Well today after I got done doing some work on the car, I went to start it to pull out of my driveway then parked it in the driveway. Then just minutes later I went to try and start it to take it for a spin and it wouldn't start. Key in the ON postition I can hear the fuel pump priming, but then go to start it and get one loud CLICK. Pulled into the garage, tested the battery I get 12V or so across, I just had it replaced. Tried jumping it with the battery out of my dad's car doesn't start either just the click. All electrical stuff in the car works perfect. So I'm guessing the battery is OK but I need to replace the starter??

A little history on my car: it's been having hard starting problems for a while now (slow cranking) that I've traced down to either a bad check valve in the fuel pump or a leaky fuel injector. Could it be I was straining the starter all this time and now it just went?

 

yeah its most likely the starter. Mine does that every now and then now.

You can try hitting it with a hammer are keep hitting the key to start a bunch of times to try and get it to start if you have to move it.

BTW you can take it to the parts store and they will test it and make sure that is what it is before you buy a new one.

I would look for a used one if i was you, around here they are around $300 or something crazy like that

 

I did the hammer test (another friend told me I should try it) I'm not sure exactly how it works but I jacked the car up, nailed the starter a few times with the hammer and it didn't help.

I will try to get my hands on a starter ASAP. While I'm at it should I upgrade to an LT4 or will a stock LT1 be ok?

Thanks for your help.

 

i dont know i use a stock one..but mine is going out after about 1 year

 

Also just thought I would add... when I try to start the car and it's just a click the headlights dim... and the ABS light turns on for some reason. Don't know if that could help diagnose but I just thought I would throw it in.

Just ordered the starter today I will be getting it tomorrow hopefully this will take care of it.

 

Ok another weird thing today I took my car out, it had been sitting for 2 weeks. It started up fine in my garage (took a few more seconds of cranking but started) then once again I backed up into my driveway which is on an incline and left it for a copuple of minutes. And I came back to start it and it cranked and cranked but didn't start then tried again, it cranked and finally started but idled at like 500 RPM and sounded like it was running on 4 cylinders so I shut it off again.

I thought my starter might be going out again like it was last year (when I first made this thread) but it's a brand new starter that the car just sat for the winter with.

Anyyway so I let down the e-brake and slowly let the car come down and it started instantly (push start) and ran fine after that.
Also today I parked it a couple of times (had to do some things) and every time it stared right up

Just wondering what you guys make of this?

I don't think it's the starter since it's new. Battery is good.
As far as fuel is concerned the fuel pump was replaced recently. I did fuel pressure tests last summer, was suspecting maybe a leaky injector since the fp tends to bleed off rather quickly after I shut it down.
Could it be spark related? Any tests you recommend to track down the problem?

Thanks in advance.

 

after you get it to start with the starter do you hear any weird/different noises..

i am wondering if the spring on the starter isn't letting it disengage.

 

Take the battery cables off and clean them really good - also, clean the
battery terminals off. Next, trace all ground straps and ensure that they
are all tight - if it were me, I'd remove all ground straps and clean all
the base connections and the ring terminals (i.e. - make sure you have
"clean" metal showing). After you're done, connect the battery cables
back up.

I did this a couple of weeks ago and only took about 30 minutes.

 

sl2racer - no stange noises apart from the fact that like I said when it did eventually start that second time it sounded rough and running on 4 cylinders but otherwise no.

caldercay - thanks actually someone suggested that a while ago I had fogotten about it but I will get around to it. What's the best thing for cleaning battery trminals and ground?

Also, just to clarify: The initial problem that I had last year when I first started this thread was slow cranking and eventually no cranking and hence the car didn't start in my driveway. I have since replaced the starter and it fixed the problem.

today is a different problem I backed out onto my driveway and the car was cranking quickly but not starting (eventually started but ran like crap) Push start got it fired up right away.

Thanks again.

 

I used two things: one of those copper bristle "toothbrush" thingys you
get at the auto parts store. For the ring terminals and where i could
at the grounding locations, I used a very fine-grained electrical file.

Dont forget to do the positive straps.