help! my s13 wont start!

[fiznat]

I got home today and tried to start up my car, but - as you might have guessed from the thread subject - it wouldnt.

I can hear a clicking noise from what I think is the starter, and all my lights/radio/etc turn on, just nothing as far as turning over or anything. It doesnt even try to move.

I thought it might have been the battery at first, so I tried jumping it- but it still wont start up...

I REALLY need my car right now, I have some important meetings tonight and a date tomorrow! PLEASE help me get this thing going!!

[prior]

i just had the starter go out on my car 2 weeks ago and it sounds like your having the same problem. try tapping the body of the starter with something heavy and if it starts up after that, its most likely your starter. you can get out of the car and keep hitting it to get your car started, but that'll only work for a little bit. its easy enough to replace... just 2 bolts. its easiest to put you car up on jackstands and replace it from the bottom.

andy

[Touchdown038]

Fiz - Can you push start the motor?

If so, it's gotta be the starter. The fact that you still have full battery also makes me think that.

[fiznat]

yup.. thanks guys for the advice. I figured it was the starter after having the battery checked out and re-checking all the fuses and whatnot. I actually had a starter from my project 97 KA sitting around... threw that in and everything was perfect again. Woo!

[dfregozo]

My 240sx wont start, battery is new, and starter passed the test but still wont crank, do you have any idea what could it be?

[fiznat]

what do you mean by "passed the test?"

try shorting the starter and see how well it spins. just put the key in the ON position, take a screwdriver and connect the 2 leads on the starter solonoid (sp?) There are 2 bolts there that have wires under them, one goes to this plastic connector, and the other goes to the body of the starter. Just short those two together, you should get a small spark and the starter will pop out and whirr up. The sound should be a really strong sound, you should hear it really forcibly pop out and spin up. When I did mine I could hear it spin, but not really pop out (I know this because the guys at a local Advance Auto shorted a brand new one for me in their store to show me what it should sound like...)

If nothing happens, or the sound doent sound really strong, then 90% likely it's your starter. Brand new it costs about $150 with the core returned...

Another way to check if its your starter is to push start the car... if it starts that way then it is also definetly the starter..

let us know how it comes out!

[Touchdown038]

The solenoid has to click as the gear pops out of the housing, then the motor should start spinning. If both don't happen, then you gotta replace the entire unit.

[erich]

When my starter died it was the motor brushes. 15 bucks later at an alternator/starter place and I had new brushes.

[dfregozo]

I took the starter off and had it checked twice at different auto shops and they both told me that it was working fine, therefore I know it is not that starter. Any Ideas?