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battery, starter or selenoid(spelling)??


meltboy1

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well today when I went to start the car for the first time it started slow... couple really slow cranks then fast ones and it started... I shut it off and tried again and it started right up... went to my brothers for a couple hours and it started fine after that, got home it sat for a few more hours and started right up again...

Went to my friends for a few hours and when I went to leave I turned the key and nothing. I turned on the lights to test and the lights dimmed a bit but stayed on and I heard nothing, not even a click.... I rocked the car a bit and still nothing, went to jump it and nothing and while rocking and playing with jumper cable connections it started right up, shut off and repeated without cables and started right up...I am thinking starter....what do you think?

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ya, I think since I haven't driven it a whole lot since I've had it and I have no idea how long it sat before I got it I may bring it to a shop to get a full electrical systems check... thanx.

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If the lights dim when you turn the key, then there is something drawing current. If there is current draw, I would say that your connections are likely OK, and so I'd guess the starter needs replacing. Next time it happens, try tapping the starter with a hammer a few times, and see what happens. If it starts up then, your starter is definately on on its way out.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Definitely check the connections - 1st step and cheapest.

 

If tapping on the starter makes it work, I'd suspect the solenoid.

 

My original solenoid would sometimes "click" (good battery) and the 2nd try it would crank over. Replaced solenoid, problem solved...

 

The plunger gets weak and it closes the circuit to engage the starter motor.

 

If you were getting slow (or no) cranking with a hot engine, I'd suspect the starter itself.

 

This was common on the BB V8 GM cars with the downsized starters and tight engine bays in the past. Also showed up in the early FWD cars, but redesigned starters had more torque and tolerated heat better.

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