Serious ignition problem!!

[turbohead2332]

My 93 3.4 'maro won't start. I turn the key and all I hear is the relay clicking. Not the starter...nothing. Before, the starter might just click, then nothing and I'd have to keep clicking it, then it'd crank up. Now, nothing. I recently had to tighten down a nut on the starter solenoid that holds the positive cable on. Perhaps I knocked a wire loose? I cleaned the battery terminals and tightened them down. I have electricity. Everything in the car works....except the starter. Yesterday I cut the car off to get gas. When I tried to crank it back up, the starter grinded really slow. I had to get a friend to jump me off. Even then, I had to grind on it some to start the car. I've always had a little bit of a problem with starting the car, but it's been dying on me a few times lately. What is up with my car?!

[Dozer]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

Have an DVOM electrical meter or Volt/ohm meter? Start At the battery. Make sure its good. Then check your connections, check for corrosion. Same thing for your power cord and ground strap, check for broken frayed or corrosion in the wires. Check connections to starter and relay, then starter and realy itself. If you go in that order and nothing shows up the ignition switch itself might be bad.

[Shirl]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

My guess would be the alternator.

[camaroman1181]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

goin with starter is gone on this one.. my blazer did just about the same thing for me when the starter died (even finally broke down on me at a gas station.. lol)

the clicking you hear could be the solenoid kicking out, but the starter motor not turning over... and that would make sense if you say that the car has been cranking over slowly recently...

Just wondering, but have you tried tapping on the starter housing when it wont start? The next time it just sits there and clicks, crawl under it with a hammer, and using the handle, tap on the housing of the starter... when starters are starting to go out, they develop "dead spots" on the internal armature.. tapping it with a hammer is sometimes enough to knock them off the dead spot and work temporarily..

But to be certain, have the battery load tested at a parts store like Advanced or Autozone.. they'll test it for free..

[Mr. Logger]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

Get the battery checked. Could be just an old battery that doesn't hold a charge that well, or like Shirl said, the alternator.

[1999Spectre]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

to check the starter with out crawling under the car do this: have you ever had to change your fuel filter and had to prime it? do the exact same thing but turn the key foward a lil more like you are gonna start it, do that about 10 times or so (or until you hear your bad starter). that is a simple way to see if its bad with out getting your hands dirty. good luck with it.

[Dozer]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

Usually when you turn your key and you hear a click..click..click. Its because you dont have 12v to you starter and its just the relay clickin. Start with your battery. Go from there

[turbohead2332]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

goin with starter is gone on this one.. my blazer did just about the same thing for me when the starter died (even finally broke down on me at a gas station.. lol)

the clicking you hear could be the solenoid kicking out, but the starter motor not turning over... and that would make sense if you say that the car has been cranking over slowly recently...

Just wondering, but have you tried tapping on the starter housing when it wont start? The next time it just sits there and clicks, crawl under it with a hammer, and using the handle, tap on the housing of the starter... when starters are starting to go out, they develop "dead spots" on the internal armature.. tapping it with a hammer is sometimes enough to knock them off the dead spot and work temporarily..

But to be certain, have the battery load tested at a parts store like Advanced or Autozone.. they'll test it for free..

I found out what the problem was today and got it fixed. You were right. Starter was fried. It was just old. Got a reman one from AutoZone.

[camaroman1181]

Re: Serious ignition problem!!

I found out what the problem was today and got it fixed. You were right. Starter was fried. It was just old. Got a reman one from AutoZone.

Excellent! Glad to hear you got it taken care of...