Starter is dying

[bogart219]

Originally Posted by wlkjr

I'd go with replacing the starter and get it over with.

That is what I'm going to do. Will report back how I made out. Thanks!

[richtazz]

As Wally stated, just replace the starter. Your symptoms could be a starter drive or solenoid, replace the whole unit and be done with it.

[bogart219]

Will do

[bogart219]

Well I put on another starter and that was the problem. Autozone wanted
$75 for one. I just got one at the boneyard for $35 - 30 day guarentee. Most of you guys kept saying to chnage the starter out and be done with it. I guess I had a bout of swapitis. You know, fear of changing out parts until you hit the right one. If you have a newer vehicle that you plan on keeping a while its not as painful although it can still hurt in the pocketbook. This GP my kid is driving is falling apart and I'm just trying to keep on the road so he can get to work and back. When we save up some money we will get another car for him so my headaches can continue. Thanks again guys for all the help

[wlkjr]

Originally Posted by bogart219

Well I put on another starter and that was the problem. Autozone wanted
$75 for one. I just got one at the boneyard for $35 - 30 day guarentee. Most of you guys kept saying to chnage the starter out and be done with it. I guess I had a bout of swapitis. You know, fear of changing out parts until you hit the right one. If you have a newer vehicle that you plan on keeping a while its not as painful although it can still hurt in the pocketbook. This GP my kid is driving is falling apart and I'm just trying to keep on the road so he can get to work and back. When we save up some money we will get another car for him so my headaches can continue. Thanks again guys for all the help

If you keep the repairs under $100 a month, you are probably ahead of the game. With care these things will last a long time.

[tblake]

wlkjr, 320,000 miles!! Wow, Mines gonna make that too someday. I love my car WAY too much to ever want to sell it. Plus I like the 97-03 body style WAY better than the 04-up. No offence anyone.

[wlkjr]

Originally Posted by tblake

wlkjr, 320,000 miles!! Wow, Mines gonna make that too someday. I love my car WAY too much to ever want to sell it. Plus I like the 97-03 body style WAY better than the 04-up. No offence anyone.

That was a year ago. Today it has 336,000 with the help of Bob and Rich and some other forum members.

[Andy943100]

Well, I cant believe I have to post here again. It has been about a month and a half and the car has been starting fine, up until about last week. Now I am back to clicking until it starts. It is a brand new starter so I can't imagine that being my issue, but if it comes down to it.... I guess that is why I got the lifetime warrante.

Last week, I started to notice that after sitting a couple days (in cold outside) the first start would take a couple clicks. Today delivering pizzas in the pouring rain during the super bowl <it sucked, I am a huge football fan> The car was as bad as ever. Almost every time I got in and started it, it had to click a couple times before starting.

I dont have a volt meter to really test the wires, but due to it giving more problems in the rain than ever before, I am kind of thinging I have bad power wires.

Where do I start to figure this out. I know I read through the postings here with Bogart, and someone mentioned that the main battery wires tend to rot from the inside out. Is it worth it/possible to change the terminal wires? What about the few other wires all tied into the starter? What do they do? Could they be the problem? Could I be looking at relay issues? Could I just have gotten another bad starter?

I appreciate any help. I am getting lost here. I am really tired of dealing with all the issues on this thing and constantly putting money into it. Piece by piece this thing is going to be a new car. I've just never had good luck with a GM. (besides this I am also developing a trans issue, and have already fixed a long list of problems and neglected maintinance) If that little 3.1 didnt run so good I would have given up a long time a go.

Thanks
Andy

[bogart219]

Hello andy,
Getting tortured again I see. I know the feeling. I'll make a few suggestions that I have gathered on this forum that hopefully will help. First off, the clicking noise you are hearing got to be coming from the starter no doubt. It sounds like the solenoid is engaging but the starter is not getting enough voltage from the battery to turn over. It appears at this point it is either the battery or the cable from the battery to the starter. If when this happens, if you could have someone move around the cable from the batt to the starter and see if it starts. I'll state the obvious, make sure your battery is good, (autozone free load test), alternator is charging properly and make sure nothing is draining your batt when you shut the car off. Even though the starter is new, it could still have a problem with it. If that batt cable looks even a little corroded, maybe thats the place to start. You might just have to use the process of elimination. Intermittant problems on cars can be a bear to figure out. There are alot smarter guys on this board that maybe can give you better direction. This is all I could come up with at this time. Let us know how you made out.Good luck!

[Andy943100]

Thanks for the reply... I had an Advance check the battery and altenator. Both checked out fine. AS FAR AS I KNOW there is no drain on the battery when the car is off (because it always does eventually start).

When it does click I agree that it sounds like the selinoid is hitting, just the starter not turning.

I will check that main power wire/replace it if possible when I get a decent day. Right now it is 35 degrees and pouring.

[richtazz]

The fact that you put a boneyard starter in it is where I'd start.

[bogart219]

Originally Posted by richtazz

The fact that you put a boneyard starter in it is where I'd start.

Rich, I believe andy said it was a brand new starter