I believe it is the starter

I have a 1999 Chevy Lumina. I believe the starter motor is bad. I have checked the battery connections, and even changed the battery. The starter "bumps" (sounds as though it is cranking, but does not turn over). Am I correct in assuming that this is the starter.

Secondly I was wondering how much of an adventure is changing the starter is going to be. I have changed the spark plugs, and that wasn't exactly what I would call fun. I did the happy dance when I found the power steering reservoir, my friends laughed at me when I said I couldn't find it, that is until I popped the hood and said okay smarty you find it! I guess what I am wondering is am I in for a pleasant surprise, or another misguided adventure?


I do like this car! :grinno:

Thank you for any advise

20

Starter is pretty easy to access, being right on the front with room to work...you might wanna try just removing and cleaning up all the wiring contacts to it first before condemning the starter as bad...mine was doing something similar a while back, and I scuffed all the connections and put it back together and it's been fine since (fingers crossed)

Of course remove the neg cable from the battery first, so you don't end up arc welding down there....I hook the cables to a battery charger set on it's lowest amperage while I do stuff like that so I don't loose the memory functions of the ECM and lock out the stereo, etc when it's powered down...

Thank you very much for the information. I am going to do that as soon as I get home this evening. I'll let you guys know how it goes.

20

Okay I got a new starter but I did not take the wires off the old one so I am a little lost.

I kno wthe small wire goes on the small post (purple wire)

There is a braided wire from the starter housing to the sileniod going to a larger post. The there is a bare post on the silenoid.

I have a duel red and orange wire that goes on the bare post, this is the postive.

The question is where does the other wire go (It is a ground wire I am sure) If I attach it to the post with the braided wire, when i hook up the neg battery cable the fan kicks on) The ignition is off and the key are removed. The vehicle will not start just get a clicking.

Any idead did I get a bad starter?

One more thing the back wire had a tail on the eyelet, the eyelet is not broke but the tail thing is. It looked like just a holder thing (was inmy way and broke it)

any ideas

20

On mine both large lugs go on the same post, overlapping each other. The post with the braided cable gets nothing. There is no ground wire to the starter...it gets it's ground through the case from contact with the engine block.

Starter is working Thank you very much for your help.