Car starts up funny

Hi

1996 Taurus 6 Cyl 104k miles

Two nights ago it rained heavily where I live. My car was parked outside. The next day I go to start up my car and it starts with the slow whirring noise, sort of what it sounds like when you are trying to start a car with a very low/dead battery. However, it started, and I was off thinking it would go away.

Next time, it didn't go away and kept making that noise before it would start up. I am thinking to myself, "This cannot be the battery, I just had it replaced 2 months ago". But, since it rained, do you think that there is water in my spark plug, causing the car to start up with a delay?

After the car starts, however, it performs as usual.

I am afraid to drive places thinking that the car may suddenly die.

Help, please!

Thanks,
Joe

You should check, clean, and tighten your battery connections on through the starter solenoid and the starter terminal. Make sure the starter is not loose in it's mounting. If this does not fix problem, it sounds like the starter may be going. My guess would be that the rain and your problem were just coincidental.

My car now does not turn over. However, when I go to turn the ignition all the way, all I hear is a 'click' noise but the engine does not start. Is this my starter or my starter solinoid?

You can check your solenoid by putting a test lamp on the starter side (the battery side should light at all times and the starter side should light only when the ignition key is turned to the start position) and having someone turn the key to start. If the lamp lights your solenoid is probably ok and the starter is most likely faulty. You can also short the two large terminals of the solenoid with a screwdriver or something similar and the starter should turn the engine over if it is in working order. This is a more dangerous method and I wouldn't recommend it for someone not fully familiar with the consequences.