is it my starter??

uberness408

ex supra ownwer
May 12, 2006
66
0
0
california
my supra has some problem cranking..acually sometimes ill turn the key to start and i wont hear any cranking at all. ill hear a click comming from the tranny or rear of the motor. i have to turn the key to the start position like 5 to 20 times befor the car starts up. the cranking when i do finaly start it though sound weak like its stuggling to start the car. but the engine is fine though it runs perfect. i did adjust my sclutch pedal my car use to start with out pushing in the clutch and i fixed it to start only when the clutch is pushed all the way. i dont knoe if that has anything to do with the problem.could it be the starter??
 

willfish

been here since 2003
Apr 23, 2005
648
0
16
50
Pittsburgh, Pa.
I'd would deffinately check and make sure your battery cables are on good an tight fisrt, ,,,
other then that, I'd put money on it being your starter...


Will
 

mickyg

7MGE MX-73
Sep 15, 2005
406
0
0
46
Melbourne AU
Two things are common here, either the safety switch (neutral safety switch on an auto or clutch engagement swith on a manual) or the starter. With autos, the safety switch is generally on the outside and can get dirty. Grabbing the shifter and rocking it back and forth between D and P while the key is in the start position is an easy test for that.

In the case of your manual, try turning the key to the start postion and pumping the last inch of travel on your clutch. If it starts better this way, it's your clutch switch. If it doesn't make a difference, move on to the starter.

The internal windings of the coil have contacts and they can become dirty or corroded over time. If this happens, some positions of the starter will work, while others won't. If it's possible to rock the car forward or backward a few inches, while in gear (choose 4th for easier pushing), you'll move the starter a bit and the contacts that work might be aligned, allowing it to start. To test, rock the car in gear a few inches and see if it'll start after that.

HTH
 

ValgeKotkas

Supramania Contributor
Apr 14, 2006
2,224
0
36
35
Over the pond
Yeah I have the same, and if I turn the stereo off(today I had to close he doors, take the e-barke off, so that less energy would be wasted(lamps)). Then it starts, but my father said, that he had some contacts betweenm wires or smt. looked at, and that repaired it, but now it's coming again.
edit:
We also have tried what mickyg said, and I remember that it worked (moving the car in gear), and once it stopped working, then we tried the stereo thing
 

Steve_N

New Member
Mar 31, 2005
763
0
0
Louisville KY
www.cardomain.com
Check to make sure the starter is grounded ok. The ground is on the back side of the intake (close to the firewall) If it is dirty or loose it will cause problems. Another some what easy way to test the starter on the car is to splice into the starter selonid wire. Wrap a jumper onto it turn the ign. key to on & touch the wire to pos (+) bat post. If it cranks the same (slowly)then its the starter. If it cranks good then it may be a bad ign lead wire.

HTH
 

malloynx

Member
Mar 30, 2005
877
1
16
44
NC
your getting a voltage drop going to the starter. what you hear is the solenoid and not the starter.

starter takes all the volts to get the vehicle running.