Starter Struggles to turn engine over

[Tim]

Up until last Friday the Festiva started up Ok, and for the most part fires right up.

But the poor starter is struggling, like there's a really heavy load on the engine. I checked my belts and the A/C compressor; those aren't to blame.

What could be the matter? Is my fairly new battery about to bite the dust?

Once the car's going it doesn't seem like the engine is bogged down; the idle is Ok and there's no loss of power I that I notice.


Regards,

Tim

[qaking]

Tim, check that your battery cables connections are not corroded or loose. Check all your ground wires, especially the one from your negative battery post to the top of the transmission. :wink:

[rotinaj13]

take a jumper cable and go from neg on battery to the toe hook and see if it starts any better..

[Tim]

Ok.

Will do that on my lunch break.


Thanks!


Regards,

Tim

[aithanmier]

sounds like your starter it trying to die on ya...

[rotinaj13]

or the solinoid isn't making a full connection

[Kitty]

The starter isn't dead yet. Its just really tired. Give it a day off. Treat it like its special. Take it out and treat it to a nice massage, get it a nice dinner out with wine and candles and hire it a little ho starter to keep it company in the suite you'll provide it. Should give that little starter the rest that it needs and solve your problem in no time.

[rotinaj13]

LMFAO that was pretty good!

[Tim]

That was good, I must admit!

Doesn't seem to be a ground issue, as the terminals were tight and I observed no difference when connecting the jumper cable to to the tow hook.

How do I check the solenoid for correct operation?

Regards,

Tim

[rotinaj13]

dude i promiss i will address that question soon.. LOL let me sober up a bit so I don't give u the wrong info and hurt u then u come here to hurt me LOL I'll give ya an awnser when i return.

[mattswabb]

I would think it is either a cable/connection problem or the starter is going. Take your jumper cables and go directly to the hot on the starter from the battery positive. Then when you put the cables on the batery negative make sure the other end in connected to bare metal, like something bare metal on the engine. The tow hook may not be a good ground if it is painted. If the starter still turns slow then take it out and take it to autozone. The can test them.


matt

[rotinaj13]

and yet there is a better idea

[Tim]

Ok.

Sounds like a good idea. I scraped some of the rust off the tow hook to expose clean metal, but maybe I didn't remove enough for a good connection.

The bad starter theory is a good one, as the engine cranked normally when I left the grocery store about an hour ago but resumed its sluggish operation after that.



Regards,

Tim

[Tim]

There's a better idea?

Sober enough yet to share it????


Regards,

Tim

[qaking]

Tim, is it hard to start when the engines is hot? Does it start okay when it is cold, like the first start of the day?