Help with my starter please!

Dan_T_Mustang · Jan 11, 2010

Hey, I went to start my car today and I got a ticking noise instead of the engine cranking and it sounds exactly the same as when my battery died a few months back, however all the electronics and lights and stereo and what not all work perfectly so am I right to assume the starter is going bad?
Lastly when I first bought the car I did notice it took longer to crank then my parents car that so maybe it is the starter?

Can someone give me an idea of how much a new one cost installed or is it something I could do myself?

Thanks and much appreciated everyone.

Witzy0070 · Jan 11, 2010

Still could be a battery without a strong enough charge to crank. I'd start there, that's what it sounds like.

Dan_T_Mustang · Jan 11, 2010

Witzy0070 said:
Still could be a battery without a strong enough charge to crank. I'd start there, that's what it sounds like.

I hope so but I got a brand new battery a month ago so I'm not sure =/

ivan12 · Jan 11, 2010

I would take the battery to get tested to your local autoparts store, most do this for free. My old battery had enough power to keep my lights on and stereo but didn't have enough amps to turn the starter. You can also have your starter checked at the parts store. It's not that hard of a job to do, it can be done with some tall ramps or a Jack and stands, and some basic wrenches and or sockets. A new starter might cost you around $100 depending if it's remanufactured, brand, Etc.

Dan_T_Mustang · Jan 11, 2010

ivan12 said:
I would take the battery to get tested to your local autoparts store, most do this for free. My old battery had enough power to keep my lights on and stereo but didn't have enough amps to turn the starter. You can also have your starter checked at the parts store. It's not that hard of a job to do, it can be done with some tall ramps or a Jack and stands, and some basic wrenches and or sockets. A new starter might cost you around $100 depending if it's remanufactured, brand, Etc.

Much appreciated for your input, also I want to mention that since i've had the car (2 months) it always took awhile to crank up then usual in my opinion. Do you that could be an early sign of a bad starter?

ivan12 · Jan 11, 2010

I wouldn't think so, usually when starters die they just get stuck or make a really loud annoying noise. I would think it has more to do with your engine, it could be numerous things though, dirty injectors, dirty fuel filter, or it might just need a good tuneup. Anyone else want to chime in?

Win · Jan 11, 2010

Once you test the batt. if it comes back good which if it does you then need to test the ALT and see if it puts out the recommeded voltage. At the batt when testing you should see a 13.8v output

OnyxCobra · Jan 11, 2010

Having the battery tested at a parts store is not 100%, they told me my battery was good but once i replaced it with a new one it fixed all my problems. If your car won't start by itself but getting it jumped will start it then it's probably the battery and not the starter; assuming your alternator is making good voltage while driving around.

From what I've gathered starters do tend to crank slower as they age, so it's possible if your car never cranked very hard that the starter is slowly dying. My dad had the same problem with his mustang and he said when he put in a new starter it cranked like a mo-fo.

If you do need to do the starter though, I think if you're at least a little mechanically inclined you should be able to do it yourself.

CC'S95GT · Jan 11, 2010

ck the battery connections first. if the prob persists look at the batt cables themselves for hi resistance in the cables.
slow start could be timing being off too.

94kingcbra · Jan 11, 2010

Did you try jump starting/charging it? If that DOES help it then you might wanna look at the connections/cables going to the battery, and the alternator. Cleaning the connections with some sort of wire brush helps. If jumping/charging doesn't help it, you will need to look at the cable going to the starter, and possibly the ground strap. Also, it will help if you pull out the starter and clean the mounting flange. This where the starter grounds through and if it is dirty, the voltage won't flow as it should. If you get the starter off, go ahead and get it bench tested too. Good luck!