Car won't crank (sometimes)

[Tk_Neo]

I have a 94 camry which is giving problems lately. It has happened thrice now that i would park my car outside a store and when i get back in 10-15 minutes, it jut won't crank.

I got my battery and my alternator checked 2 weeks ago. They said the negative terminal was loose, which is why it wasn't charging properly and they fixed it. Last night the same things happened. The battery looked all right because i could turn on everything. It just won't crank. I had to leave the car over there. Tonight i called the AAA guys to tow it to my apartment. When i got the car back in the parking spot, i gave it another try and started on. I was little hard because the battery appeared to be dischaged a bit but other than that it was fine.

Anyone had any idea what's going on. I am short on money and can't really afford it to show it to a mechanic right now?

Thanks for your time!!!

[AccordCodger]

Glitchy starter solenoid, maybe.

[AccordCodger]

Oh - can we just clarify something: At times, people on the forums say "crank" when they mean "fire." When you hit the starter, does the motor turn over? If not, is there any noise at all?

[Tk_Neo]

Originally Posted by AccordCodger

Oh - can we just clarify something: At times, people on the forums say "crank" when they mean "fire." When you hit the starter, does the motor turn over? If not, is there any noise at all?

There is no noise at all.

[Brian R.]

It is most likely your starter solenoid contacts need to be replaced.

From the FAQ thread:

http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...86&postcount=4

[MikeHollywood]

Hey do you hear a loud click from underhood (starter Click?) could be a few things as safty switch etc or as above starter contacts wear out alot on these ND starters (By the way Iam new to the site hello everyone) I own and run a import repair shop in VA Anyone need help let me know

[Brian R.]

Welcome to the AF!

[tarunkapoor]

I have given my car to the mechanic. He would take a look into it and get the starter rebuilt if required. I will keep you guys posted.

Thanks a lot for your replies.

[Tk_Neo]

Originally Posted by tarunkapoor

I have given my car to the mechanic. He would take a look into it and get the starter rebuilt if required. I will keep you guys posted.

Thanks a lot for your replies.

Well. I managed to figure out that the battery was ok and it was the starter that was the problem. The brushes were worn out. The new one was costing a lot of money and the re-building too... so my mechanic got one for 50$ from a junkyard which has a 6 months replacement warranty. And then he charged 60$ for labor, which also includes picking up the car from my apartment garage and dropping it back.

Thanks for your replies.

[AccordCodger]

With all due respect to your mechanic, bad brushes are unlikely to work one time, then fail, then work again. The starter solenoid is attached to the starter, so I imagine what he got from the junkyard was the whole assembly, including the solenoid. Replacing that did the trick.

Still, the total price you paid isn't at all bad, so I'd be happy if I were you.

[tarunkapoor]

Originally Posted by AccordCodger

With all due respect to your mechanic, bad brushes are unlikely to work one time, then fail, then work again. The starter solenoid is attached to the starter, so I imagine what he got from the junkyard was the whole assembly, including the solenoid. Replacing that did the trick.

Still, the total price you paid isn't at all bad, so I'd be happy if I were you.

Yeah, he replaced the whole assembly. I asked him if he could just change the brushes, but he gave some reason and as the price was ok, i didn't bother much.

[Tk_Neo]

The starter from the junkyard worked fine for 2 months.

Now the same problem again...Wouldn't crank.....no noise... The lights come out bright and shiny when i turn the key so the battery has lots of juice in it. .....I called AAA the other day, the guy tried jump starting it and it worked.......Don't see a reason why a battery would work from jump starting when it is looks fine.....

....so i was wondering if the starter has gone bad again.....or can it be the connection from the battery (as mentioned in my first post).....??

[Mike Gerber]

....so i was wondering if the starter has gone bad again.....or can it be the connection from the battery (as mentioned in my first post).....??

Most likely the starter again. Actually, the contacts in the starter solenoid have also gone bad in the replacement starter. This is a common problem. You said you got a 6 month warranty on that starter from the salvage yard. Take it back to the mechanic and let him get another one. There should be no charge to you.

Mike

[Brian R.]

You have a good starter with bad contacts. Pulling and disassembling the starter is easy. Just buy some contacts and clean it up and replace the contacts. That is the only way to be sure (short of buying a new starter) that you have a reliable starter.

[ProMan]

Possibilities:
1. The starter from JY has the same problem as your old one. And it's very possible that the contacts in the solinoid are worn. If you can take the solinoid cover off, you can check visually.

2. The neutral switch. It's possible that the contacts in it is not good and build up resistance which causes voltage drop. In turn, the solinoid becomes weak and not able to push the contacts in it together to make a solid contact. My car used to have the same problem. Even with a rebuilt starter, the problem came back shortly. I measured the voltage at the key column, it's 12v, but at solinoid terminal, it's only 9v. I re-routed the wire directly to the starter 3 years ago and the problem never happened again.