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I just dont understand....

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Old 09-29-2010, 04:44 PM
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Default I just dont understand....

why my car has to be such an ***. As of right now it wont start, dosent even turn over. just clicks, so I though "ok, jump it" I did, and that made no diffrence. It'* almost like the battery wont accept the charge. It'* not a bad connection because the interior lights and stuff work. It was starting slow for a few days before this happend, like the battery was almost dead. But now I think it may be the starter? what do you guys think?
and the battery was bought 3 months ago, it'* a duralast gold.
Old 09-29-2010, 04:46 PM
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Have the battery checked out. It could be dead even if it is fairly new. If its not bad, then you could have a bad starter.
Old 09-29-2010, 05:05 PM
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It also would probably be a good idea to get this to the appropriate mechanical section for proper visibility.
Old 09-29-2010, 09:22 PM
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well I figured out it needs a new starter, I turned my headlights on and they blinded me,
so the battery'* not dead. It just clicks once, and after multiple tries it dosent do anything now.
Old 09-29-2010, 09:32 PM
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bang on the starter cylinoid with a hammer well dont bang but tap it a few times with a claw hammer or a brass tipped hammer
Old 09-30-2010, 01:03 AM
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I moved the thread for you to get some better visibility. This is probably a pretty straightforward issue, but who knows? Better let the gearheads here have a shot at it.

Even though the battery gives your interior lights and such power, your starter is on a different power line and doesn't actually depend on your regular fuse panel to get its juice, as far as I know. Have a look at the power line going to the starter, and also check the solenoid directly on/above that. Check the connections, and actually you may just have a bad starter or solenoid. Since there'* a click, there could be juice while the supposedly dead starter just won't do anything.
Old 09-30-2010, 06:10 AM
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Have you checked your battery cables for corrosion? You can have a good enough connection to run headlights and interior lights, but when your starter needs a couple hundred amps to run, that bad connection can cause it to do nothing.

Check both ends of your cables. Gently wiggle the end at the starter, if it moves, then your starter needs to be repaired or replaced.

A simple starter test while installed in the vehicle-use a large screwdriver to jump the large terminal and small terminal on the starter. You may see some sparks, but its ok. If it begins to crank, then your good, if not, the issue is still between the starter and battery.
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Old 09-30-2010, 11:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Mike1995
Have you checked your battery cables for corrosion? You can have a good enough connection to run headlights and interior lights, but when your starter needs a couple hundred amps to run, that bad connection can cause it to do nothing.

Check both ends of your cables. Gently wiggle the end at the starter, if it moves, then your starter needs to be repaired or replaced.

A simple starter test while installed in the vehicle-use a large screwdriver to jump the large terminal and small terminal on the starter. You may see some sparks, but its ok. If it begins to crank, then your good, if not, the issue is still between the starter and battery.
A very good point, since I've had this exact problem before. Check your power wiring at the battery and at the starter. If those are corroded, even if they look like they're making good contact, they could be going bad. Definitely an important thing to look for before you go out replacing the starter.
Old 09-30-2010, 02:43 PM
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Does the starter click multiple times when you turn the key, or does it only click once? Multiple times would indicate low power from the battery. One click indicates next to no power, or a seized engine (which you can test by turning the crank.)
I'm leaning less toward bad starter and more toward bad alternator. To test my theory, install a fully charged battery from another car and see if it fires up. If it does, you have determined that your starter is good. With the engine running, disconnect the + lead from the battery (BE CAREFUL) and if the car dies quickly or immediately, have the alternator tested at an autoparts store, If it does not die, chances are very good your battery is toast.
If it does not start with a fresh battery, the starter will probably need to be replaced.

Good luck!
Old 09-30-2010, 04:45 PM
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The starter now does nothing, Not even a click, yesterday it clicked once every time I
turned the key. I cycled it a few times and then it stoped doing anything. I tried to jump it with a screwdriver but nothing happend, not even a spark, so idk if I did it wrong or not.
But im about 90% sure I was doing it right. Ill check the connections in a few minutes
and see what happens.


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