electric works, I just replace the starter.
so I'm not sure what it is.
2006-09-19 18:10:42 · 12 answers · asked by lalondejr_donald 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If it just clicks... it is not the starter! Check the battery and since it is a 93 check the cables and clean them off to make sure they have good connection... believe me.. I am a mechanic's wife and my grandfather was the best mechanic in our county!
2006-09-19 18:20:20 · answer #1 · answered by ru.barbie2 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's been my experience on several models of cars that when one of the five: battery, alternator, regulator, solenoid, starter go bad, it causes the other four to work overtime.
If the battery is less than 2 years old, it's probably good. If you have headlights, without the motor running, that will prove you have battery power.
I would think the replaced starter had a solenoid with it. If it is a rebuilt/refurbished starter you can suspect the solenoid.
If the starter is not fully flush/seated against the flywheel housing, the starter gear can't mesh. More common than you think on a starter replacement.
Without diagnostic equipment, you have to test each unit. One thing you can do is while the car is running in idle is: to already have a loose positive cable to the battery ready. If the engine still runs after you disconnect the positive cable (and be a little careful) that means you have an adequate alternator.
A parts house will test your amps coming from the alternator. If the car won't start after a day, the regulator could be bad.
Good luck. I'm a shade tree mechanic. I saw your post and the memories came back.
2006-09-19 18:35:41 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first thing you need to do is check the battery cables. I had a customer once who drove 40 miles after jump starting his van. After he shut the engine off it would not start. All he got was a click from the starter. He replaced the solenoid, the control module, the voltage regulator, and even had his alternator and starter tested. I recommended he check the battery cables. He got angry and insisted he knew they were alright because he had just changed them before he had the problem. Finally, after spending almost all day in 100+ degree heat with his wife and dog and two kids in his black van, he decided to call in a mobile service. The mechanic who showed up crawled all over the vehicle and checked everything. He finally found the problem. The negative battery cable wasn't tight where it grounded to the frame. It cost him over $100.00 in parts he didn't need, and around $75.00 for a mechanic to come and spend an hour to find the problem. All it was turned out to be a loose wire.
That said, pull the starter and have it bench tested if the battery cables turn out to be okay and tight everywhere. There have been faulty starters come right out of the box. Don't presume it isn't bad because you just replaced it. Just getting a single click from a starter usually means a low battery, bad cables, or a bad starter.
On the chance it might be a defective alternator, under no circumstances should you disconnect the battery while the engine is running. This could cause you thousands of dollars in damage from the power spike the alternator will send through the electrical system when the alternator peaks, especially in that year of vehicle. This is 1950's technology being applied to 1990 year range vehicles. Always have it bench tested to avoid damage to your electrical system.
2006-09-19 18:45:58 · answer #3 · answered by Thomas S 3 · 1⤊ 0⤋
If you get a click noise it is not the starter...when was the last time you changed the battery. Did it just stop working or have you not used the car for a while...if the latter I would look into the battery.
If you have manual transmission try to by-pass the battery and see if you can drive it. That will at least help you troubleshoot somewhat better.
2006-09-19 18:46:47 · answer #4 · answered by LUCKY3 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I'm no expert, but if there *is* a solenoid 'click' and the starter is in good shape, that usually means lack of high-current capability like bad battery connections, or connector on the starter itself (or even a battery that reads normal but has lost ability to handle much current draw). One way to test: jumper cables directly from battery terminals to the starter terminal (and ground).
2006-09-19 18:22:56 · answer #5 · answered by Russell L 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
check the battery cables to make sure they are tight on the terminals. make sure the shifter is all the way in park....a friend of mine, recently did the same thing, couldnt get his car to start for nothing, i went over to his house, got in made sure the shifter was all the way in park, turned the key and it fired right up....
2006-09-19 18:18:09 · answer #6 · answered by daddysboicub 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Thats a gm motor, try bypassing the selonoid with a screwdriver, if you dont know how, post the ? and I will tell you. I think it is the selonoid, pretty common for that year.
2006-09-19 18:16:52 · answer #7 · answered by unclesyco 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try replacing the solenoid.
2006-09-19 18:14:25 · answer #8 · answered by sponge 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like the alternator to me.
2006-09-19 18:17:55 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
some times the manufacter send out defective units to their retailers , try to take it back and have it tested
2006-09-19 18:21:35 · answer #10 · answered by wd 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋