Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 I have a 93 CS 3.1 MFI. My car was broken into Sunday night and I need to get it to the auto glass shop before 4 p.m. I live right off a major expressway and there are parking restrictions on each side of the street. I have to have my car moved from the side of the street I'm on but it won't start. This is a ongoing problem. Sometimes It'll take about three turns of the key to get it started but today it won't start at all. The battery is new. When I turn I can here the clicking noise but it won't start. I don't think it's the battery because everything power in the car comes on. Nothing under the car is leaking. Once I have the key in the on position, the "check gages" and "service engine soon" lights come on. But I think that's because the car hasn't started because it won't. I'm very distraught and I know next to nothing about cars and I don't know anyone who can look at it from where I'm at. Could be a short somewhere? Sometimes it won't start, I'll open and close a door and then it'll start. It was working fine yesterday. Someone please help! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest BeausoleilRacing Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Bad starter or starter solenoid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 try smacking the starter with a hammer, but not too hard. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 I just talked to my cousin who works at SEARS and she just told me to lightly tap the starter with a hammer. Now my problem is, where is the starter? And how do I distinguish it from anything under the car. She told me it was under the car, it's cylinder shaped, and I would need someone to turn the key while I tapped on it. Everything looks cylinder shaped. Exact location would help very much. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
White93z34 Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 get under the car, look for the oil filter, it should be in that general area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 O.K. I'll try it. I'll be right back. Don't go anywhere. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
godofthunder Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 you can give it a harder tap....its ok. I just bitch slap my every now and then, show it whos boss... you dont have to have someone turn the key at the same time. Tap it, turn the key. Tap it, turn the key what your doing is slightly knocking the electric motor, so it can try to get some current from the batyter and turn on its own, then turning the motor. If this is the first time, itll be pretty easier. IIRC...atleast on my 3100...its almost dead center front of the car. Its two parts, a big cylynder, with a smaller one. The larger is on the botom, and that usu. works for me. jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 you can give it a harder tap....its ok. I just bitch slap my every now and then, show it whos boss... you dont have to have someone turn the key at the same time. Tap it, turn the key. Tap it, turn the key what your doing is slightly knocking the electric motor, so it can try to get some current from the batyter and turn on its own, then turning the motor. If this is the first time, itll be pretty easier. IIRC...atleast on my 3100...its almost dead center front of the car. Its two parts, a big cylynder, with a smaller one. The larger is on the botom, and that usu. works for me. jon ....what he said.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 I tried tapping what I thought was the starter and nothing happened. Is this it? http://us.f142.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/08_31_04_0927.jpg?viewimg=1&box=Inbox&MsgId=7149_2057079_5103_1565_108857_0_23925_143188_2881818672&bodyPart=2&filename=08_31_04_0927.jpg&tnef=&YY=66140&order=down&sort=date&pos=0 http://us.f142.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/08_31_04_0926.jpg?viewimg=1&box=Inbox&MsgId=7149_2057079_5103_1565_108857_0_23925_143188_2881818672&bodyPart=3&filename=08_31_04_0926.jpg&tnef=&YY=66140&order=down&sort=date&pos=0 http://us.f142.mail.yahoo.com/ym/ShowLetter/08_31_04_0925.jpg?viewimg=1&box=Inbox&MsgId=7149_2057079_5103_1565_108857_0_23925_143188_2881818672&bodyPart=4&filename=08_31_04_0925.jpg&tnef=&YY=66140&order=down&sort=date&pos=0 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 pics don't work.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Try again. I don't know how to post pics here. Please advise. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Try again. I don't know how to post pics here. Please advise. think that the problem is with yahoo....if you email them to me, I will post them for you... jeremy@audiofreeze.org Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 I e-mailed you. Thanks Jeremy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 this is what a 3.1 w-starter should look like..... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 So is that the starter? Excuse the second picture, that's the oil filter. But what about the other two? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 in the second pic, the starter is the big black cylinder right next to the filter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 O.K. Jeremy. Now how does that relate to location under the front end of my car. Please excuse me for being slow and dumb, I'm usually not this stupid. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 pop the hood.. looks straight down in front of the block, behind the fans. the filter will stand out cause of it's color, starters right next to it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 O.K. Jeremy. Now how does that relate to location under the front end of my car. Please excuse me for being slow and dumb, I'm usually not this stupid. see the post right above your last one that I am sure was posted while you were typing.... ....no problem with all the questions at least you are out trying to do something to your car, instead of just complaining that it doesn't run like some people on here.... good luck Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Speckkial Posted August 31, 2004 Author Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 O.K. I'm back from outside, under my car. Now there are two big black cylinders next to the oil filter. If your're sitting in the driver's seat, one is on the left and one is on the right. I tried tapping both while my brother turned the key and nothing happened. Now which one of these cylinders is the starter and where should I tap it? (at either end, in the middle, etc.) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Anonymous Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 The one on the drivers side is the starter. Give it a good whack with a big hammer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeremy Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 here is the latest pic he sent me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DiscoStudd Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 I think you should try moving the shift lever into Neutral and try starting it. I remember my wife's old Cavalier doing the same thing from time to time where it would click but not turn over. You had to shift into Neutral or back into Park again to get it to start. The battery cables on your car sound like they're shot. If they're old, then they're most likely corroded on the inside and not allowing the current through that's needed to rotate the starter (the cables are acting like a gigantic resistor actually...) All of your accessories will work just fine because they draw so little amperage, and the old worn out cables can handle the draw... here is the latest pic he sent me That looks like the AC compressor! Don't whack that with a hammer!!! If that's what you're looking at smacking, be sure you don't see a pulley attached to the other side with the serpentine belt wrapped around it. The starter's more towards the middle of the block, not towards the front passenger side... Look for the black, cylindrical "thing" in the upper right conrer of this picture, that's the starter... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GutlessSupreme Posted August 31, 2004 Report Share Posted August 31, 2004 oops :oops: realized I was being unclear with my instructions.. sorry. listen to Disco^ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.