The b***h won't start, I'm guessing it's the starter, but unsure

[lofapoo]

So my mom was driving the beast today. The beast being a bone stock 1990 XE coupe strapped with an autotragic transmission. She went to the mall and after that it would not start. She tried getting it jumped but that didn't do ****. I asked her exactly what happend when she turned the key and she said nothing, that it was dead silent. No signs of cranking in the least bit; total silence. I heard it start earlier today and it made me want to cry, and last night when I drove her she kinda hesitated to start but it was cold out so I didn't think much of it. I ran some searches on starter issues on the good 'ol forums and I believe it to be the case, but I cannot say for sure, which is a big problem. I was not there to feel what was going on with the car, all I know is that it was having problems starting, and now it won't start. Plus it's late, it's in another city (Factoria Mall, I'm in Kirkland), and our family's only car is currently stranded with not a parts store open or any way to get there. Hopefully I'll be able to check it out tomorrow and we'll drop by NAPA or something similar to pick up what we need if we find out what the problemo is. Does anyone have any experience with dead starters? Would total silence after turning the key be a possible symptom of starter failure? Help a brother and his momma out

[ILikeMy240sx]

No crank what so ever even when the batt is jumped is usally the starter or the starter circuit... Usually if the start is bad, a good whack on it few times will get it started.

[lofapoo]

You think punching the start a few times would be a good first check? **** as long as I could drive her a bit closer to home so it wouldn't be so much of a goddamn ***** to work on that'd be cool. By starter circuit, would you recommend tracing the wires coming from the starter and making sure they're all properly connected or what? I read something about checking the starter relay but have no idea where that's located or how it could be tested.

[ILikeMy240sx]

zerothread?id=142010

link to factory service manaul. It will tell you what to look for. As for the whacking the starter, just take a hammer and hit it gently few times... Dont hit it too hard that you will dent it but give it a good whack

[lofapoo]

I will have no problem hitting that thing :p I'll pull out the tire iron, give her a couple gentle smacks to try to get one last kick out of the ***** to try to move her home. If that doesn't work after a few tries I'm just gonna wail on it, either before or after getting it out :p

Thanks brotha

[eds13]

i'd say defenetaly the starter.... thats what i'd replace first anyhow.

[slydin'240]

I've noticed with mine that if the battery is not fully charged my car doesn't want to start. I put it on a trickle charger and have had no problems since. You may also want to check the main power cable going from the battery to the starter. Top post connectors tend to get cracks in them.