starter

how can you tell when your starter is toast?? does it not work at all or what?? cause mine is now putting out a constant sound.. it sounds like its really trying but its not chugging like it normally does..

geez its so hard to describe things.. i need a sound clip..

I also got a question about the starter sorry D-bo. But is the starter thing that spins is it suppose to come out and spin?

the starter is toast if: the battery is fully charged, and when you turn the key, you hear a click, humming, or nothing at all. to be sure, push start teh car (assuming its a manual), if teh car runs fine when push started, the ignition is good, and the alternator should be good, just check the voltage over the next couple hours driving.

if its been really cold there, it might just be frozen up, try putting it in a garage for a bit, or wait for warmer weather.

yes good info. Does a starter come out and spin? i dont think it does. Sorry how do you push start a manual. I know the hole concept on how it works but forget how. I just got my first manual car so it would be nice to now the correct way. Dont you just like pop clutch or something while its moving while turning the key? I totally forgot how to do it, i watched one of my friends do it years ago to his mustang when it wouldnt start. But have since forgot.

lol, yeah, you just put the key in to unlock the ignition, and make sure it is in the on position, then, if your by yourself, pop it in noodle, open the door, and push it wiht one hand on the wheel, the other on the door, until you get about 5 mph, then dukes of hazzard it, jump in, shut the door, clucth in, first gear, drop clutch, and hope it starts, if it bogs and stops, do it again, but faster!

as for s13drifters comment, yes, the solenoid on the starter is made to push the pinion out to engage the flywheel, and then pull back so its not continually running when the car is.

its been just above freezing here for the past week so i thought things might be a little more thawed.. maybe my battery is running low.. i'll see what i can do..

o now i see what he means by spinning lol...he made it sound like some super cool mechanism that opens up and does tricks lol.