94 Buick Skylark, intermittent starting issues... Help!

[A_Bartle]

I have a 1994 Buick Skylark with the 2.3 L Quad four engine with 165,000 miles on it. About a month ago, every once in a while when I would start the car, the starter would make a noise like it was not disengaging after the engine started. It sounded the same as when a person tries to start a car that is already started. It would only last a few seconds and go away. This problem increased in frequency, and finally one day the car would not start at all (turn the key, nothing... but I had power). I crawled under the car and tapped on the starter, and it fired right up. Another time it would not start and tapping the starter did not help. This time I pulled a little on the serpentine belt and then it started up. I decided it was time to replace the starter, and found one at a used parts yard that had a 1 year warranty. I replaced the starter and the car fired right up, so I thought my problems were solved. However, after the car sat for a couple of days, it would not start again. There was plenty of power, lights & dash lit up fine. I took the car out of park and let it roll down the hill a bit, put it back in park, and it fired right up (but I heard the familiar "squeal" again like the old starter used to do). I went to a local auto parts store and they assured me that it was not the battery, it had to be an electrical problem. I checked and cleaned the ground connections and the car went several days working fine (building up a false security with me) and then today it would not start again. I opened the door, put the car in neutral, pushed the car a little bit with my foot , put it back in park and it started up.

Does this pattern point to anything in particular? Could I by chance have gotten another bad starter? Is there a "starter relay" somewhere that I need to check?

Any suggestions or help would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Art

[Bassasasin]

Not exactly sure what your discribing, and I realize its hard to put it in text.

Did you mean the starter motor would not spin sometimes, or never kick at all.

Assuming you have good parts.

If it never spins, check your large cable for corrosion and condition on both ends. If that seems ok, disconnect the large wire and put a trouble light on the small wire and see if it lights every time you try a start. This will allow you to try it alot and not wear out the starter.

In the case of it spins but doesnt engage, could there be a tooth missing on the flywheel?
Often if a tooth is missing it's found where the car naturally always seems to stop and the starter often finds it. I have heard if this is true the flywheel can be unbolted and rotated a quarter turn and avoid the bad tooth.

Good Luck

[A_Bartle]

Wow, I hope that is not the case, as unbolting the flywheel and changing the location sounds like it's over what I can do myself. Thanks for the input!

Art

[junk yard doggie]

Hi Art

I read your post. I don't know, it sounds like a strange one. You could have some missing teeth on the flywheel as part of the problem. But that still dosen't explain the no crank issue. I returned your private message. Check that relay and ground wire I mentioned.

My good car has the quad 4 too. I'm sure you know all so well, how auful that was to get to the starter. My parts car has the v6 and the starter is easy to get to right up front.

If you need any parts let me know. I've taken just about all I need from my parts car, lots of good parts left on the old girl. [email protected]

Mike