Last night getting off work I get in the car and am about to leave and turn it over like every other time. When the key gets cranked to start it just clicks once and the engine does'nt get turned over at all, just a click. So i'm about 75% sure its the starter gone bad. I spent 3 hours tapping the starter with a rebar and had someone try to crank it while doint it, no dice. Pulled the starter signal fuse, its fine. As far as the click in the engine, I felt the starter and had the key turned and I can confirm that that is what it clicking. So my guess is it engages but doesnt spin.

Would you guys say this is exactly my problem or should I check something else? Also are there any other fuses to check because when I pulled the starter signal fuse it still clicked when I turned it. Ive checked both fuse boxes in the driver and passanger sides and the fuse box in the engine bay, all I found for the starter was the signal wire fuse in the driver side panel.

 

y dont u just try another battery. sometimes the battery won't even jump. heard it from mizouse at a meet on saturday. that's exactly what happened to him. he replaced it, its fine.

almost every time i see these posts its the battery, but it could be the starter, just try a battery first, especially if it hasn't been replaced recently

 

I tested the battery, its at 12.7. I turned the car off, came back5 minutes later and then it didnt start. Ive got plenty of power

 

it really can be anything, terminals clean. just test the battery, check alternator, and if all else fails open up the starter.

 

Yeah, I have no idea. Ive checked it all that it could be and still no go, it just refuses to spin. It also gave no sign of it going i.e. sluggish start or anything.

 

Jump start it, if it starts, its the battery. Just because its reading 12.7v does not mean it has 12.7v under load.

 

^I was about ti say that.

 

I would think its the battery too. and yes, try to jump it. theres no harm.

 

with these guys

 

bingo. also known as AMPS. you can have 50 volts on your meter and 0 cranking amps, the car still will not start. my cl has a weird habit of killing batteries left and right.

 

take the battery to a local shop to have it load tested, u can do the same with the starter and alternator if u take them out

 

Yup tried to start it with jumpers today, still a no go. Having a broken starter is like a kick in the nuts from my car, its a part that gets used for no more than three seconds, but its such a vital part.

Ordered a used starter for 35 shipped, not so bad. Ill let you guys know how this goes.

 

same, i'll be upgrading to a 130a alternator + adding a yellow top to the trunk. that would solve it.

 

Just because you tried to start it with a jump does not rule out the battery.

My CL ate up batteries. It was not my primary car so even if it sat for a short while, the battery would be done. Not even a jump would start. New battery, cranked right up. The starter was original. Car was built in 2000 and had a hard 100,000+ miles on it.

 

been trying to say that initially

 

should be about 14 under load. not 12

 

i have a starter! i have basically an entire engine that im parting out. couldve bought my starter

 

Well we'll see what what happens on friday when I put the starter in. Im 95% sure thats what it is now because I pulled the starter out and left it connected, had a friend crank the car over and sure enough the gear shot out but did not spin at all. Also even when it was connected to the block and I spun it the lights hardly even dimmed, hardly noticeable.

 

Yup, it was the starter. Installed it in 29 minutes flat because I was at work and stopped at home on lunch to do it. Connected it all up and cranked without a problem.

Wierd thing is that earlier today I took my old starter to autozone and had them test it and it passed. My best guess is that when taking it out since I had to beat on the bolts it rattled the contacts together and/or me shaking it around to listen for loose parts may have done it. Either way I would rather have a working starter rather than a 50/50 shot.

Thank you for your adivce guys... I too did not think it was very common for this to go out on our cars since ive never heard someone complain about it on here, I would have figured battery if there had been signs of it going bad but there simply was'nt.