uh oh.. weird noise leading to car not starting

[mrsleeve]

odd, well I would still think the starter will need to be changed out soon as the bendix did not retract but how the starter survived that I would not know, but hey drive it till it brakes then figure it out.

[volta06]

UPDATE:

So.. just for kicks, I had my girl try and start my car since she had to get in it for something. Amazingly enough, it started! (this was about a day after the last time I drove it before all this stuff happened) She couldn't tell if it was making any strange noises, liking the whining/rattling noise explained previously. I got to my car a few hours later and tried starting it up again. Again, it started fine.. no discernible noise, power windows, fan, a/c (if it was charged :)), sunroof all worked fine. Granted, I only left my car on for couple of minutes and didn't drive it. Is this a good sign or a sign of impending alternator doom? Could it just have been a fluke drive? Thanks again!

[E30_fiend]

Always works for me. You just have to catch it soon enough with the clutch. I've never had a problem.

2nd will work too.


E30Fiend

[wagonizzle]

+1 ^
definitely 2nd gear

[mrsleeve]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

hey there bro 1st is way to low of a gear to roll start, you will just lock, hop, the rear tires and jerk the the car around,

use 2ed gear if not 3rd.

[E30_fiend]

If your car is a 5 speed, just get it on the hill and put it in first with the ignition on and your foot fully depressing the clutch. When you get going about 5 mph drop the clutch hard and give it gas. After you drop the clutch you will know its trying to turn over by the noise.

So:

1. Put transmission in 1st with the ignition on. All dash lights should be on.

2. Fully depress the clutch and take of the parking break. You will begin to roll.

3. Drop the clutch and give it gas. Start to drive and don't turn it off for at least 10-15 minutes.

If you can bump start it, this will also be a good test for your alternator. If it is shot your car will just die while its idling.

Have fun.


E30Fiend

[mrsleeve]

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^


Bendix!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

thats the word I was trying to think of last night an was drawing a blank.

[volta06]

Ok, so if it was the starter. I should be able to push start it (good thing I am parked going downhill) The power windows and sunroof did not work, and I did hear a whining noise. So, maybe the started didn't engage.

But... if I can't jump start it, it's most likely the alternator? That's the two theories as of now. Unfortunately, I am not very well versed in car diagnosis, but I am grateful for all the advice.

Quick question on bump starting: How do I do it? Haha.. sounds simple enough, but I want to get it right the first time before I run out of hill :) Do I start to roll it and give it gas? Do I turn the ignition, or would that be pointless with a seemingly dead starter? Thanks again!

[DaveSmed]

Uhm, its prob not his alternator, given all of the problems he mentioned are in fact tied into the starter.


The HVAC, power windows, and power sunroof (maybe rear defogger too, I forget) are powered through two unloader relays which want to see a ground through the starter solenoid windings. They ARE in fact related failures oddly enough.


Given your description, the starter sounds really broken too. You should be fine push-starting however, as I would not suspect the alternator.

If you push start the car and it still makes that whining noise, I wouldn't drive it without first whacking the starter with a hammer while running to try and retract the bendix. It isn't really meant to turn that fast.....

[E30_fiend]

Ok, I guess I will have to do that. Thanks for the help. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. Are alternators difficult to replace, if it comes to that?

not at all. To make it easy on yourself, cut the belt to the alternator before so you dont have to work around it, then just buy a new one.

have fun and good lick.


E30Fiend

[volta06]

Ok, I guess I will have to do that. Thanks for the help. Hopefully it's nothing too serious. Are alternators difficult to replace, if it comes to that?

[E30_fiend]

I'd say its definitely a no go on driving. I mean all it will do is die on you if it is the alternator because the battery will eventually give in and you will be stuck. There is no bump starting with a dead battery and dead alternator.

Just find somebody with a battery voltage tester and see if your battery can hold voltage under load. If you do get it bump started, then you can test the alternator. Hook the voltage tester up again and if the battery drains or fall below like 10 volts or keeps falling, trash the alternator and the battery.


E30Fiend

[volta06]

Hmm, I will definitely check that as well. It makes more sense to me since I had other electrical gremlins as well. With a dead starter, I know that I can drive it safely, but with a dead alternator.. is attempting to drive a no go? My shop I usually go to is about an hour or so away and would hate to have to tow it.

[E30_fiend]

just a thought,

if your alternator goes out it can lead to some really weird electronic problems. Since your only back up source after the alternator is the battery, it decides what it wants to run and what it doesnt want to run. So this could be the problem that started it all. Alternator takes a shit and the battery decides not to disengage the starter, then all shit goes down hill. Also, your car not starting is a good indicator that your battery was powering your car for a while, thus sucking it dry and no start.

check the alternator out and see if the battery is keeping charge.


hope that helps.


E30Fiend

[volta06]

haha.. that could be interesting. That's two for the starter, and it definitely sounded like that. But would that effect the other selective electronics, like I mentioned?