Hi,

My car has been having a bit of a hard time trying to start for the past month (or two). It's been slowly getting worst. Yesterday, for the first time it wouldn't start.

The engine would crank a little and then stop. I tried about 10 times. I noticed that after it stopped cranking, I could hear what sounded like a fan spinning (until I released the key). It got worst and worst. By the tenth try, it would only crank for half a second before it would stop. I waited a few minutes before trying again, and it cranked a little longer.

I also noticed a sound a few times immediately after the engine would stop cranking . It pretty much sounded the same as when you turn the key to start while the engine is already running. This sort of makes me think that it stops cranking because it thinks its already running.

At this point I gave up. I started talking to a friend of mine who is much better with cars than I am. We discussed a variety of possible causes. One of them was the battery. He told me to try turning the car on while the headlights were on. He said that if the headlights dim a lot while I try to start, then its probably the battery. I went down to try this (it was a few hours later now). I turned on the headlights and tried to start the car. The car turned on now. It had a little trouble, but it worked on the first try. The headlights never dimmed.

A little more info:
- The car has been driving fine. Once its on, its been fine.
- Every now and then, when I am idling at a light, it idles a little high (somewhere around 1500). It has always done this, so I don't think its related.
- I changed my spark plugs and spark plug cables about 3 years ago and I think I have done less than 15,000 miles since then.
- The battery in the car is 7 years old (and I believe it had a 7 year warranty)

Any suggestions? Easiest/most likely causes?

Thanks.

I'd say change your battery for starters, it will at least eliminate that as a problem, 7 years is getting pretty old. Another thing could be a bad starter solenoid/ignition switch not putting power all the way to the starter. But first try a battery, or at least borrow a friends and see if it helps the problem.

Your starter is bad. The solenoid is probably most of the problem. I have an ongoing problem with my 3400 swap doing that over and over and over. Last starter only lasted me about 1000 miles. But you should be fine with a new starter.





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It was the starter. Thanks.

Hey there, i have the exact same problem, its been going on like this for about 1-2 months; getting worse, sometimes my car will start 8 times with no issues; then boom wont start; cranks over and then stoops and makes that buzzing fan noise thing; my starter was jus treplaced maby 4-5 years ago with a new one....

I have the smaller gear reduction starter; apprently there is a normal size starter and the smaller one..
I have a 98 2200 fire, i think i will save for a starter now...






98 j-body sedan

its the starter solenoid.

buy a diff starter that will fit or just have the solenoid replaced, gm had this issue with many starters in the late 90's.



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