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

[hoiho.livejournal.com]

When did you last run her? Could it just have needed the fuel line/pump priming, which yuo did by turning the starter handle? It's the simplest thing I can think of.

[chrisvenus]

Well, I'm no mechanic but I have tinkered a bit. That lack of any noise is clearly the starter motor as you said. If I recall correctly a jammed starter motor usually goes "clunk" or "click" or something rather than making no noise at all. If this was the case though then I can happily believe that using the handle might mechanically disengage the starter motor in a way that the electric start wouldn't have done. However, I am not sure what would cause the starter motor to stick really.

I'm not sure I believe other people's comments on fuel lines since even if there is no petrol anywhere in the car turning the key should turn over the engine via the starter motor (which is entirely battery powered). Next time it does it I'd suggest peering at the starter motor to see if it looks alright. And in fact I would suggest peering at it before then to know what it should like like and where it is.

Oh, and lastly I should disclaim that I have never tinkered with a car as old as yours so it could be that what I am saying is only really valid on newer cars. Certainly I have no idea where the starting-handle comes into things or what kickback or lack of it might mean. :)

Anyway, good luck with sorting it.

[rysmiel.livejournal.com]

My family used to have a car that behaved very like this; what was happening was a starter motor problem, but not a blockage. The starter motor was for some unfathomable reason tending to come to rest with the little rotating magnetic bit perpendicular to the poles where current comes when one turns the ignition [ ooh, technical terms ] and any kind of jiggling the starter motor to get that off alignment would then let it start fine. My father got in the habit of carrying a Very Long Skewer with which to poke the starter motor directly, mostly so that he could make people boggle by fixing his problems with a dramatic stabbing motion under the bonnet.

[ewx.livejournal.com]

Your dessert seems to be rather giggly just now l-)

[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?