darkwolf45 Posted October 9, 2011 Report Share Posted October 9, 2011 About an hour or so ago I started up the Cutlass and was greeted by a loud buzzing. At first I thought it was something caught in the vents, so i turned off the a/c, but no joy. So I turned off the car, and it didn't stop. OK... it was loud enough that I thought maybe it was a coincidence and someone had turned on a leaf blower nearby, because that is what it sounded like, but looked around and nothing. SO I walked around the front of the car and it was certainly coming from underneath the hood. I opened the hood and heard the noise coming from toward the front of the engine, down under the battery. I looked closely, and whatever it was was causing enough heat that some smoke was beginning to rise up. SO I got out a crescent wrench and loosened up the positive battery cable. The instant electrical power was cut the buzzing went away. I let it sit for a minute then tightened up the battery connection again. The buzz came back, lasted for a moment, the <CLICK> and it went away. Started up the car, and no problem driving all the way home. Anyone know what happened? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEN1Z34 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 WHere was the smoke comming from? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkwolf45 Posted October 10, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 It looked like it was coming from right around the starter at the front of the engine compartment on the driver's side, but it was fairly low in the compartment and my focus at the time was just to get it to stop. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GEN1Z34 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Could be a loose hot (+) lead, a short or crossed hots (+) between the noid and main lead, solenoid could be craping out or hanging also.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Leo090 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 Just guessing it might be something to do with the thermo stat. I know if the car overheats and you shut it off, the fan will continue running for a little as a safetly measure. Maybe its similar? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crazy K Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 It sounds like the solenoid was stuck in the on position. It will probably happen again. Not sure what you are driving, but it's MINISTARTER TIME!!!! You can get them for as low as $25 shipped from e-bay, or pretty much go to a good junkyard and get one for a 01+ impala... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GP1138 Posted October 10, 2011 Report Share Posted October 10, 2011 It sounds like the solenoid was stuck in the on position. It will probably happen again. Not sure what you are driving, but it's MINISTARTER TIME!!!! You can get them for as low as $25 shipped from e-bay, or pretty much go to a good junkyard and get one for a 01+ impala... Agreed, I had an Intrigue that did this. I was usually able to rev the engine and it'd stop, but depending on the situation it might not. New starter time! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkwolf45 Posted October 12, 2011 Author Report Share Posted October 12, 2011 I was afraid you might say i need to replace the starter. Oh well, it's lasted this long, so that's pretty good I guess. A mini starter? Is that an official name? Never changed out a starter before, this shoudl prove interesting. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GnatGoSplat Posted October 14, 2011 Report Share Posted October 14, 2011 Starter is pretty easy, I don't even bother to jack up the car. All the newer 60-degree V6 starters are "mini" (gear reduction) starters, not sure when they started using them, sometime in the late 90s or early 00s. They are only 6.5lbs vs 14lbs and way easier to install when you're lifting the thing overhead with 1 hand. They're also physically quite a bit smaller and have a higher-pitched starting sound. 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.