I have an '88 TA LO3 with 113,000 miles, new battery, new alt, new CTS, new O2 sensor,and recent tune up...the car start acting up the other day where it would turn over and start, but now it is just turning over/sound like it's cranking....but now nothing. he next morning it started right up, but that afternoon nothing. Does this sound like a starter failure? I haven't replaced it since I have had the car which has been 4 years or so. Any opinions appreciated. Thanks.

 

i had the same problem. The car would start fine cold but after 2 starts i would get a grinding noise then nothing. It would crank but not start

then one day i just got nothing. no crank nothing..
It turned out to be the starter. switched it and it now startes up everytime.

first i would make sure there is plenty of gas in it. stupid but i've forgot sometimes.

Then take the dist cap off and make sure its turning to make sure the timing chain is ok.. thats if you havent gotten the car started in a while.

One thing is that my tbi would be flooded so if i let it sit for like 20 minutes then put the gas peddle to the floor then turn the engine that would help it get started.. my seggestion would be to try that when it doesnt start.

also i heard about the tbi's having a hot start problem where when warm the car wouldnt turn over right and all you might need is a celenoid to connect to the starter or something like that maybe someone else can let you know the specifics..
if all else fails change the starter its only like 40 bucks and pretty easy to do by yourself.. plus it will save you the hassel later of changing it.

good luck

 

If car is cranking over but not starting its not the starter. Have someone crank while you look for fuel coming out of the injectors and spark.

I could be that VATS security system wearing out on you.

 

just to clarify with my car.. i ended changing the starter because in th end it would crank i would just get a dead sound like trying to start your car in drive

 

I had that same problem with my 88 tbi if you hit the key and nothing happens its your selenoid, rather then spending 80 bucks for a starter just dismantle your starter and clean the selenoid with a wire brush untill it is bare copper again.

 

my starter was only 40! but iheard that about the selenoid too