Car won't start - Think it's the starter?
 

Quick question.. On my way out to make a beer run, I go to crank the car up and it won't start. Everything else seems to be fine, I hear the fuel pump come on and all the other lights as well. Everything seems normal.

It's hard to describe the sound the car makes. The easiest way to describe it is when you try to crank your car when your car is already running. To me it sounds like the starter has gone bad. It never gets to the point where I hear the engine turning over. Anyone have any ideas or think I'm probably right? I'm calling the tow truck now to pick my car up in the morning to drop off at Mitsubishi.

Thanks for anyones help!
Mike

Let me guess,you have a Mini Battery,correct?

Yes. But what does that have to do with it? I've had the battery for over two years with no starting issues, even in the winter.

Update - I just got off the phone with a buddy of mine who's a mechanic. He said it was definatly the starter.

Can you elaborate on the mini battery?

i had this issue after a dealer reinstalled my starter a bit wrong. It ended up destroying the flywheel also i hope its under warranty{thumbup} i had to push start my car to get it to the dealer lol.. Just a question has it been making a little odd sound when it first starts for some time now?

o yeah ps that motivated me to start doing my own work... lol

Sorry to hear you had a similar issue. I have heard every now and then some strange noices while trying to crank the car prior to this. My starter has probably been starting to go bad for some time. My buddy definatly thinks it's the starter so I'm going to try and take it off myself tomorrow morning and go get a new one. I've never done this before so I'm hoping I don't screw anything up!

Thanks for your help!!!

My friend had same issue,weirdest sound I ever heard.I have alot of experience working on cars,Trust Me.I did voltage drop check at battery when starter engaged and it went down to less than 2 volts but as soon as key was turned off the voltage recovered to 12.6 volts.Turned out that the mini battery $hit the bed.
Replaced with a new Oddysey that I have on hand and to this day it is still working fine. FWIW he had an AMS battery that was less than a year old and they would NOT warranty it. It was summer when this happened as well.
Jump start your car and it will start right up. His was an Evo IX

I'll try this but it doesn't sound like the battery. When I turn the key to start the car, the car makes the sound like you get when your cranking a car when the car is already running. Again, I'll give it a shot and try to jump start it real quick. That would be great if it worked, but I'm pretty sure it won't. Let me go see...

The reason for the "noise" is not enough available voltage to do anything but spin the starter,not enough to get it to engage with flywheel.

I'm dealing with the same problem now. To get my evo started I have to turn the key quickly at 1 sec intervals. 3 or 4 times and it turns on, try that.

That does make sense. I just got back and I can't find my jumper cables to save my life. Tomorrow morning I'm going to borrow the neighbors and try jumping it. So, if the car starts right up, then it's probably the battery. I hope this is it that way I don't screw the car up anymore trying to change the starter out myself!!

Thanks for your help!

Not saying 100% that is it,just telling you the easiest thing to do before replacing starter for no apparent reason. Believe me,I had car jacked up and tools ready when I figured I would try this 1 last thing before ripping a starter out of a 6 month old car at 11:30 p.m,on my back in my driveway while trying to help out a friend,for FREE.... That reminds me to get reimbursed for MY NEW battery that is Still in his Car.....

Along with what Dan said, does it kind of sound like a high rpm humming noise of any sort? Because if it is, it could be the automatic clutch inside the starter not engaging, making for the noise.. If the clutch inside the starter doesn't engage it in turn doesn't grab the pinion gear for it to grab the flywheel, which would result in the car making the humming noise when you try to crank the engine over. (I just finished my basic electronics class at U.T.I. evidently I did learn something in that class..)

Looks like your were right! I got up this morning and borrowed the neightbors jumper cables. After waiting a couple of minutes I was able to crank the car right up. Instead of making the horrible noise like you hear when you try cranking a car up while it's already running, the engine turned over and fired right up. I let the car run for about 15 minutes and then shut her down. After a few hours, I went back out and it seems like the car cranks up quicker now.

I haven't driven the car for about two days now because I'm working from home due to my wife just having surgery. I may have left the interior light on by mistake which would explain why the battery didn't have enough power to crank the car.

Again, thanks for your help! You saved me from going out and buying a new starter! {thumbup}

Looks like you will be needing one of these really soon...
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ODYSS...QQcmdZViewItem
I just hate seeing people spend $$$$ on something that does not need to be replaced(ie: starter).Buy one of these battery's and you should be good for a few more years.
BTW,you most likely won't be able to find one cheaper with terminals.Good luck and good to see I could help{thumbup}