October 18th, 2007 by The Bosphorus
Click… Click… Click…
Then, rrrr-rrrrrr-splutter.
Do that again and the truck finally cranks.
Whew.
Seems to me like the starter motor is kerputz. The Missus met me at Professional Honda Repair, which has changed its name, but I don’t remember the new one. It’s in Solway, if you’re wondering, and they do excellent work.
I’m irritated that I can’t fix it myself. I know I don’t have the time to putter around on it attempting to figure out what is really wrong, but I’d like to. I have this notion I could save myself money and hell, I’d have fixed it myself. Ah, well.
I just hope it’s the starter motor that is busted.
October 18th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
Bos, did you try tapping the solenoid? Depending on your truck, that might be an easy fix.
October 18th, 2007 at 9:12 pm
eh, seeing as how it’s at the shop now, they’ll still charge me an arm and a leg to tap the solenoid. That’s on the alternator, right?
October 18th, 2007 at 9:57 pm
I had a 96 Saturn many moons ago that had the same problem; I called the dealership expecting to replace a starter, and the guy said “Dude just get a new battery.” Problum solvd. Hopefully the guys at ProHonRep will be nice and tell you “$60 for a battery plus $40 for labor” (assuming that’s the problem) and not try to rip you off.
October 18th, 2007 at 10:41 pm
Just replaced my battery in car due to same problem. Thought it was starter but only battery. :-)
October 18th, 2007 at 10:42 pm
Oh, I took it to Auto Zone and they will test battery and other power sources to see if they can find the problem for you and it’s free, they even installed my battery for free.
October 18th, 2007 at 10:59 pm
I believe you should never do anything yourself that you can pay someone else to do–unless you enjoy it.
Life is too short.
October 19th, 2007 at 6:30 am
I hope you all are right and it’s just a bum battery. The truck has been giving me this trouble for a little while and battery has stayed strong. That leads me to think both the battery and alternator are fine.
I see your point Joel.
October 19th, 2007 at 11:18 am
Well said Joel.
I learned that lesson with Pergo flooring.
October 19th, 2007 at 12:10 pm
Shop called to say the starter contacts need to be replaced. Cheaper than a whole starter, more $$ than a battery…
October 19th, 2007 at 1:44 pm
Those’d be the solonoids, I do believe.
October 21st, 2007 at 3:55 pm
I had a truck that frequently wouldn’t start unless you slammed the driver’s door. Felt like Fonzie. Turns out the cable from the battery to the starter was loose.