Starter Problem?

[Jeremy]

Car : 1996 Acura Integra, 4 cylinder, 95k

Problem: It doesn't happen too often, but occasionally i'll jump in my car in the morning to start my work day and as I turn the key it won't start until about 3-4 turns of the key. It's as if i need to turn that key 3 or 4 times for the car to start. It generally happens when I have my car parked for a certain amount of hours in one location. Ie. Parked overnight until work the following morning. I guess its a very general question which could have several different scenarios based on my problem, but I was wondering if Dan or anyone else can weigh their opinon or assessment of what it might be? Battery problem? And my next question is....What is the symptoms of a bad starter? or a starter going bad?

Appreciate the responses/s

[way2old]

Does the starter engage and turn the engine over when it will not start? Or does the engine not turn over when trying to start. In other words, noise or no noise. A bad starter usually will turn the engine over slower than usual. This could be confused with corrosion in battery cables or a weak battery. Or it could be a noise that started recently on start up. Like a whirring noise as the starter drive is not completely engaging the flywheel. Sorry to jump Dan, but it is slow at the shop today. You can explain in more detail for Jeremy.

[Jeremy]

"Does the starter engage and turn the engine over when it will not start? Or does the engine not turn over when trying to start. In other words, noise or no noise......... . Or it could be a noise that started recently on start up. Like a whirring noise as the starter drive is not completely engaging the flywheel."

To answer your first question it turns the engine over when it doesn't start..meaning it makes noise...but I think its the whirring noise your referring to. I turn the key and it makes an engine noise as its going to start and then i have to turn it like 3 or 4 more times and it will start...its as if i'm turning my key to the maximum level for the sucker to start up. Then again it hasn't happened for about a week. When I start my car on a normal day...it sounds like a very weak start to my engine when I turn the key......I hope those details can help assess the situation. Thanks alot.

[way2old]

You might consider taking it to a parts store that will test your battery for you. Most parts houses will test it for you for free. Autozone, Advance and O'Reilleys do it here. If it turns the motor over sort of weakly, make sure you check the cables too. If there is corrosion in the cables it will take some of the current away from the starter. Have you tried to start it with jumper cables from another vehicle? If jumping it makes it start better, have the battery and cables checked first, then go to the starter. Let us know.

[Jeremy]

I appreciate the followup. This is a great website that I refer all of my friends over to whenever they have any concerns about their car. I will certainly followup once I get the battery looked at by autozone.

[way2old]

Cool Drop by any time. We are always picking on each other in the off topic forum. Drop in and say hello to the gang.