Start me up

[j4]

Had trouble starting the car this morning. I've noticed it's done the same thing a few times now, and I don't entirely understand why. What happens is:

1. I try to start the car, get a whirring sound and then nothing. Nada. Nil. Starter does absolutely zilch from then on, until:

2. I try to start it with the handle, and the engine turns over but doesn't start. There's no kickback from the starting-handle (which there sometimes is); just nothing happens.

3. I try to start it again properly, and this time it fires up perfectly.

I'm wondering if something is out of line, out of sync, or something (okay, so I have no idea, I'm guessing wildly with very little supporting knowledge) and turning the engine over is just lining it up? It's very annoying, anyway, although it makes a good spectator sport, particularly when it happens at work.

* * *

In other news: Had a lovely evening with lnr last night. Sin-free lasagne with weird not-really-white-sauce topping came out much better than I expected; dessert was wonderful. (;-)

Absolutely shattered this morning, mind, but still managed to get up, phone people about job application forms etc., and get into work only 10 minutes late. Go me.

I have a counselling appointment in about an hour's time. Ironically, that's about the only thing I'm feeling really miserable and stressy about at this precise moment... Hey ho.

Comments

[wintrmute.livejournal.com]

You press the starter, there's a whirr but nothing else?

SOunds like the solenoid in the starter motor isn't doing its job right anymore. (The solenoid can be replaced without having to replace the entire starter motor. Although once they take it out and open it up, they'll probably mention that the brushes are worn and could do with replacing while you're at it - which is probably about right.)

That cranking it with the handle sort-of fixes this seems about right, although I can't explain why the car doesn't start with the crank. (Cranking engine turns flywheel, jolting a starter motor that's only partially engaged, causing it to return to retracted position.)

Are you familiar with starting the car with the crank? I mean, do you know that cranking it in that way *normally* starts the car? Or is it possible that the crank-method-not-starting is unrelated?

[j4.livejournal.com]

You press the starter, there's a whirr but nothing else?

No, normally if I have a bit of trouble starting it there's just a whirr the first time, then it starts okay on the second or third attempt. In the situation I'm describing above it whirrs the first time then makes no noise at all (i.e. pressing the starter[1] doesn't do anything at all) thereafter until I've re-aligned it.

Are you familiar with starting the car with the crank?

I've started it successfully with the crank before. I've also tried to start it with the crank and just got a kickback that nearly tore my arm off at the shoulder. ("Mistakes you only make once", number 237 of an occasional series.) For the crank to do nothing is a bit weird... Though maybe I just don't have the arm strength to turn the engine fast enough! I'll just have to find a big strong man to come and look at my car for me. ;-)

[wintrmute.livejournal.com]

Hmm.. The whirring-starter-but-not-starting is almost certainly the starter solenoid being dodgy. (Dunno what it is about solenoids.. I've had one break in just about every car I've ever owned -- and it's probably one of the few parts that doesn't receive undue wear due to driving style)

The nothing-happening-at-all is different though. Umm.. I'd normally say the main starter relay was at fault here, except I can't see any reason why cranking the engine would fix it.. Relays tend to just work until they break, and stay broken.

If you happen to bring the car down to London and it's still not fixed, I can find out for sure.

In the meantime, I suggest always parking facing downhill :)