2001 i30 Starter diagnosis help

[cheepnis05]

Hey All;

I know this is more of a general question, but...

My i30 won't start and I am thinking it is the starter. Starting has been a bit sluggish lately and I had suspected the battery, but that was replaced a few weeks ago when it just up and died. The sluggishness of the starting persisted, then today it won't even turnover fast enough to start.

I checked the voltage at the battery 12.6 v, also used a booster pack to jump, but it doesn't seem to make any difference.

It seems to be engaging, but turning very slowly, then not at all.

Should I go ahead and pull the starter, or is there something else you think I should be checking?

Thanks,
-Tim

[MaximA32]

Chances are that it's the starter. Especially if it's been starting sluggish.

[loystock]

If battery voltage is 12.6VDC or more, then it's the starter. You can pull it out (2 bolts) and have it tested for free at Autozone and the likes. It's possible that the starter just needs cleaning and lubrication of planetary gears and cleaning of the rotor-stator. Please make sure the battery connections are clean and tight and that there is no corrosion on the battery cables. Also check the starter connections and ground point.

[cheepnis05]

Thanks.
Bottom line, no matter; what I am beginning with removing the intake assemblies to get at the starter. If every thing looks clean (connections, grounds) I'll pull it and take it to Autozone.

10 years, 85k of almost exclusively local driving (I do probably 6+ starts a day), not bad for the original unit.

[cheepnis05]

Starter it was.

The bench test was frivolous, since it falsely indicated the starter was good. I knew it would spin up but no load was applied. They have no other metric to assess the starter by, if it spins and kicks out, its good.

I dropped in their standard $130 replacement and it is like night and day.

Thanks loystock and MaximaA32