I tried to take my car this morning. I turned the starter, and didn't hear the normal sound it makes. The starter sounds like it's spinning real quick, but I don't hear the compressions from the engine like I normally do, just the spinning starter. I had to jump in another car and leave, so no time to diagnose. The car was running fine last time I drove it, a couple days ago. What should I check first when I get home tonight?

pull the fuel pump fuse and crank the engine until it gets compression, then put the fuse back in and start the car, this can happen once in a while, usually it happens when you start the car and shut it off without warming up



obviously let the starter cool down every 15 seconds or so

You just got the 'zing' of the starter right? Sounds like the gear didn't move forward to engage the flywheel?

Pull the starter and apply 12V to the solenoid that advances the gear to teh flywheel. If it doesn't move you need a new starter.

[quote name='Cheers!' date='Jul 11 2005, 10:20 AM']Pull the starter and apply 12V to the solenoid that advances the gear to teh flywheel. If it doesn't move you need a new starter.


[/quote]

That would suck, I just replaced it about a year ago. here.

Verily, it doth sound as if the starter solenoid be broken.

It's also possible that some of the gear teeth on the flywheel are stripped off.

[quote name='ZenRXSeven' date='Jul 11 2005, 11:40 AM']It's also possible that some of the gear teeth on the flywheel are stripped off.


[/quote]



You can verify that easily by taking off the lower inspection cover on the bell housing

Engine is spinning, I watch the pulleys move and can feel/see exhaust pulses, still doesn't sound any better though. I'll try cranking it again without the fuse later today and see if it improves, and then move on from there.

[quote name='Baldy' date='Jul 11 2005, 09:49 AM']I tried to take my car this morning. I turned the starter, and didn't hear the normal sound it makes. The starter sounds like it's spinning real quick, but I don't hear the compressions from the engine like I normally do, just the spinning starter.
[/quote]





[quote name='Baldy' date='Jul 11 2005, 12:57 PM']Engine is spinning, I watch the pulleys move and can feel/see exhaust pulses, still doesn't sound any better though. I'll try cranking it again without the fuse later today and see if it improves, and then move on from there.


[/quote]



you got the no start condition like it lost compression, pull the fuse and build the compression back up



I didnt think you would post that the starter was spinning without cranking the engine, you would know that sound and know it was the starter