Ok, so sometimes, my car won't start. I turn the key, here this click that happens just once, and it just sits there. A few times though, I've turned the key, hear the starter try to start the engine, then just die.

I took off my starter, took it to Winchester Auto to have them test it, and they said it was working properly. However, they don't test for conditions under load. Could this be it?

My battery tests out fine, and is only 1 month old.

So, I just want to be sure its the starter, and not somehow the ignition switch or something. I'm in the middle of this, my car is outside with the starter just sitting there, and I'd like some feedback asap.

Thanks!

 

see if the negative ground for the battery is properly in place.

 

Did a tune up lately?

 

Yeah, I say replace the cap, rotor, wires (unless they're fairly new) and go from there.

-Nick

 

It could be the ignitor

 

...or the ignition coil

 

Cap, rotor, plugs, plug wires, ignitor, or coil - NONE OF THOSE can make the starter act weak. All the starter does is spin the crankshaft. If that stuff was bad it would crank strong but it wouldn't fire.

Since the battery is new & the starter checks out OK, I'd be looking at the big power cables. Both ends of each cable, including the engine-to-body ground, including where the cable itself is attached to it's end terminal.

Got a multi-meter? Check for excessive voltage drop across any of those cables when you try to start. That'll narrow it down.