Starter woes...

**B34M3R** · 11-03-2007, 03:04 PM

So, I went to start my car the other day when I was leaving work and.... nothing happened.

First time in the year and a half that I've had it that anythings gone wrong... oh well. It is a 14 year old car.....

Anyways... The relays are clicking when you turn the key... there is a voltage drop (like 3v) when you turn it.... but NO sound at all is coming from the starter itself... I'm thinking maybe the solinoid is shorting internally? Which would mean replacing that bitch... I havnt gotten a chance to really get in depth, and check the terminals with my multimeter yet... but does anybody know any common problems with the 3.4's starters?

Also: FUCK where they put that god damn starter... I hate gm sometimes...

**2001NBMZ28** · 11-03-2007, 03:34 PM

Have the battery load tested free at a parts store.

**0rion** · 11-04-2007, 05:54 AM

agreed, start at the battery and connections first. Make sure your terminals aren't corroded.

**B34M3R** · 11-05-2007, 04:16 AM

Terminals are good... but while I could understand the batt not being able to take the load could cause it to not start, I don't see how it could cause the entire starter to just up and stop working entirely... there was no smidgen of a problem before this, and then BOOM, nothing.

**ghettosled** · 11-05-2007, 04:23 AM

have you tried giving it a good smack? you can have a dead spot in the starter and giving it a smack will jiggle it enough to move and turn over.

**0rion** · 11-05-2007, 06:52 AM

it could be a sticking solenoid. I've seen that more than once on a car. Whacking it will sometimes free it but you'll have problems with it sticking off and on until you replace it. Make sure the battery and connections are good before moving to the starter. A starter requires a ton of load, a battery can be fine to power lights and what not but as soon as you put the starter load on it the battery can't handle it. That's why someone recommended having the battery load tested.