Bluetop won't start

[AE86less]

I missed the classic Jap meet today because my starter died

Over the last few weeks the car (aw11) has been having trouble starting (turns over real slowly then gets going), sometimes worse than others. I put this trouble down to the starter being on the way out. Of course the starter chose today to die (It went turn... turn.. turn......... pfssst... nothing). So I whipped the starter off the fxgt and spent a couple of hours fkn around making it all go on (It's a fkn bitch to make it fit without removing anything else, I did it though!). I finally sort it and go to turn the key: It turns once and then nothing. "F&#^ING CAR!! $&#^$*#^"!! Anyway, I thought that maybe i'd run the battery flat so I whacked on some jumper leads and tried again: Turn.......... turn....turn, turn..... nothing *I kept the key turned* turn.......... turn...... turn.. turn *pump the gas* turn, Start.

By the time I got the car started it was about 3pm, I cruised over to one tree hill to see if I could spot anyone, but nothing, so I cruised home. Total running time is 40 mins. I got home, turned off the car and instantly tried to start it: turn..... nothing. I haven't tried jumping it again.

NOTE: I serviced the car about two weeks ago with semi-synth oil, I don't know what was in there before. I don't know exactly when it started having trouble, but it was about the same time as this. I have also noticed it runs a fraction warmer than before (although hard to tell on the factory temp gauge).

I have no idea what has caused this


Help?

[g-lo]

sounds like your battery is stuffed.
do a load test and it would probably
pay to check your alternators charge
rate at the same time

[AE86less]

It's possible that the battery isn't the best, but it shows a good voltage on the factory gauge.

Let's remember that even with the current from another running car at only just managed to start. Is there something that could make it incredibly difficult to turn over?

[Boosted_162]

if a battery is too dead, it will not start even with a jump or push start. we found this out on an old sigma

[AE86less]

True...

Ok, cheers. Will have to try another battery

[rollaholic]

in my experience battery problems are a symptom, not a cause - replacing it may disguise the issue in the short term, but unless the battery is really old / poorly maintained it went flat for a reason!

[pc]

Trying a different battery should tell you if there is major problem with the old one.
The engine probably isn't seizing, as you would probably be able to tell while driving it.
You've tried jumper leads - and only the deadest battery should foil that.
replaced the starter, so...

check earths?

[gmacrae]

Yep, sounds like a shit battery, i've had exactly the same thing happen on a couple of cars. The batterys failed due to some kinda internal short and would not let the car start no matter what (jumped, crashed etc).... Those aw11 starters are also pretty crap, as will be the fxgt one you tried if its from a bigport.

So, battery first, if no go, then there is actually a chance BOTH starters are bad. I've had a starter work and then not work depending on how tight i had it bolted in, or works on the ground, but not in the car. They can be bahave pretty weird if they're on their last legs.

[postfach]

Definitely check the earth from your battery to the chassis, even if it was working before, It can $&#$% out, happened to me, and happened to one of my mates. Moved it to another place and it was an instant cure.

[pc]

Oh, and a point about earths. You can measure the continuity and voltages with a multimeter and it looks ok, but it may not be earthed well enough to start the car.
So cleaning all earth contacts and checking that steel is bolted to steel etc. is a good idea... there should be more than one wire from battery to chassis also.