Quote:
Originally Posted by Eastern Girl
It's not the battery, as she just replaced it.
As for the start motor, she said everything was checked out by the mechanics, and her fiance seems to insist that it's not the starter.
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Well, the mechanics didn't find anything, so I'm not sure I'd trust what they say on anything as far as "checking it out". If the battery is good (and I'd seriously ask her if the lights DO come on, as if the battery is known good and the lights don't come on, that points to problems in the electrical system, which is why I presume they tried replacing the fuses), then you look at either the electrical system or the starter motor.
Since you said it "sputters" but doesn't turn on, that sounds to me like the starter isn't getting enough power, which could be the solenoid as goinalltheway said. When you turn the car on, the ignition switch forces the solenoid to close a pair of contacts, which then allows current from the battery to juice up the starter motor, which then cranks the engine to start it. If the cable to the solenoid is corroded or bad, not enough power gets thru and you get the "clicking" sound or a short grinding sound as you describe. Or if the solenoid itself is gibbled, you might get the same thing. Or if the starter motor itself is bad, same. The purpose of the mechanic is to figure out which of them it is...