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  • Starting problem, not alt or battery

    OK here's a step by step of my problem.

    A few weeks ago my car began to have problems starting takign 1-3 times to start, but would start on the first try if it was started within 2-3 hours before hand.

    I got my battery tested and autozone said it was 100%

    Past few days the car wouldn't start until the 3-4th try.

    Yesterday i was driving and the car had a very rough start. Once i was out driving the battery gauge would drop into the red zone. Leaving my car severely underpowered and ready to stall. Every 5 -10 minutes however the battery gauge would go back upto normal and teh car would drive just fine. But very shortly afterwards it would fall again.

    I went to my friends house and when i turned off the car it wouldn't start back up again. Since i wanted to bring it home so i can work on it, we decided to jump the car. It started right up when we jumped it, on the first try but would idle between 1600-2500 rpm's and would jump up and down all across the board. In nuetral it would rev upto 3500 rpm's. the car was almost unable to be stopped (which wasn't good since tehre were cops everywhere last night). anyways, i got it home.

    Today i took out the alternator and took it to autozone, and ahd it checked, and they said it was running tis full 14 volts. when i got back home i noticed the alternator battery wire was loose from teh terminal, so i put it back in and tried to fire teh car back up, after installing the atlernator of course.

    Now when i try to start the car, it gives the ever so slightest crank then jsut goes to rapid fire clicking. I checked most of teh grounds and most of the terminals etc. and they all seem to be fine, along with the wires.

    Now i need your guys' experience to tell me whether its my starter jsut gone bad or whether it is something more simply like say a wire or switch. In all honesty i doubt it a wire as they all semm to be fine, but i'll let you guys throw this one abck at me.

  • #2
    make sure the alternate power terminal on the driver side is clean.
    2000 FIREBIRD NBM<br />Thanks to:<br />TSP, ZZP, TCI, Comp Cam, Whisper, GM, Lakewood, TrafficJamz Car Audio,HP Tuner, Alterstart, texas drivetrain and performance, BMR<br /><br />1990 BLUE CAMARO RS<br />1980 z28 <br /><br />venom-vi vice president

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    • #3
      Try taking your starter to autozone and get it tested...
      <a href=\"http://www.cardomain.com/id/kefkafloyd\" target=\"_blank\">http://www.cardomain.com/id/kefkafloyd</a> <br />Red 1997 Pontiac Firebird 3.8L A4 w/ Y87

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      • #4
        Had almost the exact same symptoms on my Merc. Villager two months ago....it was a fried wire between the alt. and the battery. Even though the alternator was putting out a full 14v, the wire was only containing 2a. That was keeping my battery in a constant state of discharge. It would sometime get just enough juice to crank it up and keep the electrical components alive, but as soon as the wire would overheat...ARRRGHHH!...its painful just to go back there. Electrical problems are the pits.
        \"this isn\'t flying...its falling...with style!\"<br /> -Buzz Lightyear<br /><br /><br /> 96 bright red firebird, T-tops, monsoon CD Flowmaster catback dual exhaust <br /><br /> <a href=\"http://members.cardomain.com/joyfellowship1\" target=\"_blank\">http://members.cardomain.com/joyfellowship1</a> <br /> <a href=\"http://www.joyfellowshipchurch.com\" target=\"_blank\">www.joyfellowshipchurch.com</a>

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        • #5
          Starter solenoid, which I believe is part of the starter. Have it checked.
          1995 Pontiac Firebird
          2008 Chevrolet Silverado LT Crew Cab 4x4

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          • #6
            hmmm.. check your fuel pressure as well.

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            • #7
              Originally posted by easyc4:
              I went to my friends house and when i turned off the car it wouldn't start back up again. Since i wanted to bring it home so i can work on it, we decided to jump the car. It started right up when we jumped it, on the first try but would idle between 1600-2500 rpm's and would jump up and down all across the board. In nuetral it would rev upto 3500 rpm's. the car was almost unable to be stopped (which wasn't good since tehre were cops everywhere last night).
              When you say "I tried to start it back up again". do you mean that the engine is cranking and not kicking into idle mode, or is is not cranking at all?

              Crazy idle:
              By the sound of the erratic idle, my guess is a bad Idle Air Control (IAC) Valve. Mine went bad once, and the idle was out of control! It would idle up to 3500 rpm's for about 5 seconds, then drop down to stalling, by it'self.

              Engine not kicking over:
              If the engine cranks everytime when the key is turned, your starter is just fine. If it's cranking, then look into a spark (ignition) issue or a fuel issue.

              Rapid-Fire clicking:
              Battery gone bad or dead. I know you had it tested, but it's just a solution to think about. Sometimes, a cell will go bad inside of the battery and reak havok! You may also want to check the battery and alternator terminals. They may have corroded and have a bad connection. They aren't that hard to replace, and are relatively cheap to buy.
              sigpic

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