Urgent! - 94 MTX won't turn over. Is it most likely a the starter?

[bradman]

OK, today I was at the bank and came out to leave but the car wouldn't turn over at all. There was a lot of noise from a nearby street, so I couldn't hear if the starter solonoid was activating, but it definitley wasn't grinding. Ignition switch felt normal. I've had absolutely no prior symptoms from the starter.
It seems like I've also heard this happening from a bad alternater, but I've had no alternater symptoms either. The battery is strong and no other electrical problems. The car is all original (except for 60K parts) at 119K miles. Is it most likely the starter? Or, could it be the alternater, or bad ground somewhere?
I'm going to get help later tonight and go back to the car and try to compression start it just to get it home. I need advice so I can get this thing fixed over the weekend.
Thanks,
Brad

 

[sdpatt]

First things first. In your climate, I'd not only check the battery voltage, but the battery terminal connections for corrosion, the connections at the starter solenoid and finally the starter solenoid and starter. You didn't say what year or engine your car has and the starters are different between the years. Even the solenoids changed location from the driver's fenderwell to the starter.

 

[SolidState]

er, scott....94 MTX wink

 

[rangerj]

Bradman,

I concur with Scott. Check your connections at the battery, your main ground, the starter, and the solenoid. The battery terminals, and ground connections, should be cleaned a couple of times a year as a maintenence item.

If your model year has the solenoid on the sidewall, you could do what we did in the "old days". We would use a pair of pliers to "jump" the connection of the solenoid, and send direct voltage to the starter.

If the starter worked, then the solenoid was the problem. You can also do this with the solenoid attached to the starter, by "jumping" the terminals with a screw driver. Either way, please make sure the brake is on and the car is in neutral!

However, starting a car that you are laying in front of, and under, does not have the appeal to me that it did when I was younger!

As for the starter, you can take it out and have it rebuilt, or get a replacement at an auto parts store. If the solenoid is attached to the starter, and it is the failed component, you should be able to replace just the solenoid. Most parts stores will test the starter for you.

If you have the skills and equiptment you could do a few tests in order to determine what part of the starter failed. However, if you need to be up and running in as little time as possible, then determine what failed, the starter or the solenoid, and replace it!

Scott, I do believe you have been "dissed" by a Canadian! rangerj

 

[bradman]

Scott/ranger - Thanks for your replies.

I went back to the car about 4 hours after it wouldn't start, and this time it cranked normally and started right up. I drove it home, shut it off, and tried to re-start, but nothing. I cleaned the battery terminals (though they were not at all dirty or corroded), check the ground, and checked the connections to the starter and everything was good, but still no start. A topic search resulted in a few other cases where a faulty solenoid will sometimes fails only when hot, so I'm pretty certain that's my problem. At least it starts when cold (so far), so I won't need a tow. If I can find one this weekend, I'll pull the starter and replace the solenoid. With a little luck, I'll be good to go.

If anybody else has more ideas I'll glad to hear them.