Date: Sun, 26 Sep 2004 12:59:00 -0400 From: "saabturbo" <saabturbonospampam.z> Subject: Re: Starting troubles
> Sometimes when I try to start the car, I can hear the click of power going > to the starter, but it doesn't move. I have to turn off the power, turn on > the power and then turn on the starter again, and it will start. Sometimes > this has taken as much as 8 tries before it starts. The starter functions > just fine when it is willing to function, so I'm guessing that it's > something else. It has only been a nuisance before, but the last week it has > happened every time I'm going out driving. It has started eventually every > time so far, but it's not fun guessing whether or not I will have to take a > tow truck home. I agree - first check the connection to the battery and make sure they are solid and clean. Once a year it is a good idea (especially before winter) to unhook the connections to the battery and give them a good cleaning. Also get your charging system checked out at the garage. Could be the sign of a failing battery - they can check it and tell you. > > Another thing is that when the car is starting up, it jumps to 1200 rpm, > then it drops to around 3-400 rpm before it either stabilizes around > 900-1000 like it's supposed to or stalls because of the low revs. It's > almost like it is testing itself to see how low it can go without stalling > (and it sometimes does stall). It can of course be avoided with a blip of > the throttle, but that's just curing the symptom of something I'm guessing > is a bit more serious. Check all your vacuum lines for leaks. Usually with the bonnet open and the engine running you can hear it. Hope this helps!