Is my starter failing???

[NightRiderQ45]

This has happened in the past but now it's starting to become more frequent (happened this morning). Every once in awhile when I try to start my car, it will tick but won't turn over. All the lights are on the inside but when I try to start it, nothing happens. My cables look good and tight so I don't know what causes this. After I start my car, everything in the car resets, even the trip odometer. What could be causing this?

[qship96]

How old is battery?

[NightRiderQ45]

It isn't the battery. I purchased my battery 5/09. I was having this issue even with my old battery. Maybe the wire and clamp with out the fuse bank needs to be replaced?

[maxnix]

Ever replace the starter solenoid?

[NightRiderQ45]

no i haven't. I haven't touched any parts associaed with the starter. is this a cause of failing stater solenoid? if it's the starter, I found a cheap oem one off of a wrecked car with 36k on it online.

I just read some symptoms online and I think it's my starter giving out on me. Here is a copy and paste that described exactly what happened and what I did this morning:

Symptoms of a bad starter usually begin to show up with an intermittent response when cycling the ignition key. This means that when you try to start your car and turn the key all the way forward to crank the engine you will receive no response, or just a clicking noise. To make sure this isn't a battery problem turn on the headlights and the interior lights in your vehicle and see if they are bright or dim. Dim lights mean that it could have something to do with the battery and not the starter. You should never perform any starter tests without first knowing that your electrical system is in good working condition and your battery is fully charged. This is because a problem from the electrical system can seem like something from the starter, and vice versa.

I always thought that my car took a long time to start, well this explains this issues too:

Another thing that will fall in the category of symptoms of a bad starter is slow or labored cranking. This means that when you turn your key all the way forward to start the car that the engine will crank extremely slow. Sometimes this will be slow yet fast enough to start the car and other times it will be too slow to even start the vehicle. As long as the battery is completely charged and all of the other components are working well than this is a strong sign that something is wrong with the starter.

Modified by NightRiderQ45 at 10:09 AM 2/19/2010
Modified by NightRiderQ45 at 10:10 AM 2/19/2010

[djwarner]

...My cables look good and tight so I don't know what causes this. After I start my car, everything in the car resets, even the trip odometer.

The fact that everything is resetting indicates the voltage to the system is going to near zero. This means the voltage is being dropped elsewhere in the circuit during the start. I had this problem once. It turned out to be corrosion inside the insulation on the battery cables. Outside, everything seemed normal. Under the insulation everything was packed with white powder. Disconnect the cables one at a time and try to flex them.

I would suggest starting with the ground cable and double checking where it attaches to the engine/frame.

[NightRiderQ45]

The fact that everything is resetting indicates the voltage to the system is going to near zero. This means the voltage is being dropped elsewhere in the circuit during the start. I had this problem once. It turned out to be corrosion inside the insulation on the battery cables. Outside, everything seemed normal. Under the insulation everything was packed with white powder. Disconnect the cables one at a time and try to flex them.

I would suggest starting with the ground cable and double checking where it attaches to the engine/frame.

Makes sense. It doesn't reset everytime but some times it does. I will check out the wires today. Now the wires without the fuse pack looks like they may need to be changed. That's why I mentioned that in my first post. I'll see how much that wire cost because I know the one with the fuse pack is expensive.

[maxnix]

VH41DE always take an extra turn to start. If it is slow turning, that's an electrical problem. New Red Top (last run of the made in USA ones) made mine turn faster and start easier.

[oldmako]

Before you get all cro-mag with the starter, you might want to double check the battery. I realize that it's recent but that's no guarantee. I just replaced a 14 month old battery last week in my truck. I am as tight as a frogs @ss, but I don't skimp on batteries. It was a large expensive battery when new. It had a bad cell. Why I dunno, but it would behave much like your Q.

If the batt is good, verify connections are clean enough to eat off and current flow. The previous post about internal corrosion is excellent. I once bought a used boat and went to replace the connectors on both batteries. I started by trimming an inch off the old. Well, there was heavy corrosion under the insulation and this was with heavy duty heat shrink. I ended up re-cutting over and over until I had sacrificed almost a foot of cable before I found virgin copper. I ended up replacing all the battery cables. Marine cable is like $5.00 per foot so that was a very pricey operation.

At any rate, lots of electrical bugaboos to track down before you yank out the starter. Wouldn't it be a beeotch to toss a new one in only to have it display the exact same symptoms? Been there and done that.

Good luck and if you find out the culprit for sure please re-post. Inquiring minds want to know. Not that I'll lose sleep over it or become distracted during the act of inflagrante delicto or anything like that, but it may help one of the Qheads down the road and therefore be beneficial to the brotherhood. Gnomesane?

[NightRiderQ45]

Thanks for the replies. I know it isn't the battery because I've had this issue with the old battery. I'm thinking that it has to be the wires/connection issue. I took both poles off yesterday, cleaned them, and put them back on. The wire without the fuse pack looks like that could be the problem.

[maxnix]

Before you get all cro-mag with the starter, you might want...

..to remember it was cro magnon who replaced the neanderthal.

[Damicci]

Not sure about the Y's But G50's and S13's will have starting problems if there is any corrosion on the positive battery cable. Even back under the sheath.I had to cut my cable back about 1/2 inch to get clean wires and the starting problem I had went away.

[NightRiderQ45]

Thanks. I think that my positive battery cable is the one with with fuse pack on it. What exactly is the sheath you speak of? Both of my cables are wrapped heavily with elec. tape.

[djwarner]

The sheath he is talking about is a thick layer of plastic insulation. They are usually colored red for the positive terminal and black for the negative terminal.

If your cables are wrapped with electrical tape at any place but near the battery terminal, it might indicate this is not a new problem.