Ok, so this started last night when I parked on a 45 degree incline when I went to drop off a friend, and stopped the car, and opened the trunk (she had stuff in the back). I got back in the car, started it, and it took a second for it to start spinning the starter, but when it did start spinning, it wasnt the usual sound, the usual growl from the engine.

It sounded kind of like how a diesel does when you start it up, with the sort of "Weeeeehm" sound, that isnt really low, but it's not high either. The car starts fine still, but this starting is abnormal, I"ll live with it if it ends up being nothing, but I'm worried it's gunna leave me stranded some time.

I was thinking that perhaps my starter is on the way out, or my battery is not working properly? Could it be ignition related? I think I ruled out ignition since the car drives the same (still a rough idle, but what can you do about that when you have a CC Carb? lol)

What are your guys' thoughts? Thanks in advance fellahs :hail:

 

I have no clue what the sound might be - need a better description, I think.

I will say that a rough idle with a CC carb is abnormal. Because mine idles smoothly, and always has the past 5 years. Before and after the mods.

 

instead of the starter cranking really fast (boom boom boom), it just sort of makes one "WOOSH". It sounds similar to if you rubbed a coin on a chalkboard, only much louder, and not as painful sounding heh.

I'll see if I can get the sound recorded.

I am thinking that my rough idle is caused by a partially burnt plug wire or two. I'll live with it lol, it doesn't kill the car... yet, so I'm good :lala:

 

Sounds like could be either: 1) Starter not fully engaging the flexplate - could be solenoid, worn flexplate teeth, dirty starter; or, 2) worn Bendix in the starter.

 

:hail: :hail: :hail: :hail: :hail:

Thanks Five7Kid, you rule! I know where to start looking now if my starter fails me I appreciate your help

 

Okay, I KNEW this was going to happen, but I continued to drive it anyways... well, it got continually harder to start today, In the morning it started up allright, still made the sounds on startup, i only had to have it crank once before it turned over, then when i got off work it started up a lil rougher, but was OK. Then I went to the mall w/ a friend and it just barely got started.

For some reason I didnt think much about it, but we went to Hollywood video, went in, 2 minutes later, came back out, and dang thing wouldnt start . So I pop the hood (knowing that it was the starter) thought maybe it could be the battery or something, and I notice that my positive battery connector, which is plastic, is all melted where it meets the positive screw-in for the battery. So I go home, grab my tool kit and a knife, go back to the store, and clean off the connection and all the plastic pieces that were burnt I removed. It seemed to make the starter click more frequently (or maybe the starter was/is heat soaked).

So I am thinking that the starter is a goner. I just want it back at my house now I am waiting for 8 to roll around (6 right now, and traffic is still bad).

Does AAA tow it to your house for free? or does it have to be a shop? I am getting it towed back to my house either way, but I really hope that AAA will tow it for free since I have a whole 15 dollars to my name till next pay check.

I'm so glad that tommorow is my day off work, will get to go to a junkyard and nab a starter. I know it's not a permanent solution, but it's a cheaper alternative till I can afford a new one.

 

AAA will tow to your house, but how far from your house determines the cost... different plans allow 7 miles up to 100 miles thank gosh grandma and grandpa have the 100 miles one, haha. But i think i had AAA tow my Camaro 3 times in one week, no cost to me at all... and all of the tows were to residences except the last one... AAA actually gave me guff when i tried to drop it off at a garage.. go figure...


edit: you cant say the g-o-d word, even when thanking him?

 

The program only looks for the word, not the usage. You just have to be a little more creative when thanking Him.

 

well, I went back at 8, gave it another try at starting it, and it started up... barely, and wouldnt idle (cause I unplugged the battery, reseting the idle settings to factory settings), but started up again after that (thank Lord Bubba), I just kept it revved at about 800RPM in idle when I had to come to a stop.

Anywho, I drove it up ramps when I got home, next morning, took out the starter and plain as day was the reason it was having troubles starting. There was a huge crack seperating the top, small portion, to the bottom, larger portion, and all inside there were more cracks that I could see. I should have taken a picture, it was quite the sight.

So I took it to NAPA for the core, got a new one w/ 3 year warrantee for about 50 dollars, installed it, and now it starts like a champ. It's starting to learn the correct idle again now too.

How long does it takes the ECM to learn long-term O2 readings for correct idles? I did notice that it idles alot nicer now that I cleared the ECM and it's starting to idle by itself again.

EDIT: changed the G word to Lord Bubba

 

Good to hear you found the starter problem.

Don't mean to burst your bubble, but the CC carb system isn't too smart. It doesn't learn, and it doesn't control idle speed. The choke is a mechanical open-loop device with an electrical heater (integral). Mixture control is via a pre-programmed formula until it warms up and goes closed loop, then it adjusts mixture purely based on O2 feedback.

You might consider a thorough tune-up as soon as funds allow (plugs, wires, cap, rotor, O2 sensor).