Possible starter issue? (With Video)
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
Possible starter issue? (With Video)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WdrzH...1&feature=plcp
Car has been running fine lately until last Tuesday. She started cranking over more before she fired. Not immediately after shutting down but in the AM or after being parked for a little while. I assumed it may have been a leak in the fuel lines.
When I say taking more crank time I am talking 5-8 seconds instead of immediate fire.
I swapped out the fuel filter this morning and it fired right up. I thought it was fixed. After a test run of about 20 miles I parked in the driveway. An hour later I started it and it took a little bit of cranking to fire. It eventually did and I put it in the garage. Late this afternoon I decided to move it back out to access both sides of the car easily to try and sort the hard starting issue and she cranked a couple of times and then sounded like I smashed an owl with a 2x4
. The engine does not rotate now and make the noise you hear in the above video when the ignition is hit.
What do you guys think? Starter gone bad? Something else maybe? It's a helluva screechy sound... starter bearings eat it?
Car has been running fine lately until last Tuesday. She started cranking over more before she fired. Not immediately after shutting down but in the AM or after being parked for a little while. I assumed it may have been a leak in the fuel lines.
When I say taking more crank time I am talking 5-8 seconds instead of immediate fire.
I swapped out the fuel filter this morning and it fired right up. I thought it was fixed. After a test run of about 20 miles I parked in the driveway. An hour later I started it and it took a little bit of cranking to fire. It eventually did and I put it in the garage. Late this afternoon I decided to move it back out to access both sides of the car easily to try and sort the hard starting issue and she cranked a couple of times and then sounded like I smashed an owl with a 2x4
. The engine does not rotate now and make the noise you hear in the above video when the ignition is hit. What do you guys think? Starter gone bad? Something else maybe? It's a helluva screechy sound... starter bearings eat it?
Last edited by StuK; Mar 25, 2012 at 08:26 PM.
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 1
From: Wildwood Crest New Jersey
Just my opinion but looks & sounds to be a starter to me. My 1991 starter just went also,but was making a clanking noise before it went. By the way how in Hell do you know what a freeking owl sounds like when ya clobber it with a 2 by 4 ??? 
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Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120
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Fantastic. Better than a frozen engine block. From reading up on the starter replacement, looks like it will be a pain. 1988 C4 BTW.
Would it be easier to access by removing the passenger side wheel well or it it straight up only done from under the car?
I'm trying to remember if I could see it from the side when I took the wheel well out to get those two inaccessible fwd spark plugs behind the A/C compressor.
Just if you know off the top of your head. Not lazy here but, won't touch the car again until I have the part for the job next weekend. Too tight to get to the passenger side for a look in my garage.
Thanks for the replies!
Would it be easier to access by removing the passenger side wheel well or it it straight up only done from under the car?
I'm trying to remember if I could see it from the side when I took the wheel well out to get those two inaccessible fwd spark plugs behind the A/C compressor.
Just if you know off the top of your head. Not lazy here but, won't touch the car again until I have the part for the job next weekend. Too tight to get to the passenger side for a look in my garage.
Thanks for the replies!
Drifting
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 1,794
Likes: 1
From: Wildwood Crest New Jersey
Fantastic. Better than a frozen engine block. From reading up on the starter replacement, looks like it will be a pain. 1988 C4 BTW.
Would it be easier to access by removing the passenger side wheel well or it it straight up only done from under the car?
I'm trying to remember if I could see it from the side when I took the wheel well out to get those two inaccessible fwd spark plugs behind the A/C compressor.
Just if you know off the top of your head. Not lazy here but, won't touch the car again until I have the part for the job next weekend. Too tight to get to the passenger side for a look in my garage.
Thanks for the replies!
Would it be easier to access by removing the passenger side wheel well or it it straight up only done from under the car?
I'm trying to remember if I could see it from the side when I took the wheel well out to get those two inaccessible fwd spark plugs behind the A/C compressor.
Just if you know off the top of your head. Not lazy here but, won't touch the car again until I have the part for the job next weekend. Too tight to get to the passenger side for a look in my garage.
Thanks for the replies!
Safety Car
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 4,426
Likes: 229
From: Pennsylvania
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
Welp... Put in the starter. It wasn't too bad. Not as bad as I thought it would be but, she is still no bueno.
Seemed like she cranked over about a 1/4 turn and then froze again.
I am wondering if it could be one of 3 things?
It was frozen before also so, I don't think it was the starter but, if the new one "needs" shims for some reason I suppose it could have started turning and then hit a tight spot although it was a sudden stop rather than a "creeping pressure" slowdown to stop.
Could one of the accessories be frozen? (alternator, A/C compressor etc...) and would a frozen accessory stop the engine or would it try and slip the serpentine over the frozen item still?
Is there anything in the bell housing that could come apart that would cause this mechanical problem?
She was running fine Sunday morning although the slightly abnormal hard starting I was working on. Now she's frozen.
Weird! Any ideas?
Seemed like she cranked over about a 1/4 turn and then froze again.
I am wondering if it could be one of 3 things?
It was frozen before also so, I don't think it was the starter but, if the new one "needs" shims for some reason I suppose it could have started turning and then hit a tight spot although it was a sudden stop rather than a "creeping pressure" slowdown to stop.
Could one of the accessories be frozen? (alternator, A/C compressor etc...) and would a frozen accessory stop the engine or would it try and slip the serpentine over the frozen item still?
Is there anything in the bell housing that could come apart that would cause this mechanical problem?
She was running fine Sunday morning although the slightly abnormal hard starting I was working on. Now she's frozen.
Weird! Any ideas?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
On watching the video again just now... does the noise actually seem like the belt screeching on a frozen pulley? It was warm yesterday when I filmed the video... might have had more of a tendency to slip and screech? Tonight it'c cold and may have contracted causing a non slipping stuck solid condition.
I am leaning towards this theory but would like some backup on my thought process.
Check out the video again and see if the sound sounds like belt screech.
Thanks fellas.
I am leaning towards this theory but would like some backup on my thought process.
Check out the video again and see if the sound sounds like belt screech.
Thanks fellas.
Last edited by StuK; Mar 26, 2012 at 10:54 PM.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
first, changing a starter isn't that hard; on my 96, it was possible without disturbing the exhaust or cat's etc. the biggest pain in the butt was getting it high enough to slide my fat a** under neathe the car, but really, ramps were sufficient; just a little close.....
from your video it sounds like a frozen accessory; remove the serpentine belt and start it up FOR A SHORT TIME only; see if the sound reoccurs.
if it does reoccur, it could be a starter not totally disengaging from the flywheel / flexplate. lets hope its a bad accessory.
from your video it sounds like a frozen accessory; remove the serpentine belt and start it up FOR A SHORT TIME only; see if the sound reoccurs.
if it does reoccur, it could be a starter not totally disengaging from the flywheel / flexplate. lets hope its a bad accessory.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach Florida
first, changing a starter isn't that hard; on my 96, it was possible without disturbing the exhaust or cat's etc. the biggest pain in the butt was getting it high enough to slide my fat a** under neathe the car, but really, ramps were sufficient; just a little close.....
from your video it sounds like a frozen accessory; remove the serpentine belt and start it up FOR A SHORT TIME only; see if the sound reoccurs.
if it does reoccur, it could be a starter not totally disengaging from the flywheel / flexplate. lets hope its a bad accessory.
from your video it sounds like a frozen accessory; remove the serpentine belt and start it up FOR A SHORT TIME only; see if the sound reoccurs.
if it does reoccur, it could be a starter not totally disengaging from the flywheel / flexplate. lets hope its a bad accessory.
Racer
Joined: Feb 2012
Posts: 319
Likes: 0
From: Daytona Beach Florida
first, changing a starter isn't that hard; on my 96, it was possible without disturbing the exhaust or cat's etc. the biggest pain in the butt was getting it high enough to slide my fat a** under neathe the car, but really, ramps were sufficient; just a little close.....
from your video it sounds like a frozen accessory; remove the serpentine belt and start it up FOR A SHORT TIME only; see if the sound reoccurs.
if it does reoccur, it could be a starter not totally disengaging from the flywheel / flexplate. lets hope its a bad accessory.
from your video it sounds like a frozen accessory; remove the serpentine belt and start it up FOR A SHORT TIME only; see if the sound reoccurs.
if it does reoccur, it could be a starter not totally disengaging from the flywheel / flexplate. lets hope its a bad accessory.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 120
Likes: 1
Dudes... get this.
Smelling gas the last few days throughout the house so, I figured it was a little unburnt fuel from the hard starting before the engine quit rotating and I chalked it up to frozen engine or starter as was suggested on here. Now, it's several days after messing with it and the fuel smell has not dissipated so, I get a flashlight to look under the car for any wet spots. I found one between the front wheels. I pop the hood and see that the MAS is wet on the intake. I decided to remove it to see what's going on in there and when I unbolt the air cleaner, gas pours out of it. It's FULL of gas.
Question... does an injector ever stick open? I am thinking if that's possible, that's my problem. The engine won't crank because the cylinder is loaded with fuel to the point it's topped the intake plenum and filled the air cleaner housing. No air, full of liquid gasoline... no compression...
Does this sound reasonable?
I should be able to verify by pulling a spark plug and whichever one gushes gasoline will be the culprit.
Whatcha think?
Smelling gas the last few days throughout the house so, I figured it was a little unburnt fuel from the hard starting before the engine quit rotating and I chalked it up to frozen engine or starter as was suggested on here. Now, it's several days after messing with it and the fuel smell has not dissipated so, I get a flashlight to look under the car for any wet spots. I found one between the front wheels. I pop the hood and see that the MAS is wet on the intake. I decided to remove it to see what's going on in there and when I unbolt the air cleaner, gas pours out of it. It's FULL of gas.
Question... does an injector ever stick open? I am thinking if that's possible, that's my problem. The engine won't crank because the cylinder is loaded with fuel to the point it's topped the intake plenum and filled the air cleaner housing. No air, full of liquid gasoline... no compression...
Does this sound reasonable?
I should be able to verify by pulling a spark plug and whichever one gushes gasoline will be the culprit.
Whatcha think?
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 3,482
Likes: 196
From: folsom california
Dudes... get this.
Question... does an injector ever stick open? I am thinking if that's possible, that's my problem. The engine won't crank because the cylinder is loaded with fuel to the point it's topped the intake plenum and filled the air cleaner housing. No air, full of liquid gasoline... no compression...
Does this sound reasonable?
Question... does an injector ever stick open? I am thinking if that's possible, that's my problem. The engine won't crank because the cylinder is loaded with fuel to the point it's topped the intake plenum and filled the air cleaner housing. No air, full of liquid gasoline... no compression...
Does this sound reasonable?