Anyone know about cars' mechanics?

[Reminiscence]

Almost every time I start my car it takes anywhere from a few to several times to turn the key before it actually starts. When it doesn't start it just makes a small click as if it were about to start but it gets no further than that. So far, I can get it to start everytime but I fear this problem will get worse. Anyone know what the problem may be?

 

[Karmic]

there should be a knob somewhere that you push or pull

 

[Reminiscence]

wut














Seriously, what?

 

[fading]

Almost every time I start my car it takes anywhere from a few to several times to turn the key before it actually starts. When it doesn't start it just makes a small click as if it were about to start but it gets no further than that. So far, I can get it to start everytime but I fear this problem will get worse. Anyone know what the problem may be?

It could be your battery, your altenater, it could be a bad spark plug cable , bad spark plugs, Fuel filter. Try checking out one of these.

 

[Karmic]

wut

Seriously, what?

isn't there like some sort of throttle thing, that depending if pushed in or pulled gives more or less power to the ignition procedure

 

[Reminiscence]

You mean the clutch? I pressed it in as hard as I could last time I started it and it still took me three turns of the key to start my car.

 

[mReEtTaIlRsEkD]

Is your car automatic or manual? Not that it matters.
Try changing your spark plugs. Easy to do yourself.

 

[Chromatose]

 

[Dead_Lioness]

Speaking of cars...
someone scratched my car in a parking lot
and I'm so pissed beyond beliefe.

 

[teredd]

isn't there like some sort of throttle thing, that depending if pushed in or pulled gives more or less power to the ignition procedure

Yeah...in 1926
That was sooooooo descriptive.

 

[teredd]

Almost every time I start my car it takes anywhere from a few to several times to turn the key before it actually starts. When it doesn't start it just makes a small click as if it were about to start but it gets no further than that. So far, I can get it to start everytime but I fear this problem will get worse. Anyone know what the problem may be?

Sounds like the starter solinoid.

 

[mReEtTaIlRsEkD]

Speaking of cars...
someone scratched my car in a parking lot
and I'm so pissed beyond beliefe.

Some dude sideswiped mine with his mirror at like 3 a.m. while it was parked in the street. Woke up to see a nice white line from bumper to bumper.

 

[neal]

check your battery terminals first. there might be some corrosion or other buildup fucking with the connection. if those are clean it might be your starter or alternator (as someone said above).

 

[teredd]

A buddy of mine had this two weeks ago. Thought it was the battery, so he bought a battery ($70). No help, so he takes it to the dealer and $500 and two hours later...new starter. Serious rip!
Depending on what you want in the car (new brand name sh**t or one that does the job) I'd say go to your local parts store. The thing has two bolts and 2-3 terminals for the wires. Pull it and test it there. Most often you'll get a remanufactured unit but does come with warantee. It's an easy go-no go item so you'll know soon if you get a bad one.
You've got a limited amount of time before that thing sticks for good...it's sucking amps and not letting the stater motor turn. Some daring people can actually get it working in an emergency by shunting the terminals, but it requires going under the hood and lacking the fear of sparks. Real fun on a rainy evening along the side of a road or grocery store parking lot...not that I've been there :b

 

[teredd]

check your battery terminals first. there might be some corrosion or other buildup fucking with the connection. if those are clean it might be your starter or alternator (as someone said above).

Good tip!
Yes, dirty battery clamps will reduce the amount of current going down to the starter. That's the most easy and cheap test. If you've got something scratchy like SOS pads or "scruber pads" or sand paper, or cleaner tool, loosen the 10mm bolt of the terminal cable and rough up the battery terminal and inside of the cable connector to make a good metal to metal contact

 

[Jody42147]

My first inclination was the starter, but I'm not a mechanic

 

[Bacchante]

The starter...thats what I first thought of.
My '51 Chevrolet has the same problem. We cleaned the spark plugs, checked the battery, etc etc, but it turns out the starter is just a piece of shit

 

[Necromunchkin]

Likely starter. Unless when you're trying to turn it over and any dash lights flicker or grow dim, then it could conceivably be battery/altenator.

 

[Anvil]

By the sounds of it, you probably can't do simple fix-it-yourself thingies with a car, so, instead of asking a forum:

Go to a Mechanic.

 

[Dead_Lioness]

I know shit about mechanics.

I'm one of those girls who would prolly get stuck somewhere
and call all her friends "eew what do I do now?"






nah I'm kidding.




nah, I'm not.






btw James: isn't that the most annoying thing in the world?
The person who scratched my car $%^$%^$^%$^%#$%##@@!!!