G50: starter or alternator issue? Suggestions?

[mandy]

My 90 Q has been experiencing a few problems in the past few months but I'm a little confused about one in particular-I will attempt to start the engine and it will not turn over or anything. I take the key out of the ignition and try it again- it starts but about 1/2 the time after it does, my trip/odometer and radio wont display AND as soon as I put the car in PARK, I get a loud starting noise that wont stop unless i turn off the vehicle and start it again (then it goes away and my trip and radio displays come back). Now this has only happened 4-5 times in the past 3 months (knock on wood) and each time but once it has started within a couple tries. One time however, i could not get it to start, but after getting a jump it hasn't happened since. My battery is less than a year old, and my lights are not affected whenever this happens. Could my starter be going out or could it be something w/ my alternator? Thanks.

[maxnix]

So are you starting it in Neutral then selecting Park when it makes the noise? Maybe your starter bendix is not fully retracting? A little observation when it is on the lift would probably help diagnose this behavior.

Do read the timing chain guide Article in the Articles forum if you haven't replaced your guides.

[mandy]

No. For example: the car would start fine and say I put it into reverse or drive... then back into park...as soon as i did that i'd get the loud starting noise. I'd turn off the engine and start it back up after a few seconds. And all was fine. This was actually the first of two symptoms that I noticed. The second being the brief inability for the engine to even think about turning over as I described in the other thread. It's very odd-and it has'nt happened since I received a jump about 2 months ago.

[maxnix]

Has to be the starter botor Bendix not full engaging, disengaging.

Put it on the lift and observe while someone starts it.

Timing Chain Guides? Most important of all!

[96Qowner]

Timing Chain Guides? Most important of all!

Seriously, mandy, this isn't idle curiosity. 1990-1993 Q45s were built with plastic-backed guides for the timing chain. They deteriorate in petroleum and come apart, which causes the chain to skip teeth and your engine goes Boom!

That's ... Boom .. unrecoverable, toasted, lunched, etc - all gone. It happens with NO notice. So ... um ... have your timing guides been replaced with metal-backed ones? If not, then every cent you put in the car is at risk every single time you start it.

[mandy]

Thanks 96Qowner...as a matter of fact i have not replaced the chain guides. thats a possibility that i didnt think of. so after 93 these were replaced w/ metal ones? sounds like an investment that ill be looking into sooooon. that helps to explain why this is an intermittent problem...

[maxnix]

Mandy, the timing chain guide is not an intermittant problem, it is a 95% of the time fatal problem.

If you want to keep the car, you need to adress this first, even before driving it again. Seriously. We kid you not. Do the research. You are on a wing and a prayer right now.

The next cold crank could be your last, with that engine anyway.

[96Qowner]

This starter problem is not related to the chain guides - probably not too difficult to get fixed - a few hundred, tops. The gears on the starter aren't disengaging fully.

But fixing the starter is kinda like putting new countertops in a burning house. You really should put the fire out, first. To keep your engine from suddenly dying, you need to budget a couple thousand, and soon.

Here are some threads on the subject:

zerothread?id=25201

zerothread?id=208105

zerothread?id=114337

zerothread?id=102198

zerothread?id=53660

Don' mean to bring you bad news - just a warning from experienced folks. Take it into account as you decide when and where to spend money on the car.

[maxnix]

But fixing the starter is kinda like putting new countertops in a burning house. You really should put the fire out, first. To keep your engine from suddenly dying, you need to budget a couple thousand, and soon.

Take it into account as you decide when and where to spend money on the car.

For real. Triage your maintenance. Timing chain guides are critical.