help old betsy died!

Yoshida · UberTweaker Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 1219

okay for the past 2-3 months, my car (oldsmobile 88 regency) has been having some problems starting. before sometimes i would turn the key and the car would just whirr, so i tried it again and it would start right up. so i didnt think anything of it. as time went on it would get worse and worse where it would take 6 or 7 tries to start it. now it died and i havent been able to get it to start at all. i have a brand new battery that i got in september and a new alternator that i got shortly after. and a few new spark plugs. Its a v6 3.8L engine with about 108k miles. can anyone help me? im only 17 and i spend all my money on my computer so my wallet is a little light. id like to try and attempt fixing it myself before taking it to a mechanic. does anyone have any ideas? they would be greatly appreciated.

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Troy · SirTweaksabit Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 497

ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

yes....yes it does
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FreeTheRock [banned] · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:50 pm Post subject:

yeah thats the starter alright i hate replacing those damn things, ive done it 2 times and hurt myself both tiems, so dont try to do it yourself take it to a grage lol.

Yoshida · UberTweaker Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 1219

ahh crap, a starter eh? sounds expensive.

Troy · SirTweaksabit Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 497

You can get a rebuilt one for a resonable price. Check at Napa or Autozone.
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ToggleHead · TWEAKGURU Joined: 03 Mar 2004 Posts: 4360 Location: Jersey

or go to NOPI.com....they sometime have stuff like this for great prices.......and dont be discouraged......starters arent THAT bad of a job
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[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:09 pm Post subject:

it sounds like the solenoid portion rather than the complete starter and you can also get one of these at an auto parts store. But the starter will still have to be pulled to repair this portion of it. What really sets this off that it is a solenoid is that before he was getting a whirring sound which means the bendix was not pushing the pinion gear into the ring gear on the flexplate. There by signaling that it is becoming weak. And now I think what is happening is he is getting a click when he tries to start it but nothing else. And what caused it to get to this point is the constant trying to get the car to crank rather than whirring. And by the constant trying it has arced too many times and pitted and added carbon build-up on the solenoid contact.

Just check the prices of a complete rebuilt starter and just a solenoid if it is minimal then since you have to yank the starter anyways just do the whole thing. But if you just have enough for the solenoid you can get by with just doing that portion.

My .02
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Troy · SirTweaksabit Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 497

^^^^^^ I say get him to fix it.

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[KoG]^weaZel · Posted: Sun Jun 20, 2004 10:18 pm Post subject:

wha? me?? no not me anymore. I used to be a mechanic (both automotive and aircraft) but got tired of coming home everyday dirty and nasty. And I got tired of working on everyones elses car.
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[TN] Nathan · ALMIGHTY PWNER! Joined: 14 Feb 2002 Posts: 7406

It's the starter. They are pretty cheap.

I just had to do mine a month ago.
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Yoshida · UberTweaker Joined: 24 Dec 2003 Posts: 1219

k thanks guys, hopefully i can get it fixed one of these days. Im surprised this thread got so many responses in under an hour

Troy · SirTweaksabit Joined: 27 Feb 2004 Posts: 497

Hey what can we say........cars are cool too.
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