Problems with starting, <<Whats wrong???>> Options

[Niskyspy]

Hello, well lets start from the begining.
This started happening to me in the begining of the summer.
1) First thing, the car didn't want to start from the first try.
2) Couple of week later it changed, when I try to start it all I hear is a click like the starter is engaged but cannot start the engine. But on the 2-3 time the engine would start anyway.
3) Now especially if it's humid or its raining the car will start from 6-20 tries and its the same thing, all I hear is a click and no enigne spinning and then after a couple of tries it starts normally.

What I did:
1) Brought it to AutoZone and checked my starter (my friend who works there told me that my starter is 100% fine).
2) I thought it might be something with electrical so I ordered and changed, (spark plugs, ignition coil, ignition rotor), the I cheked and cleaned battery terminals and added an additional 4ga ground. But nothing seemed to work.

I would like to know if any of you had this kind of problem with 6g and what you might this this starting problem is caused by.
Thank you very much

[DomGT]

Those are the tell-tale signs of a dieing starter. The starter may have been fine when your friend checked it, it takes a long time for a starter to officially quit. Install a rebuilt one and you won't have to worry about it again.

[MaskedMan]

rebuilt one's are $99 at autozone if you give them your old one as a core charge

[j0e_p3t]

sounds like the same problem i had when i first got my car. thought i needed a new starter. turned out i just had some wear and tear on the starter wires.

[malpaso]

Maybe that should sound silly but did you recharged/replaiced your car battery?

(last time I heard clicking sound and engine not started It was because weak battery power)

[sinner96ST]

I would seriously consider checking the battery.

For some odd reason, the only quirk i've ever had with my ST, is electrical.

My battery died once, and the ST never recovered. Kept having symptoms like what you're describing, until I replaced the battery. I swear, my car hates the cold, if I leave it sit for more than a day in cold weather, it refuses to start.

[MaskedMan]

Well things that i can think of that may be wrong is the proper voltage not getting to the starter. This could be cuased by...

1. Engine not grounded good. Or loose grounds in general.

2. Problem with the starter relay actually activating the starter.

3. Weak battery

or

4. Loose battery connections.

This post has been edited by MaskedMan: Jul 13, 2006 - 2:12 AM

[Xpander]

I had this same problem with my starter on my 3SGTE, but I'm sure this will apply to your car as well. The starter is fine except for the Starter Contacts and/or Starter Armature. You can get the Contacts from the dealer, mine cost me $7, a new Armature is about $25. Not really to hard to fix yourself.

Keep in mind this is for a 3SGTE, not sure how different 7AFE starters are.

Remove the 3 cover bolts.

Remove the nuts on either side of each Contact.

Remove the Armature.

The contacts should come out when you press the stud thru.

If the Contacts or Armature looks like this, then replace with new.

Bunch of pics I know, but hope this helps you out some.

-Colin

[MaskedMan]

hey thanks for posting that man, im sure that helped out a lot of people. (including me)