mweinst

I have an 04 5AT that worked yesterday and won't start today. It's strange because when I turn on the key to the 1st and 2nd positions, all of the lights on the dash go on, every option in the car works, but the starter is not turning at all. When I turn the key to the start position, all I get is silence.

I checked most of the fuses both inside and outside the car, and they all seem good. Any ideas?

justnspace

iTrader: (1)

could be battery, could be starter.

check battery connection. make sure everything is tight.

mweinst

I guess I should have mentioned that the battery is new and everything electrical on the car seems to work. The only thing that doesn't work is when I turn the key to the start position, I get nothing from the starter. And yes, I do realize that it could be...the starter, but I wanted to see if anyone has seen a different cause for this.

mweinst

Ok, I did a little research on AZ and it seems like I should be checking my connections to the starter. If that doesn't pan out, I am going to remove the starter and have it tested. Does this sound like the right approach to take?

Will Y.

After checking the connections and before taking the starter out, try hitting/striking the starter when the car fails to start. If it starts then, your starter is on its way out.

dcmodels

Yes - and it is also easier to check the battery, before removing the starter. While it is unlikely the battery, based on OP comments, even a new battery can be defective, and a low battery has enough 'juice' to display the dash lights, but not enough to turn the starter - and I know this from personal experience.

If you wish to test your own battery, yourself, try this link - or remove it and have it tested at Sears, any auto store, etc.:
https://acurazine.com/forums/showthread.php?t=890429

YeuEmMaiMai

no start no click? check your solenoid wire and relay.

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

dcmodels is right. Definitely worth checking the basics.

mweinst

Just as a final wrap up, I took the starer to the auto parts store to be tested. The starter was so weak that the counter guy could stop it with his hand. I installed a new one, and am good to go. Thanks for all of the input everyone!

WI_TL

That counter guy is pretty ballsy (or stupid) grabbing a starter drive with a bare hand and power applied to it.

dcmodels

He was wearing a glove?

But seriously, how do you hook-up the starter, so that it can pull the required amps? I have never seen a test station for a starter, so do you use jumper cables and a regular car battery? because if not, the starter will not pull the normal amount of power, since it is not really trying to turn an engine. Just wondering if the described test, was a valid test - so that I will know how it should be done if I ever need my own starter tested.

Project_CLean

iTrader: (2)

At these auto parts stores, they have "spesho machines" lol, that are able to produce the amount of power a vehicle would. Each test is conducted per the starter's specs. The computer will ask the tech which Part #/Brand, etc. And they all have special connections as well for different types of starters.

WI_TL

I work at NAPA and we have a machine to test them. They don't drive a flywheel or anything but it does give you total amperage draw of the starter. Not a good mechanical test but 90% of the time if they are bad you can tell right away. I've even seen one start on fire. There is still now way I would grab a drive end with or without a glove on.

mweinst

Yeah, I was pretty shocked when the guy put his hands on! Like the last 2 posters said, the counter guy looked up my year, make, and model, got a code and typed it into the testing machine. It is supposed to exactly match the requirements of the starter for that car. He also tested the new starter before I took it home to make sure that it was good.

Nik83

i am about to order a new starter, but wondering if a remanufactued would be ok to get i have an 07 type s

WI_TL

Re-manufactured would be a good way to go. No matter where you buy the starter its probably going to be rebuilt by BBB Cardone Industries. Not always, but they rebuild a lot of them and for the most part they are very reliable.