i know its a newbie question but i did a quick mini search and i couldn't find anything

situation: 98 civic starter wont turn over... sometimes it will work with no problem and other times it just wont even turn over... i'll have to wait like 20-30 mins and retrying it it starts up.. sometimes when i turn the key over and hold it down.. it turns over slowly.. like it has a late reaction time.

right now my car is stuck some where cause it wont start... i'm heading out in a few mins to go pick it up.. and hopefully it will start... any helps guys? i need it asap.. i'm thinking i need a new starter.. that would be the obvious thing but who knows right.......

 

whack the starter with a hammer.

if it starts, the solenoid is bad. if it dosent, the solenoid is still probably bad

take it off and have it tested at any parts house. odds are it IS the starter just check the cable and make sure its in good condition from the battery to the starter (multimeter would be best)

 

one of my buddies told me it could be a battery problem... is that so?

 

very unlikley if it only starts the car sometimes. batteries are pretty passive, they usually eithre work or dont. period.

 

i replaced the battery.. and it seems to going fine soooo far.. who would have guessed