Starter ? Battery ?

[reags8]

Well I noticed over the weekend and a couple days prior to the weekend that my 93' Auto was really starting to struggle turning over. Chalking it up to a bad battery I was preparred to purchase a new one once I wasn't able to turn the ket without a jump. Well I jump in the car Mon. morning and it fires over fairly fast (leaving me puzzled because it sat over night) so I drove it to the gas station - dumped $15 in and then proceeded to head off to work - NO - the car wouldn't turn over at all in sitting in the filling station. I convince the guy behind me to give me a jump and after he wheels his Jeep into position I hook up the cables and NOTHING !! I sit for another couple mins. after disconnecting the cables, thanking the guy and sending him on his was - I was convinced I was going to have to call AAA put I try her one more time and she fires over ? slow - but over. Well I drive home, park it and jump in my truck off to work. When I get home I try and turn it over and nothing - I clean the battery connections still nothing. Well after a couple mins. of trying the key (about 20 turns) it fires again - slow !
Any help ?
Reags

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

I would say either a bad starter, or a loose connection on the starter or battery. You can get the battery and alternator tested in the car at a local parts place (autozone, etc) and they can also test the starter out of the car. I would start with them testing the alternator and battery so you dont have to take anything apart just yet...

My nickel....inflation baby!

As everyone always says...pull those codes...I should do that sometime....

 

[morpho18]

My SHO has had a similar problem for months now. I turn the key over, it cranks very slowly, then slowly speeds up and gradually works up enough momentum to start the car. Then other times, it turns right over with out any problems.

 

[n8rsk8r]

my atx did that also

I replaced the wires, which are a ford part and very involved, going from the passenger side strut tower toward the front, under the engine, hooking to the starter, going back up the drivers side of engine, then connecting to many plugs both computer type and finally stoping at the other strut tower. THe cost was 97.00. Yeah I know!!! It didn't relieve the problem. I have replaced the starter 6 times, I SWEAR!!!! Finally I got one at NAPA, had it go bad, and am on the 7th one. that is in the five years I have owned it. If you notice when you change your erl (oil), it is directly below the filter. my theory is that the oil goes down, when not shelded away, and screws up the starter. So now when I change the oil I make sure to shield it with the box ripped and V'ed to channel the dripping oil away. These starters are expensive at 250.00 a piece! also, I have heard that a bad CPS will do that also, it can't relay what positition the rotating masses are in. That is why it has to turn over somany times to find a good set of pulses, that is one theory, but after the good starter, I haven't had any problems, oh yeah and shielding the oil away, well good luck! by now I am sure you have fixed your problem.

n8rsk8r

 

[750sho]

These starters are expensive at 250.00 a piece!

n8rsk8r

:ruhroh: Where are you buying your starters from? I got one from O'Reiley's and it was 145. When i took the core back, I got almost 50 bucks back! And it has a 1 yr warrenty.

When the car has trouble, or just plain doesn't turn over, smack the starter with a hammer. If it fires up, then replace the starter.

First, i'd get the alt, and battery checked out. Auto parts stores can do that for free. If they're both good, replace the battery connectors.

 

[rangerj]

It sounds and acts like a starter problem. Do the diagnostics suggested above, that is, get the battery and alternator tested. Make sure you have good connections at the starter and battery, and make sure the ground to the engine (main ground) is a good clean connection. rangerj

 

[n8rsk8r]

I bought the final one at NAPA, before was advanced auto. THe 2nd, and I heard newly designed, brand spankin new starter was/has been good.

n8rsk8r

 

[Brian Smith]

Apparently starting your car with less than 9 volts available to the starter destroys the starter motor in relatively short order. You may have messed it up by using the weak battery for a while. I just swapped out the starter in a 93 jeep cherokee (my girlfriends). What a pain in the a--. Jeep's use of star bolts to hold the starter in was REALLY classy . Well I think I am wandering a little off topic. Good luck

 

[BlankDisk]

I recently had the same problem, and it was the starter. To make sure, do this. Next time it doesn't start. Have someone in the driver's seat turn the key all the way to Start, while you take a tire iron and give a good hard butt to the starter. I had to do that countless times till I got mine fixed, but it worked every time. I got a refurbed started at Pep Boy sfor $120 (after I brought back the old one of course) and it's started up every time.