90KUTTY Posted January 3, 2004 Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 HERES THE STORY, Okay the other night i left my lady in the car and she tried to start it, but there's only one way to start my car a button under the dash this button triggers the the car to try and start but you have to have the key in the run position and then push the button after it starts you push the button again to stop it from cranking but what she did is push the button and it started but she didn't push it again to stop so the car was cranking while it was already started and now it takes a long crank to start and last night it was like my battery was dead but i had full power radio lights everything went on but it didn't do anything when i tried to start it the lights dimmed but that's about it no noise or nothing. what could it be the starter burned out or what? and now today it started, but im not taking it no where cause if it don't start again im outta luck and cash. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted January 3, 2004 Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 First.. why in the hell do you have a setup like that?! Second.. I'm gonna say you destroyed the brushes in the starter. Check to see if the battery terminals/cables get hot when you try starting it. If thats the case, and it doesn't start..... I've found that if you rap on the back of the starter, you just might get the brushes to make enough contact to start the car. BUT.. you need a new starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slade901 Posted January 3, 2004 Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 Check the flywheel for worn gears/teeth. It might be the starter gears that got somewhat messed up. You could try to replace your switch from ON/OFF swith to a Momentary switch. What I mean is that you just push the button to crank it and once it starts then just release it. That way you won't accidentally leave the starter keep cranking even though the engine is already running. It's like the way the motorcycle ignition works with a momentary button. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
95 3-4 Posted January 3, 2004 Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 that switch sounds recockulous for starting, replace starter, hopefully the wiring harness to the starter isnt fried to bits Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90KUTTY Posted January 3, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 first of all i didn't put the switch there the previous owner did i have no clue why, second why does it start sometimes and not others? just want to know. so replace the starter sound simple enough Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
supreme_style21 Posted January 3, 2004 Report Share Posted January 3, 2004 first of all i didn't put the switch there the previous owner did i have no clue why, second why does it start sometimes and not others? just want to know. I figure the brushes are bad... when they go bad, they can occasionally make contact. Sometimes they do.. sometimes they don't. When you are unable to start it, hit the rear of the starter and see if it starts. If it does start, the brushes are shot and you need a new starter. The symptoms of dimming lights and such raise the flag for the starter. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted January 4, 2004 Report Share Posted January 4, 2004 first of all i didn't put the switch there the previous owner did i have no clue why, second why does it start sometimes and not others? just want to know. so replace the starter sound simple enough what engine? if you have the 3.1 it's really easy - disconnect the battery, undo the starter-block bolts from under the car (two i think), then disconnect the wires. i think i had to pull the starter out from the top thru the engine bay since it was too tight of a fit to pull it out the bottom. i never had to use any shims or anything and it worked fine. while the starter is out i would check out the teeth on the flexplate too. also, some people have used the smaller/lighter starter from a 3100 Malibu, if you feel like upgrading. joshua Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
excelsior Posted January 5, 2004 Report Share Posted January 5, 2004 ive heard of people w/ bad alternators having similar problems so that could be it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
90KUTTY Posted January 10, 2004 Author Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 also, some people have used the smaller/lighter starter from a 3100 Malibu, if you feel like upgrading. joshua WHAT YEAR MALIBU? DOES IT JUST BOLT ON? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest TurboSedan Posted January 10, 2004 Report Share Posted January 10, 2004 http://www.w-body.com/forum/viewtopic.php?t=10694&highlight=malibu+starter joshua Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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