Starting Problems

[Fixxxer]

Hey guys,

Have had trouble starting my car only sometimes lately. Today it took me about 10 turns of the switch to get the starter motor to turn over the engne.

I get in the car, put the key in, turn it past accessories to the 'ON' position I guess, let the fuel pump go for about 5 seconds before turning the key to 'START' and nothing.... just cuts out the radio. Tried it about 7 times, then took the key out, turned it around, did the same thing, did the same thing first attempt, and then on 2nd attempt fired straight away.

Has this happened to anyone else? And what could be the causes?

Worn out ingition barrel not contacting anymore (I have no idea how it works inside the barrel)?

Starter motor contacts bad??

It used to only do it maybe once or twice at most, and only usually every 5 or so times of starting the car (it would usually strart straight away), but yesterday afternoon and today afternoon I had trouble.

Any other ideas?

Thanks,

Fixxxer

[Godzilla32]

If the key goes in and turns to start normally the first time before flipping it then its got nothing to do with the key or barrel. However commodores use an anti theft device in the key head that flipping the key sometimes helps, but thank god you dont have a commonwhore!

Most likely a starter problem. To be safe you should get a multi meter and load test the battery. First unplug the ignitor so the car wont start. Attached the two terminals of the multimeter to the battery terminals then get someone to try cranking the engine and while its winding over watch the reading on the multimeter. If it drops below 10 volts then your battery is dieing. If not and it stays around 11-12 volts the battery should be fine and you can be more sure its the starter/solinoid causing the fault.

[Fixxxer]

Battery should be fine, its a good battery, I replaced it only about 3 months ago....

It's not like the starter is struggling to start the car, it's like the power is not getting to the starter, and then suddenly i turn the key the right way or something and it fires instantly.

Fixxxer

[Godzilla32]

OK then we can rule out the battery, good. Next look at the starter & solinoid (which are combined) and earthing of the circuit. If there isnt a good earth (strap) you may aswell be not supplying enough power as its the same end result.

Deren

[brother_david]

I had the very same problem on my car some time ago!

It ended up beeing the front + and -poles on the left side of the engine bay.

The thing was that the prior owner had connected front-lights to the +pole and that created a gap big enough for dirt getting in and ruin the connection.

Apperently the connection was good enough for panellights and such, but not good enough for the starter.

If i recall correctly i think the windows wouldnt move either...

Hope that helps!

[Sumo]

As the brushes wear in a starter you will get an inconsistent starting patterns. But I have also seen a brand new battery off the shelf that I have had to fit to a customers car and it has had a brake in between the cells.

Do what Deren said by checking battery voltage, whilst cranking - this will give you the best indication, also check you main battery lead going to the starter - if these look ok - its time to pull the starter out, and give it to some mug they call an auto electrician .

Cheers

Sumo

[Fixxxer]

Ok I will look around the starter motor and see if there is anything wrong with connections.

Next I'll check the battery and connections to the battery, but like I said this doesn't seem to be a problem as there is plenty of kick to start the car when the starter works, and this has been a problem ever since I got the car a year and a half ago (with a different battery).

Fixxxer

[BH_SLO32]

I would suggest first checking the spade connection on the starter solenoid. Probably a loose connection. Seen this plenty of times in the past.

Cheers,

[Fixxxer]

Problem fixed (by the auto elec.).

Ended up being melted/poor connections to the starter motor due to not enough voltage to starter. The starter was removed and serviced and a relay circuit was put in to stop this problem happening again.

Fixxxer

[HTMR32]

Hi,

have that same problem too, in the morning i try to start the car and it does it about 3 times before it starts, could it be the spark plugs?

[heller44]

nope. the spark plugs won't be doing anything until the engine starts turning over. check earths and supply to starter.