Help, Problem with car starting, and overheating problems.

[DaRock]

Yesterday, I sat in my car, and tried to start it up, and it was dead, lights were on, radio could turn on, lights could turn on, but the car was dead.

So I waited for a minute, tried to start it again, it didnt work.

Then I tried once more after a minute, and then it started. And afterwards, after a trip, I tried to start the car it hesistated and started.

Would this be a battery problem or a problem with the starter?

Also recently, my car has been overheating, it goes over the 210 temp mark, usually it stays below 210. I just changed oil recently. If I turn my AC on it goes almost all the way hot in the temp zone. Do you guys know what the problem could be?

[chas]

need more information about the not starting problem. does the starter turn the engine over? do you just hear a clicking when you turn the key? does the engine crank and just not catch?

as for cooling, first, check your radiator fluid condition and level. turning on a/c produces additional heat which apparently pushes your existing cooling system to the edge. if the radiator fluid is fine (clear, 50/50 mix, right level) you can start looking for other problems: fans not running, bad thermostat, no airflow across radiator. (i believe the fans come on low speed when you run the a/c regardless of outside temps).

[DaRock]

Thanks chas, there is no engine noise, it is totally dead, the engine doesnt crank, it is kinda like a click. All that happens are my radio and lights in the guage show up. The radio and lights work fine.

But after two tries it started fine.

[DaRock]

Ok I tried to start the car again, I turn the key all the way around, it didnt start right up, after a two second pause it start, while I had the key turned all the way.

Then I tried again it started quickly without hesistation.

Could it be the starter?

[C.O.Jones]

Let me get this straight:

1) You hop in the car, put the key in, and immediately try to start. This gives you a clicking sound and the car doesn't start.

2) You hop in the car, put the key in and turn the key to the point that the radio, etc.. comes on. From there you wait a second or two then start the car and it starts fine?

If that's the case, then it sounds like a fuel issue. (Pump, regulator, etc...). Try this:
Turn the key to the point the radio, etc.. turns on. Turn off the radio, ac, everything. Take the key out. With the door open, put the key in again and turn it to the point that everything is supposed to come on. Do you hear a whirring sound coming from almost directly under your feet?
Do this again, but try to immediately start the car. Do you hear the clicking and the whirring?

[DaRock]

Originally posted by C.O.Jones:
Let me get this straight:

1) You hop in the car, put the key in, and immediately try to start. This gives you a clicking sound and the car doesn't start.

2) You hop in the car, put the key in and turn the key to the point that the radio, etc.. comes on. From there you wait a second or two then start the car and it starts fine?

If that's the case, then it sounds like a fuel issue. (Pump, regulator, etc...). Try this:
Turn the key to the point the radio, etc.. turns on. Turn off the radio, ac, everything. Take the key out. With the door open, put the key in again and turn it to the point that everything is supposed to come on. Do you hear a whirring sound coming from almost directly under your feet?
Do this again, but try to immediately start the car. Do you hear the clicking and the whirring?

OMG yes, where you put your feet at the accerlator and break there is a clicking noise, almost like something is going through, like liquid through a pipe. Its not loud, you can feel a vibration on you feet.

But that noise comes only when you turn the key in all the way, to TRY and start the car, and the car doesnt start. That is when the noise comes on.

Not when it starts up.

You hit that right on the head. What is the problem?

You dont think its the starter, but fuel issues?

Thanks alot.

[ August 22, 2004, 08:28 PM: Message edited by: DaRock ]

[hockeyman]

Solenoid on starter is bad, not uncommon. This happened to my 86 trans am at least twice a year until I put a heat shield over the starter. It sat WAY too close to the headers.
It is not a fuel issue because the engine doesn't crank when you hear the clicking, and when it does crank, it starts right up.
Your soultuion, replace the starter.

[Razzer]

I agree starter solenoid or a starter.