uh oh.. weird noise leading to car not starting

[mrsleeve]

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


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

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

[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]

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

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.

[wagonizzle]

+1 ^
definitely 2nd gear

[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

[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!

[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.