Hey everybody~

Tonight I got in my car ('95 Formula 6-speed), put the clutch to the floor, and turned the key like usual, expecting it to start. All it did was click. It wasn't the 'dead battery' click, as my lights came on with no problem. I pushed harder on the clutch pedal, and turned the key again... same click. Finally, I let off the clutch, pressed it back down, turned the key again, and it started right up, with no hesitation.

This isn't the first time it's done it, but it is the first time it took 3 tries. Occassionally, it takes 2 tries. The battery is fine, I had it checked last month.

I seem to recall a noise in the winter that my brother mentioned sounded like the starter wasn't 'releasing' after the car was started, but it hasn't been making that noise in the summer.

Any thoughts?

Fred

 

i had the same problem twice. The first time it was the switch in the clutch pedal that only lets the car start when the clutch is engaged. That was only like 5 bucks and 10 mins to install. Then the second time it did it there was bad connection on the starter solenoid.

 

Wonderful! I kind of wondered if the clutch sensor might be the problem since sometimes I can shift my weight on the pedal and it fixes the problem. I'll give that a try! Thanks!

Fred

 

I replaced the sensor, and it worked fine for a good while. Now, I go turn the key and it just clicks again. I think it sounds like the noise is coming from somewhere different. My brother will be here soon to help hear where the noise is coming from, but on first impressions does this sound like the starter is shot?

Edit: We'll probably pull it today anyway just to go test it, but I'm curious what anyone might think.


Fred

 

Could be the ignition switch under the dash, on top of the steering column.

Next time it doesn't start, keep holding the key in the start position and try adjusting the tilt of your wheel and see if it starts. If it starts when you change the tilt, the switch is bad.

 

I tried to start it and noticed that I have NO power. I can't even use my keyless to unlock the car. So I hook it up to my other car to jump it, and let it charge as high as it will go. It goes from 13 to dead as soon as I turn the key. My other car is a '76 Olds w/ a 455, so I know it's getting enough current.

When I tried to start it earlier today, I noticed the power was somewhat low. I've been fighting a drain somewhere for a while.

I'm stumped. Is it the battery? Is it the starter? Alternator?....

Fred

 

Well if it were me I would take the battery out and charge it on a battery charger, then I would put it back in the car and start it then put a voltmeter on the battery to see what voltage the alt is putting out at idle... Good Luck

 

Sounds like a bad cell in the battery....time for a new one. Go to Autozone and they will check the starting system for free.

 

You were right. As soon as I get a new battery, I can check out the rest of the system and see if it's busted too.

Thanks!!

Fred

 

My battery caused the same thing, it went from starting fine to flat out dead within 30mins. Lovely trip to wal-mart at 2am so I could get it home.

 

Well.... I'm stumped again. I took my battery back to where I got it (Interstate battery, still under warranty). I bought it from my mechanic. He's a 2nd generation mechanic, he knows his stuff.

He tested my battery. He charged it on a quick charger, he charged it on a trickle charger. He ran it through his load tester 4 times, and even started a grain truck with it. The battery is fine, even after AutoZone's machine said it was bad. When I tested it there, it was essentially dead, though.

He charged it back up for me, I put it back in the 'bird, and the car fired right up. Well, I didn't just toss it back in. There was a little corrosion on the terminal that I cleaned off... nothing major.

So now I get to wait until it dies on me again to try to figure out what's wrong. Maybe the gremlin that's doing this moved south for the winter and I won't have to deal with him until Spring.

Fred

 

Did you ever check the Alternator?

 

I haven't checked anything past the battery. Since the whole fit it threw that last time, it hasn't given me any trouble at all.

I'm probably going to pull the alternator and the starter and get them checked out. It's pretty stupid to wait on it to break again.

Fred

 

Since my car is going through all this, I took the starter and alternator to be tested.

The starter tested fine, but the alternator didn't. I've got a new one sitting on the workbench, ready to install when the car gets put back together. Thanks everyone, for your help and advice.

Fred