Starter Problem Maybe ?

[CactusWill]

Last few days, car won't turn over on the first try. It'll go maybe one half crank and wind down. Try again, cranks maybe once or twice over then stops. Try again, cranks over a few times but no start. Try a fourth or fifth time, cranks harder and engine finally starts.


It only does this after sitting for overnight or longer, if it has been run recently it will start just fine.


I don't know how old the battery is, I'm guessing maybe 3 years... But I don't think its the battery, because it cranks harder with each try, not slower.


So its gotta be the starter then, right? Could it be something else? If it is the starter, is it hard to change on the ecotec?

[jayson_waltz]

doesn't sound like a starter to me

[Redog]

Sounds like a battery or alternator :ninja:

[CactusWill]

I had both the battery and alternator tested at autozone, they said those were good. I dunno.

[CactusWill]

No ideas ? :(

[Midgear]

does it -feel- or sound like the battery is just draining out as your starting it? or does it sound/feel like its in the motor itself?

when's the last time you changed your oil? lol (I have to ask..)

[CactusWill]

does it -feel- or sound like the battery is just draining out as your starting it? or does it sound/feel like its in the motor itself?

when's the last time you changed your oil? lol (I have to ask..)


I dunno, I guess I described it about the best I could in the first post. I borrowed a jump box to try starting it off from tomorrow (or tonite rather), so after that I'll at least be able to rule out the battery or not.


I've had the car less than 9 weeks and changed the oil twice already, not to mention the oil was crystal golden clear when I first got it.

[Midgear]

well if all else fails run it over to auto zone and have em check for trouble codes.. it's free :p

[Gr1m]

sounds like bad starter connections

[Midgear]

I dont wanna throw out retarded sounding ideas.. but when my cousins car was doing that- he's got a 1.3 litre 16 valve 4 cylinder.. it would be really hard to start and would eventually fire up.

well.. one day he tried to start it and it just wouldnt budge anymore.. we pretty much new the motor was eff'ed anyways.. so he takes it out and dismantles it.. turns out a bearing thats inbetween the piston and crank shaft decided to fold over and stack lol.. what a horrifying experience-

but I seriously DOUBT that's what's happening to you.

[CactusWill]

Welp, I tried starting it using the jumpbox today and it fired right up. Went down to autozone and got a new battery, $80.


So I'll probably know within a day or two if that was the problem or not.

[Midgear]

nice.. I remember the day after i drove my car off the lot.. the battery took a shit lol. pissed me off because I was out of money.

what kinda battery?

[CactusWill]

nice.. I remember the day after i drove my car off the lot.. the battery took a shit lol. pissed me off because I was out of money.

what kinda battery?


Just a duralast, it was the cheapest battery I could find but the numbers are still good, better than the old one at least. 900 cranking amps, 650 cold, 84 month battery with 2 year free replacement. I figure it will outlast the car.

I've wasted money on expensive ac delco batteries and crap in the past, and the expensive ones have lasted no longer than the cheap ones. And I don't need an optima.


What else is funny, is when I first went to buy the car a few weeks ago, it wouldn't start because of the ignition switch. I already knew that was the problem from my research on here, but the dealer didn't, so I asked for $500 off and replaced the $60 switch later... Anyways, that was only a few weeks ago and they were cranking it over for about 15 minutes yet the battery never got weak? :blink:

[CactusWill]

Started right up today. I guess it was just the battery.