So Sunday night I walk out of the strip club I dj at and hop into my car. turn the dome light on for a minute to check something. I then go to start my car and whirring grinding clicking and crap. i was like oh crap starter finally died. It had been acting up for about a week or two. Then I was like hmmm.... could be battery. I get a jump and the car fires right up and I blip on home. I only live about 8 miles from work. I get home sit in my parking space and turn everything on and let it run. No probs. Shut the car off and try to fire it up again. nope. So Monday morning I go out to take my kid to school and it fires up. Hard but it turned over nonetheless. so I try this a couple more times and all that racket starts up again but it starts. I check the battery and the eye is green. I assume the bendix is bad. I decide to run it over to the shop that works on my car and tell them whats up and they say yep sounds like starter. Guy comes back like 5 mins later and says my battery is only puttin out like 10 or less volts and thats the prob. So I say wtf nothin has been dim or goofy electrically so hows that? needless to say I was more than happy to go spend $70 on a battery than $225 on a dang starter.
On a side note I found out that this stupid poppin noise I've been hearing recently as well is my control arm bushings. They want $200 to replace them. Are those hard to do? Also if I do in the future need to replace my starter is that hard as well? I am mechanically inclined. I've owned a few beaters in my time so yes I can fix stuff.
Good day to you all
thanks
Hey what's up man, if you ever need to replace your starter you could definitely do it. Just make sure and disconnect the battery and remember where the connections go, most starters now come with detailed instructions most of them time. For the control arm bushings there a little more time consuming but still easy. Longest part was getting the old bushings out, If you want to you can go to smgmotoring.com where they have a deal for 2 control arms painted with poly bushings and new ball joints for $250.00. I was going to get on this deal but just went the cheap way and just bought the poly bushings.
did they check your alternator? that could the reason why your battery died.
you live up in michigan. i'm sure a ton of people are around you that would help you change out your control arm bushings.
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my carDomain updated 8/2/08 Boosted at B-day!
nips actually the car would not run if the alternator was not working properly.being that the car would have to run off the battery. also with a bad battery everything will work properly, just won't hold charge. something else to is depending on which engine you have you might have to remove the intake or other parts to replace the parts. if your starter is working properly and not making any noise while in use. i wouldn't worry about replacing it. usually when a starter stops it stops. sometimes you might be able hit it to get it work. but that doesn't seem to be your situation. btw if your shop took care of you like that and didn't send you out the door with a $500 bill. sounds like there pretty trust worthy.
I have the ecotec. Yes they are very trust worthy. I would not trust my car with anyone else except my buddy Jeremy. Thanks to all of you that took the time to read this and respond. As for the control arm bushings I'll work that one out soon. I'll Probably just get urethane bushings and let them do it. After what I read in the forums it kinda sounds like a nightmare if you don't have the correct tools.
