93 Grand Am starter?

[Gkornecki]

Hi,
I haved a 93 grand am v6 engine says 3300 on it.
In the cold weather here near chicago it just recently stopped starting.
The battery tests at 11.95 volts on my multimeter.
WHen I turn the key I hear a brief surge and then thereafter very little.
I am told that its probably my starter which seems to a possibility when
I look at my haynes manual. Can anyone point me in the right direction
of what the starter looks like and where it is located. This manual for my
car seems to cover a few models and has no specific picture showing
where to find it. Not that I've found anyway.

Thanks,

Greg

p.s. Any further advice besides the starter location is welcome!

[wafrederick]

It is front of the engine,just by the transmission case.It should black with wires going to it.

[GTP Dad]

Are you sure it is the starter. With only 11.95 volts the battery may be too weak to turn the car over properly. Have the battery properly charged and then load tested. If the battery is bad the load test will determine that. Replacing the battery is a lot easier than replacing the starter and a lot cheaper too.

[Woohan]

I would agree, before you spend your cash on a starter, please take the batt to auto zone or pep boys or something and have it tested. It could have a weak cell that keeps the car from cranking. Even keeps it from jumping. had a cadillac that wouldnt start, also the batt would die after a week or so. Even if you charged it and or jumped it the car still would not crank. I would just may a click as the solinoid engaged. That car sat for about 2 months come to find out, the only thing that was wrong was the batt. Even though it was less than a year old the plates inside were shorting out, causing the problem. Changed it out and never had a problem since.

[Slade901]

More than likely your battery is weak. Just like they said, have the battery load tested at Autozone for FREE. Battery usually lasts 3-4 years and they are replaced FREE for 2 years and after that they are usually pro-rated.

I got my battery replaced and forgot to mention them that I got the battery a few years ago. They charged me a new battery price and I came back and told them that I have purchased this battery from a few years back and gave me a pro-rated price which came out half the price.