Starter sometimes (seems to be getting worse) will not work when trying to start the car?

CODYMARTIN

MEMBER
1997 PONTIAC GRAND PRIX
3.8L
V6
FWD
AUTOMATIC
150,000 MILES

My cars starter sometimes (seems to be getting worse) will not work when trying to start the car. It is a new starter and the car has a new battery. When the starter will not work all. I have to do is use a jack and jack up the front of the car on the drivers side just a little bit and then try to start the car again and the starter will work and crank the car every time by doing this. Then once the car cranks I can let the jack down and put it back in the trunk and drive any where I want to go with out any problems as long as I do not turn the car off. When I do turn the car off it sometimes will crank without a problem (however when it cranks on its own I sometimes do hear a grinding noise right after it cranks coming from the starter and flywheel area), but usually I have to jack up the front drivers side every time I cut the car off, to get the starter to work and crank the car back up. Thank you.

Sunday, February 5th, 2017 AT 11:34 PM

1 Reply

KASEKENNY

MECHANIC
18,907 POSTS

The most likely issue here is the starter solenoid is failing. When you are jacking the vehicle up, it is unlikely doing anything as I suspect if you just turned the key to the start position a number of times it would bump the solenoid over until it found a spot that was not bare.

Here are a couple guides that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-starter-motor

However, the way to confirm this is to check both wires at the starter when this is acting up for 12 volts.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-wiring

Basically if you have 12 volts at the starter on both wires shown below when cranking the engine then the starter is the issue.

Please run through this and let us know if you have other questions. Thanks

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