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Car Starting Problems
Some of the common car starting problems stem from a discharged battery, a bad fuel pump (or no fuel), a weakened starter motor, or a broken electrical connection. Checking each part will help troubleshoot why the car won’t start.
5,524 Questions
Where is the starter motor on a 323 BMW?
i have 2000 bmw 323i 4 dr sedan and need to change motor starter , can tell me where it is? and step by step with pictures if it possible how to remove and reinstalled it . thank you max
I had this same problem. Mine turned out to be the relay for the starter defeat/anti grind. It seemed stuck. Had to bypass it temporarily. car started fine. Hooked relay back up and car performs normally now. .
It would be reasonable and logical that the starter motor or starter solenoid could be the source. Although it doesn't rule out an ignition switch.
Two things in my experience.
If rapid clicks, starter gear probably not fully engaging with flywheel due to insufficient current.
Low battery (may be charging issue if battery is good, Any independent shop will check battery/charging) OR the solenoid is shot (copper connection pads get worn out).
If it is intermittent solenoid, single click but no turn over then try again and works, solenoid is bad as above. Usually this deteriorates over time especially in cold climates like New England.
If you believe solenoid, pull starter out and take to auto electrical shop for a rebuild. If cold climate, the starters take a beating and they will rebuild starter & solenoid.
Folowing not likely but...late models use a relay. The ignition switch controls the relay, the relay feeds the solenoid, solenoid feeds starter. I did have a 1997 Tahoe that was intermittent (turn key twice it starts). I did not believe solenoid was bad since I'm warm climate. This can be (carefully, know what your doing & verify relay part numbers) checked by substituting a relay from another "non-vital" circuit (say air conditioning). The relays MUST be the same so verify part number.
My Thaoe's electrical diagram did NOT show the relay and I almost rebuilt starter. I could not believe solenoid was issue. It was bad relay, $23 at NAPA.
I would be suspicious of a weak battery first because it is only during cold weather. This is when the battery is most susceptible to failure. Drop it off at your local independent shop that you use outside the night before when it is cold, and with a little luck it will happen so it can be diagnosed.
This is caused by not enough power reaching the starter solenoid to make it engage the starter motor. The culprit could be: a) a weak battery (only if it turns the starter slower than normal when it does turn it)b) worn ignition switch contacts c) loose wire connection (somewhere from switch to solenoid) d) a wire that has developed high resistance or become frayed or worn out. e) worn starter solenoid f) on newer models an ignition relay
I had this problem on two older model cars I owned, on both my cars the cause was the ignition to starter solenoid wire had developed high resistance. This is the reason newer models include a relay. I adapated a relay on both my cars long before this addition was included on newer models. This I�ve found is the main cause for clicking starter solenoids, and is very common on earlier models but many times missdiagnosed as starter, solenoid or ignition switch related.
It could also be a bad battery connection. Check the battery cables for tightness and sometimes corrosion.
1) Check the battery cable connections. They should be clean & tight. 2) Check the connection at the starter. They should be clean & tight. A loose ground cable on the battery. Check ground cable on the starter.
Where is the thermostat on your car?
Passenger side front of the car follow the radiator hose to the engine that's the water neck and thermostat. It's all one unit on the 3.5
the switch that tells the clutch that it is all the way in might be bad. i have a 89 with the same switch but didnt know what it was for until i seen ur post and i went and tried it and it worked on mine but try and replace the swith that goes to the clutch pedal and see if that helps any
What do you do if a 1998 Chevy lumina won't start and the engine makes loud noises?
It the noises are a banging noise like a back fire, it is an indication of the timing slipping and the engine doesn't know when to fire. If the noises are more mechanical then there could be an internal problem. Check all fluids to insure that they are the right colors and aren't milky or frothy. This would indicate severe internal engine problems.
Lost key to car what do you do?
If the car is fairly new you can take the vehicle's registration papers and head for the dealership. Also bring some personal ID with you. The dealership can make new keys by using the vehicle vin numbers. If your locked out you can record the vehicle's vin # located on the dash on the drivers side lower corner of the windshield.
Is there fuel pressure to the injector rail?
You changed the ignition switch now your 2001 Chevy Malibu wont start?
1 Turn the ignition switch to the on position
2 attempt to start the engine. then release the key to the ON position. ( the engine will not start)
3 Observe the SECURITY light. After about 10 mins. SECURITY light will turn off.
4 Turn the ignition switch to off. and wait 5 seconds.
5. repeate steps 1-4 2 more times for a total of 3 cycles in 30 mins. the car is now ready to relearn the Passlock sensor data code.
Start the car as usual. is it not complete.
How do you test an ignition coil?
How to test an ignition coil
This testing procedure is valid for just about any automotive coil. Using an ohmmeter, check the resistance between the side terminals of the coil. Do this with all of the wires to the coil disconnected.
You should see 0.75 to 0.81 ohm of resistance. Then check the resistance between either side terminal and the center high tension terminal. The reading should be 10,000 to 11,000 ohms. Any significant deviation from these numbers would indicate that the coil could be defective.
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You can also rest an ignition coil by using a volt meter.There should be a little over 12 volts pulse, or a dip and peak in the meter needle, rather than a steady 12 volts, at the output, while cranking the engine.
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Be careful about these answers. My voltmeter has a 9 volt battery installed. An ignition coil can produce 20 kV - that is twenty thousand volts! - at 100 mW, now that would bother me a bit.
So now, how can we check this coil safely? Well, start by shorting the output (the high tension terminal) and check the primary winding for continuity. On a normal meter 0.75 ohms might be very hard to read but, if you use a 1.5 flashlight bulb and battery in series with it, if the bulb lights, the primary winding is probably ok. (Unless its insulation has got fried by a fault called a "shorted turn", in which case the flashlight bulb will still light up but the ignition coil still won't work...)
The secondary, high tension, winding of the coil can be checked by shorting it with a high resistance load having a tap to form a 1000:1 split ratio, so you can use your meter to check for an output voltage of around 20 volts when a small 1.25 volt battery is connected and disconnected to the primary.
The actual output voltage should let you work out the turns ratio between primary and secondary of the coil. maybe Note: to see the output voltage for a longer time, add a diode and capacitor onto voltage divider tap.
I need to know how to check a coil on a Honda accord 94
What could be the causes if a 1990 Chevy Cavalier wont start?
first make sure that you have a fully charged battery. if you do and turn the ignition on and do not get even a clicking sound see if the starter is good it could also be the ignition switch.so check that and all your fuses. also make sure that all your ingnition wires are seeted properly.
Your 1992 Honda Civic will turn over but not start what do you do?
it could be alot of things one could be your fuel pump try hitting your gas tank and try turning it on at the same time hit it with something hard but try not to dent your gas tank. it could be your starter if you have sounds sometimes that results in the alternator but if your car is turning over it sounds like the fuel pump u can also try getting a can of quick start u spray it where your air filter runs to from the air filter not where the filter is ur carborator make sure u spray it and close it then try turning it on
Why would a new starter make a screeching noise when started on a 1991 Buick LeSabre?
I COULD BE THAT IT IS NOT LINED UP, NEEDS SHIMMS
go back and pretend like your taking your alternator out...but don't actually remove anything... ..an old trick to double check all the harness connectors...you may have accidentally disconnected something withouth realizing it... make sure all the wires are also connected to the RIGHT places... ...not fixed? forget you ever did anything and approach it like a "no-start"(get outside the box) read the diagnostics in a manual..(spark, etc, as you may have fried something.... good luck, also everyone should have a manual for their vechicle, and the library should have a professional shop manual available in the reference section for FREE to make copies of--the PRO manual has more detailed info, and may have wiring diagrams when needed...read up and fix 'em like a PRO...good luck Dave :)
2001 2.0 jetta will not turn over but has power to every thing car ran fine 4 hrs before this?
ignition switch
Why 1996 patherfinder fail to crank after stopping the engine?
Dead or weak battery? Loose or corroded battery terminals? Bad starter? Bad starter solenoid? Neutral switch?
1999 Ford f150 turns over but won't start?
check for spark from the coil you can do so by taking off one plug wire and placing near the valve cover you should see a flash of electric current if no current start by checking the main fuses and eventually the coil itself
My car wont start after driving it for a while and when it sits without running it will then start?
Check the cars ignition coil and crank sensor. Either of these could be overheating and causing the car to not start until it sits for a while.
How do use your Picasso to jump start another car?
While he is in the middle of painting another nude portrait of his sister smack him over the head with his easel. Then drag the perverted artist by his feet with the help of his sister (to not waste time she need not dress) out to the parking lot where your vehicle is parked. Now with hoods open on yours and running vehicle which you will be receiving jump from make sure vehicles are approx. 5'4" apart due to Picassos height. Now connect lower limbs to service vehicle right foot positive(+) left foot Neg(-) best placing posts between toes.Now place right hand positive(+) and left hand Neg(-) on helper vehicle also placing posts between fingers. Let vehicle charge for 5 minutes prior to starting. Once you have succesfully started your vehicle using your Picasso you will have the rest of the afternoon to spend time with his sister since he will not be in the mood to finish his painting. This is how you use your Picasso to jump start another car!
Sportster starter is slow to turn over takes a few sec then is slow to turn over can you help?
Check the battery ... Most likely needs replacing with a new one.
Your car was running fine then wont start but will start after a couple of days?
I am not sure of the type of car. I had the same problem with a Chev Beretta. It would not bring up a computer code so I tried different things without success. I changed the computer and it fixed the problem and is doing fine. That worked for me. Anyway good luck
