How can I check to see if my Starter is bad?

[Jman1991]

II have a 1993 Loyale. I stopped by a friends house today and when I went to leave it wouldn't start. the battery is good and the fuel pump is good. so I'm not sure why it wouldn't start but I have a feeling its the starter. any advice on how to check the starter or advice on what else to check would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thank you! 

 

MERRY CHRISTMAS

[john in KY]

Probably is not the starter. Remove and clean the battery connections.

 

Also clean that small wire at the starter. It activates the starter solenoid. 

Edited December 25, 2016 by john in KY

[DaveT]

Do that stuff first.

 

Is it a click and no cranking problem?

[Jman1991]

all the wire connections are clean. 

 

I left for a few hours a came back and it fired right up.

 

so now I'm wondering what the problem was. 

 

could it have something to do with the clutch going out?

 

Or could a bad starter work off and on like that?

[Dee2]

If the problem is not the battery then it can be the starter.

 

As these starters get older the solenoid contacts wear down, so the starter can function intermittently.  Other possibilities are ignition switch wear, park/neutral or clutch switch wear.

 

Solutions include replacing contacts, adding a relay to compensate for ignition switch wear or adding a start button to bypass park/neutral or clutch switch.

 

Lots of discussion in this forum from folks who have done these repairs.  I did the first two for my loyale when the problem started.

[DaveT]

When you turn the key, does it click but no cranking?

[somick]

12 volts from the ignition key become 11 and then 10...  That what happens with old cars.  This is a common problem on this car generation.  The solution is a new circuit for starter ignition line.  Very simple and easy to do solution.  We suppose to have a lot of threads about them on this forum. 

 

I installed one on my Loyale and never have problems with starting the car.

 

Good luck,

Sam

[Jman1991]

Thanks guys that gives me a lot to look into!

 

"subaru nut"

I didnt notice any clicking sound.

[DaveT]

If no click when you turn the key to the cranking position, it's more likely a connection in the feed to the ignition switch, or the wire from there to the starter, which goes through a lockout on a standard trans, or the park / neutral switch on an automatic.  There are a few connector in that line, and any one or more can develop high resistance intermittently.