So I had to get towed home today?
 

Here's the deal. I went out started my car, first crank, let it warm up, drove it to church (about 20-25mins). Come out from church start car first crank and drive to the mall/shopping area (another 20-25mins) cut the car off, go into the first store of the day for about 45 mins, come out and she won't start. When you turn the key the gauges come on, and the stereo lights up, the fuel pump hums but it won't turn over at all. I mean it won't even try and crank. So I check the relay, and a good samaritan tries to give me a jump to no avail. Soooo whip out the old insurance card and call for a wrecker. I get the car home and don't get a chance to look at it because we were supposed to be at some friends to watch the Panthers game, but I can't stop thinking about the car. I come home and just for the heck of it try and start it and it is still doing the same thing.

So what does this sound like?

Dead starter?

Dead alternator?

Both???

What should I check first?

Thanks in advance

Mine did a similar thing but it was after a long drive on a very hot day. Stored it for the night and it was OK - pretty sure it was the starter. Want to get rebuilt at some point. Good luck!

Hey - A least the game went your way!!!!!!! Also check the battery, if it's getting old, it can go w/o any notice like that....

Could be a ground. They build up resistance over time and stop all of a sudden lots of times. The starter is pretty easy to get out, so it can be checked. If the starter works OK when you check it out of the car, I'd seriously consider replacing the ground strap (or straps while your're in there). You might also be able to track it down with a VOM.

Starter solenoid?

Starter or batery.

I second the starter, or battery connections.

While the above are probably correct, I'll throw one more possibility in there - ignition switch. Mine went last summer, completely out of the blue. The car would bump start, but when I turned the key I got nothing from the engine - all electricals, fuel pump etc all running, but just no starter. Turns out it wasn't making the electrical contact in the ignition tumbler. I pulled it apart and was able to jumper it and turn the starter over with no problems that way. It's just a question of figuring out which of the holes in the tumbler are for the starter.

Chris

I'm with Chris on this, could easily be the ingition switch. Try wiggling the key in the ignition when you try to start it.

Update, I tried jiggling the key while turning the ignition and it didn't start. I can hear a click when I try to start it. Not a continious series of clicks like a starter trying to start, just one click and nothing. How do I check the starter and starter selenoid? Also should I pull the battery and take it and have it checked on a meter?

Do you have a multimeter? If so, use that to check both your battery and your starter. That's what I did when I had this problem, which is how I narrowed it down to the ignition switch. Do a search to find exactly where on the starter you need to connect the multimeter - I can't remember off-hand. There's a couple really good threads on testing your starter, I think with pics even.

Chris

I vote for the battery being shot.I always thought that lots of clicks meant a bad connection at the battery (usually) and one click means that the cicuit is closing but there is not enough juice to do anything else.If one cell in your battery has gone bad, this can be the result.

Since the jump didn't work, it's not your battery.

If you hear a click, that's the solenoid trying to push the starter out, so that eliminates the ignition switch. Since the jump didn't work, that probably eliminates the battery as well. Hence, you're probably looking at a bad engine\trans ground strap to the body, or your starter is just crudded up and old. Try cleaning the ground strap connection first...

ianc

I am probably not the expert on this but I second ianc's advice here and add a little to it...

It sounds like the starter is not turning for some reason. Sometimes the brushes get too short to make contact with the cylinder underneath (whatever the term may be in English) - or get cocked or something. This is normal wear and has happened on a number of my previous cars. What has worked before as a short term solution - NOT a fix - is giving the starter a weak tap with a hammer/rubber mallet - be carefull not to damage it. This makes the brush settle against the cylinder and voila, you can start once more.

The real solution is to rebuild the starter, not expensive or difficult. But check the ground strap first as this is much easier.

Good luck!
Michiel

Try to push-start it in 2nd; this will eliminate the ignition if it starts. After she cranks, drive her around the block and then shut her down and try to crank it normally. Doesn't sound like a big repair.
Ben

bump start her, and then go from there. I second Ben's advice.
keep us posted....and good luck.
(try not to worry, it shouldn't be a costly repair)
K.

UPDATE:

I can't really believe it but my car started and ran today on the first crank. After posting here two weeks ago I jacked the car up and messed with the ground. I put the car down and it wouldn't start. Well, we may be moving soon so I have had a ton of house projects to take care of. I went into the garage because I had to get in the attic. I figured what the heck I'll try the car. Sure enough it fired right up first crank, idled fine and everything. I drove it for about 45 mins came home and parked it. I haven't cranked it since then.

What the fudge is up with my car? What would cause to be that finicky?

As a side note it was the same wheather today as the day when all this started.

Does anyone have any ideas what would have caused this?

Thanks

Plenty of suggestions above. Almost all can be intermittent,

ianc

My solenoid did that...made me crazy too.

Welcome to the club.

Cheers,

Joe