Starter?
DnaProRacing
03-23-2008, 08:41 PM
I think my starter went today. Headlights still work so its not the battery. i turn the key and get nothing. not even the click you normally hear before it cranks up. tried to bypass the solenoid and all it does is give out a humming type noise. sparks a lil as expected, but doesnt crank. safe to assume the starter itself is shot? starter solenoid? any help/ideas on this? I dont want to dive in and replace the wrong part.
Gary
Gary
Bearwulf
03-24-2008, 01:14 AM
I think my starter went today. Headlights still work so its not the battery. i turn the key and get nothing. not even the click you normally hear before it cranks up. tried to bypass the solenoid and all it does is give out a humming type noise. sparks a lil as expected, but doesnt crank. safe to assume the starter itself is shot? starter solenoid? any help/ideas on this? I dont want to dive in and replace the wrong part.
Gary
What year & engine?
Gary
What year & engine?
jeffcoslacker
03-24-2008, 08:50 AM
A couple of things you can try...
Rock the car back and forth against the park pawl while holding the key over to start...
Move the shifter around while holding the key over to start, try starting in nuetral too
Give the wiring at the starter a little twist/push as someone holds the key over, including the heavy copper cable that runs down from the solenoid to the starter motor (this is where mine failed...you can only see about 1/2" inch of it...push down a bit on it, started right up)
Give the starter motor a few good whacks with a hammer while someone holds the key over
Rock the car back and forth against the park pawl while holding the key over to start...
Move the shifter around while holding the key over to start, try starting in nuetral too
Give the wiring at the starter a little twist/push as someone holds the key over, including the heavy copper cable that runs down from the solenoid to the starter motor (this is where mine failed...you can only see about 1/2" inch of it...push down a bit on it, started right up)
Give the starter motor a few good whacks with a hammer while someone holds the key over
DnaProRacing
03-24-2008, 09:00 AM
92 chevy lumina z34 6cyl dohc LQ1 front wheel drive
I just learned that i have to remove the engine oil cooler to get to the starter on this car. but once i get to it, it is relatively easy to remove. the humming noise i was told was the starter itself, the solenoid is not doing its job, sending the crank to the flywheel. sound like im on the right track?
Gary
I just learned that i have to remove the engine oil cooler to get to the starter on this car. but once i get to it, it is relatively easy to remove. the humming noise i was told was the starter itself, the solenoid is not doing its job, sending the crank to the flywheel. sound like im on the right track?
Gary
jeffcoslacker
03-24-2008, 09:08 AM
Depends on how you are jumping it...
If you are crossing the small primary lead to the large positve cable and getting a hum with no solenoid click, it's the solenoid windings humming...if the you are jumping straight to the motor windings with power, the starter motor windings are making the hum...but if that were the case, it means the starter motor is jammed or the car's motor is stuck somehow, because it would make the starter turn otherwise...a big load like a jammed starter would get your jumper red hot very fast too, a solenoid that couldn't pop out would less of a load...
If you are crossing the small primary lead to the large positve cable and getting a hum with no solenoid click, it's the solenoid windings humming...if the you are jumping straight to the motor windings with power, the starter motor windings are making the hum...but if that were the case, it means the starter motor is jammed or the car's motor is stuck somehow, because it would make the starter turn otherwise...a big load like a jammed starter would get your jumper red hot very fast too, a solenoid that couldn't pop out would less of a load...
DnaProRacing
03-24-2008, 09:14 AM
either way I need to replace the starter/solenoid. which is what I'll be doing today with a fair amount of profanity. Ill let you know what the outcome is. thanks for your help.
Gary
Gary
jeffcoslacker
03-24-2008, 09:49 AM
I have some profane incantations that may help if you find yourself uninspired...
DnaProRacing
03-24-2008, 09:57 AM
raised in NY, its an art form there...
Gary
Gary
DnaProRacing
03-25-2008, 07:50 AM
Had to have it towed to the shop. upon inspection, there was absolutely no room whatsoever to get the thing out. have to drain the oil and coolant cuz of so many hoses/wires/oil filter and engine oil cooler in the way. I really dont have that kind of patience. $50 bucks to tow it. $150 for the starter/solenoid and $140 for labor. my thin patience is really starting to cost me. enjoying my coffee right now, waiting for them to call and say "found another problem". grrrrrrr
savannaz34
03-26-2008, 11:05 AM
Had to have it towed to the shop. upon inspection, there was absolutely no room whatsoever to get the thing out. have to drain the oil and coolant cuz of so many hoses/wires/oil filter and engine oil cooler in the way. I really dont have that kind of patience. $50 bucks to tow it. $150 for the starter/solenoid and $140 for labor. my thin patience is really starting to cost me. enjoying my coffee right now, waiting for them to call and say "found another problem". grrrrrrr
starter is actually pretty easy to change. just remove oil filter(very little oil actually comes out) that coolant hose moves just enough,gm was nice and left lots of wire to have the starter hang below so its its easy to disconnect and reconnect the wires,take about half to 3/4 of an hour.the hardest part was trying not to brake the plastic cover
starter is actually pretty easy to change. just remove oil filter(very little oil actually comes out) that coolant hose moves just enough,gm was nice and left lots of wire to have the starter hang below so its its easy to disconnect and reconnect the wires,take about half to 3/4 of an hour.the hardest part was trying not to brake the plastic cover
DnaProRacing
03-26-2008, 11:22 AM
They actually fought my starter for 4 hours. there was so much "brittle" stuff in the way. they ended up replacing a ton of wiring and a hose they broke trying to get it out. Cost me $358.24 with towing. yes that is expensive for a starter, but I got a lifetime warranty. dont really need that cuz the first starter lasted 16 years lol. but its nice to have. same warranty on my radiator and altenator.
jeffcoslacker
03-26-2008, 01:25 PM
Damn...I can change a 3.1 starter from the top with three tools and 20 minutes...
Someone tell me again how easy those DOHC are to work on?
J/K...;)
Someone tell me again how easy those DOHC are to work on?
J/K...;)
DnaProRacing
03-26-2008, 06:11 PM
Easy to work on. you just have to lift the motor, climb thru the trunk, and remove the seats just to change the cig lighter...
savannaz34
03-26-2008, 10:26 PM
Easy to work on. you just have to lift the motor, climb thru the trunk, and remove the seats just to change the cig lighter...
i almost cant quit laughing,lol,
u got that right,good one
as for those mechanics,if that was me,i would grab the bastards and try to make there head fit where the starter goes,and take my car for a test drive around town.(in other words,i would not be paying for four hours labour)
as for the lifetime warranty.(life of the car)they wouldnt be living as long as my car will.you get what im saying.
(I BET THAT IM CRAZIER THAN YOU ARE)LOL:banghead:
i almost cant quit laughing,lol,
u got that right,good one
as for those mechanics,if that was me,i would grab the bastards and try to make there head fit where the starter goes,and take my car for a test drive around town.(in other words,i would not be paying for four hours labour)
as for the lifetime warranty.(life of the car)they wouldnt be living as long as my car will.you get what im saying.
(I BET THAT IM CRAZIER THAN YOU ARE)LOL:banghead:
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