 30 or so times I have started it. Just hate to be out and have it need me to rock the car... cuase its pretty hard to get it rocking enough for the engine to move a bit.