Need Help, Baaaaad! My Baby Won't Start
03-03-2003, 12:05 PM
#1
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 13
Walked into the garage yesterday to fire my baby up. (Don't like to leave it alone for too many days. 5 since starting and driving, this time) Inserted key, turned, and no start. Okay, everything sounded psuedo-normal for a cold start on a somewhat cold day. Turn again. No start. Turn again, and I don't like to grind it for that 10 sec mark. Not even close. Usually, she fires right up. No dice. Getting pissed. Try again. No workee. Flooded perhaps? Pedal down full, turn key. Nothing. Wait a while.... One beer, two beers, three beers, who's counting... Prayers said, attempt again. Ladies and gents, the sound wasn't normal. Sounded as if nothing was engaging, and just the starter was whining. Getting scared. Strong battery, try again. Didn't even sound like she was trying to turn over. Just that high starter sound, ya' know? Getting bad scared. Went to my Wrangler and thanked her for running, because I just haven't reached the acceptance phase, yet. If anyone, and I mean anyone, has any words of wisdom, please yell! I baby my baby and this is just damn peculiar, not to mention wrong. Thanks for any help. -Gary 
03-03-2003, 01:09 PM
#3
Senior Member
Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Indianapolis, IN
Posts: 123
Mine wont start either....... but then again it is on my buddies basketball court in his backyard, covered with bout 8" of snow and has a dead battery .
I dont really know what to tell you.... so you say that the starter doesnt even sound like it is spinning the flywheel????
I dont really know what to tell you.... so you say that the starter doesnt even sound like it is spinning the flywheel????
03-03-2003, 01:15 PM
#4
Senior Member
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Vernon, CT
Posts: 949
If it sounds like the starter isn't engaging then the starter might be bad. Does it sound normal when you try to turn it over? If it isn't turing over then matbe you should check for spark. Did anyone have access to your car and palay a game by disconnecting the plug wires?
03-03-2003, 02:24 PM
#5
Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Wayne, NJ
Posts: 4,837
gotta be more descriptive a to the sound.
Is the ONLY sound you hear the starter motor going at a high speed, with no other engine sounds whatsoever?
If so, im not sure what type of starter is on the 3rd gen, but I've seen on fords where the overrunning clutch on the starter doesn't push the starter oout to engage the flywheel there-by only spinning the starter not evern attempting to crank the engine.
Maybe just your starter pooped on you like it does on fords?
kevin.
Is the ONLY sound you hear the starter motor going at a high speed, with no other engine sounds whatsoever?
If so, im not sure what type of starter is on the 3rd gen, but I've seen on fords where the overrunning clutch on the starter doesn't push the starter oout to engage the flywheel there-by only spinning the starter not evern attempting to crank the engine.
Maybe just your starter pooped on you like it does on fords?
kevin.
03-03-2003, 02:43 PM
#6
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 250
if the engine is spinning but sounds like there is no compression, i think you have a flooded engine.
Do you know if you have a bad water o-ring?? sometimes letting it sit for many days, the water sips inside the engine. if you couldn't get it to start with the padel down crank trick.
Try taking out the spark plugs, crank the engine and clean out the inside, and put a set of new plugs in. That should do it.
Do you know if you have a bad water o-ring?? sometimes letting it sit for many days, the water sips inside the engine. if you couldn't get it to start with the padel down crank trick.
Try taking out the spark plugs, crank the engine and clean out the inside, and put a set of new plugs in. That should do it.
03-03-2003, 03:32 PM
#7
Junior Member
Thread Starter
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 13
Thanks for all the words. I do appreciate it. Got home and attempted to start again. Negs on the response. As far as starter noise, I'll try and emulate. Please keep in mind, that before, approx. 5 days ago, she would fire right up with minimal effort. You know, on a good vehicle start, you get the great turn over and it engages. Yeah, vrooom, vrooom, vrooom to zoom, zoom, zoom. Well, on my girl, on key turn, I get sort of like a...here goes....a high...whiny reearrrrrrrrrr. Nothing, and I mean nothing is engaging. Don't make me do that again. It's too painful. Plugs? Starter? What would ring or seal failure symptoms be? Thanks for the words, could use some more. Anger....building.
03-03-2003, 03:36 PM
#8
Senior Member
Join Date: Apr 2002
Location: Bay Area, California
Posts: 250
just check and see if the engine is spinning when you crank the starter. if it does, the starter is good.
i think engine is not making compression due to the flooded situation, thats why its spinning fast and whines, since there is no resistance.
i think engine is not making compression due to the flooded situation, thats why its spinning fast and whines, since there is no resistance.
03-03-2003, 03:37 PM
#9
Senior Member
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: jackson, ms
Posts: 1,305
if it is almost like a circular saw-like sound, your starter might not be fully engaging, and or the teeth might be worn out.....double check the battery and alternator for charging.....however, to me, and having had FD starter issues as well, you should take it off and check it out.....it does not take any more that 30 minutes....jack that puppy up, and disconnect the negative battery cable.....undo the solenoid, and take the 2 bolts off the main brace....i believe that they are 12 or 14 mm....
GOOD LUCK
LOU
GOOD LUCK
LOU
