Death without warning

[92FstBKDriver]

Well,

My dad gave me this car about 2 months ago and even though its not running as good as it should i like the way it drives but right now its having some problems

It happened at the worst possible time. My 240 wouldnt start the other morning, when i turned the key all i heard was a faint "click" and got nothin from the engine that made me think it even wanted to start.

The battery was fine, it was low but i went to autozone and got it charged and cleaned thinking that might fix the problem but still nothing. It got towed in to the shop last afternoon.

It had been running sluggish for a while and was scheduled to get looked over today and get whatever problem it had fixed, then after that get a performance tune up. But as you know now its in for a totally different reason. The guys at the shop said they tested it and it was the starter which is about $300 to get it fixed.. but if that sounds too expensive to any of you i would do it myself if i knew how. Unless its outta my hands. Hopefully you guys can help me out.

[Ecnorcs1]

Starters are simply to replace 10 minutes and you'll be done. Get a starter from advanced or some place similar for a bout 180 dollars and have at it.

[Ecnorcs1]

Oh by the way my car had been doing the same thing, until I replaced the starter. Haven't had any more problems out of it.

[92FstBKDriver]

Also there were no signs that this was going to happen before hand. It worked fine the night before but when i got back to it the next afternoon i got nothing.

[92FstBKDriver]

thanks i'll see if my dad wants to get it done out of the shop or just leave it in there.

[S13Sil-line]

Just get one from a junkyard for cheap. It's two bolts and a plug.

[ziggy682]

When starters go out, it's usually the solenoid that dies. There's probably a starter and alternator repair shop near you that can fix it. Take the starter off, take it to them, and have them test it. It's usually like $50 to get a solenoid replaced.

[madbouncy]

$300 sounds way too high for getting a new starter put in. Mine died awhile back and it cost me $260 for them to tow it to the shop and then fix it. Not sure how much the tow was and how much it cost to fix, it was all on one bill. They had it working by the next morning and I called them at night, so it worked out well

[rousie13]

When starters go out, it's usually the solenoid that dies. There's probably a starter and alternator repair shop near you that can fix it. Take the starter off, take it to them, and have them test it. It's usually like $50 to get a solenoid replaced.

Why pay $50 and still have an old starter, when you can get one form Auto Zone for $125 after core, and then you'll probably never have to worry about it again. It took me a while to change mine, because I was trying to get the top bolt from the top of the motor(stupid idea).

[ziggy682]

Why pay $50 and still have an old starter, when you can get one form Auto Zone for $125 after core, and then you'll probably never have to worry about it again. It took me a while to change mine, because I was trying to get the top bolt from the top of the motor(stupid idea).

Because, like I said, when starters go out it's usually the soleniod. You pay $50 for a new solenoid, and your starter is practically new. For the price of 1 rebuilt starter, you can replace 3 solenoids. Personally, I like those odds.

[rousie13]

I just like new or rebuilt parts on my car. And if my starter ever goes again, I get another one free. So after your 2.5 solenoids, your out of luck. But I can get an endless supply of starters for $125. haha Just busting your a*s.

[Luke]

Hit it with a hammer and that should help get it started. I had to do that because I wasn't replacing the starter on the KA when my SR was 1 week away. Haha, it sucked having to hit it everytime i got into it though.

[ziggy682]

Hehe, I guess I just prefer "broken in" parts. We all have our opinions.

[sthirtizzle]

When the starter goes out its either the brushes or the solenoid. Yours sounds like the solenoid since you hear it clicking. Hitting it with a hammer will fix it if it's the brushes but only for a little while. I'd just take it out get some new brushes and a new solenoid. But im cheap as hell.

[ScottnAshley]

Yeah like he said at autozone its 125 with core turned in and its lifetime warrentee i would go for that if i was you and youll probably never have to worry about it again instead of getting a silinoid and taking that damn starter out every time it goes out on you. just my opinion

[fiznat]

you can make sure it's the starter by shorting it and seeing how it sounds. Take a screwdriver and touch both connections on the starter (there is one on the solonoid and one on the starter itself)... a healthy starter will pop out and whirr up with a really strong sound. A bad starter will only whirr, do nothing, or whirr/pop weakly.

This happened to my car a couple weeks ago-- switched in a starter from a s14 I had laying around and everything was gravy.

[Bloodstone]

Stick with Autozone. It's the cheapest with a warranty you're gonna find. Also to make it easier to get to the top bolt. Use (2) foot long extensions. You'll have to reach it from the back of the transmission, above it on the right. Sounds weird, I know, but when you look at it, it'll make sense. Should take no more then 15 minutes if you're good with tools. If you're not, then jsut take your time. Nothen better then these things being right the first time.

[PhaneSoul]

practice makes perfect.... and id say if its gonna cost 300$ to repair the starter, then these guys must not be good with tools if its gonna take them lets see, ~175 for a nes starter, thats 125 left for labor, and say 75$ an hour for labor, thats almost 2 hours their working on it.... that would be 2 hours im havin fun working on my car putting in my own sweat and blood making my car really mine in its own unique way.....