is my starter on my car screwed?

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

long story short my car sometimes had a hard time starting up. it would turn over for maybe 2-3 seconds sometimes then start up and other times it would just start right up. then other times if i stalled my car (yes i still stall my car every once in a while lol) and when i turnthe ignition the engine turns over and then stops and doesnt start up. this was quite troublesome when i stalled up a hill with a burger in one hand traffic behind me and a green light. took me 2 tries for the car to start with traffic waiting. well yesterday i pull over turn off my car. then i try to start it up and what do you know engien starts to turn over, then stops completely and i hear a scratching sound almost that stays on for as long as i hold the ignition into the start position (you know, the area when the engine starts to crank). so i figured my starter just screwed up. now the car does this everytime and i had to walk home haha.

1) am i correct in assuming this?

2) how much is a new starter?

3) are they easy to replace by yourself? or is a mechanic the best person to do it...

of course these questions are for if the starter is the culprit and not something else.

edit: haha thats funny. the first sentence of my post is completely false...long story short my ***. sorry about that guys.

Click to read more...

 

[DBfan187 5,000+ posts]

I'd say it's the soleniod. But it could be the starter or a combination of both. Tkae it off, trade it in for a core charge. Should be around $30 or so.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

I'd say it's the soleniod. But it could be the starter or a combination of both. Tkae it off, trade it in for a core charge. Should be around $30 or so.

sweet so hopefully that the problem as its not expensive.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

i should say one mor thing maybe it will clear something up and give me a more positive answer. the noise that comes right after the engine doesnt start kinda sounds like a softer version of when you tighten your gas cap down and it clicks. imagine it clickin like your gas tank cap, just faster and much quieter. help any?

 

[deadboi77 10+ year member]

yeah the clicking sound is your starter starting to die..its shouldnt be too pricey depending on the make and year if vehical cant remeber my be a core charge

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

so whats the suggestion? take the starter and take it to autozone or whoever does a core charge or should i just straight up buy a new starter? also anyone got any link that would show me how to change it or at least find my starter on a 98 explorer sport with 4.0l ohc engine?

 

[deadboi77 10+ year member]

give autozone a call or whatever part store you use and see how much a new is gonna cost with core(if theres a core)and go from there..as for how to remove/replace go to autozone .com type in make year ect ect and it should tell you how if not you could always by the repair manuel for you truck autozone should also carry it..very handy to have cuz who knows what other repairs down the line your gonna have to do and youll always have a guide on hand

hope that hepls

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

give autozone a call or whatever part store you use and see how much a new is gonna cost with core(if theres a core)and go from there..as for how to remove/replace go to autozone .com type in make year ect ect and it should tell you how if not you could always by the repair manuel for you truck autozone should also carry it..very handy to have cuz who knows what other repairs down the line your gonna have to do and youll always have a guide on handhope that hepls

yes thank you very much!

 

[killcrap 10+ year member]

if your good, you can just take the starter out and repack it. and check the soleniods. often times its just a weak battery, but it may be a bad soleniod. check that out, and your CPS

 

[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

http://www.autozone.com

 

[Primo 10+ year member]

hit your starter with a hammer.

 

[MikeofTulsa Moderator]

i know that sounds like a bad idea....but it works somet imes....it jars the starter and it solves the problem sometimes....thats how we fixed my fuel filter on my truck....we jus hit the gas tank as gently as possible w/ a 2x4 and it started right up

 

[supa_c 5,000+ posts]

good old brute force !

 

[IA2 10+ year member]

are you sure your battery is not dead/dying? or have you checked to see that the terminal to the battery is tight, and has a good connection? alot of times the clicking happens when your battery is dying.

 

[IgnoreMe 5,000+ posts]

are you sure your battery is not dead/dying? or have you checked to see that the terminal to the battery is tight, and has a good connection? alot of times the clicking happens when your battery is dying.

i went back there today to see if maybe i could start the car up to get it home. it kept doing the same thing over and over. finally after a while of tryin to get the car to start up, the battery is dead. so im pretty sure the battery is still good since it provided a charge for however many times i tried to start it yesterday plus however many times i tried today. the terminals are tight too. what should be my first course of action? remove the starter and get it tested, or remove the battery (dont know if you can test for a dying battery)?