Quote:
Originally Posted by jammies
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...
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The lights do come on. The battery is new.
She's taken it to a mechanic. Several, in fact, and they all said that everything looked okay, which is why this is so frustrating. She has had things replaced, at their suggestion, the last thing being her fuses, and then the car ran fine for a few months but the problem has resurfaced, worse than before. It turned over the one time without issue, then when she turned if off and tried it again, it wouldn't turn over.
Is the solenoid something they would check within a diagnostic?