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Do I have a bad starter or is it something worse

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Old 10-13-2009, 08:23 PM
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Do I have a bad starter or is it something worse

so...

the car just died when i was about to park it, and... when i tried start cranking it again. it just doesn't start up anymore and it's making this high pitch note (like an aircraft stall horn)

but the thing is... it just doesn't even crank up. so i had to have my car towed from the restaurant back to my place.

i'm either taking the car to the dealer and make them figure out what the problem is, or if its a bad starter, i'm just gonna order it online and have it installed by my mechanic.
what should i do?

would this be related to my previous issues that i thought i fixed?
https://www.rx8club.com/series-i-tech-garage-22/weird-noise-full-throttle-183651/

thanks guys. i know i'm annoying, but it just freaks my out when i find out my 8 isn't running properly...
Old 10-13-2009, 08:53 PM
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The high pitch noise is probably the air pump you're hearing.

When you turn the key does it attempt to start?
Have you checked the battery connections to verify they are tight?
Old 10-13-2009, 09:26 PM
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nah, it doesn't crank at all, it doesn't attempt to start, yea everything is tight, negative connection was a bit rusted, but everything was fine, radio, lights and stuff, just the engine's not cranking.

could this be a loose ignition coil? my mechanic broke one of the screw studs when he was installing the coils.
Old 10-13-2009, 09:34 PM
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^^^^ weird man, this just happened to me, but I had the luck of being right next to an Advance Auto Parts, they did a whole system check and it was the battery, bought a new one and its all good now, the weird thing about it is that even though I had 0 CCA(according to their tester) I was still able to turn on the high beams and the AC on full blast and the radio, all at the same time.
Old 10-13-2009, 09:35 PM
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Another thing that'll prevent your car from starting is the starter interlock switch.
Reach under your dash and towards the back-end of the clutch pedal you'll see the switch.
Do I have a bad starter or is it something worse-clutch-interlock-switch.jpg

Hold the shaft in with one hand and try to start the car with the other.

Last edited by Jon316G; 10-13-2009 at 11:30 PM.
Old 10-13-2009, 09:35 PM
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Believe or not, it could be the battery and spark plugs, replace those two parts and watch how your car starts right up
Old 10-13-2009, 09:38 PM
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Like khronus79 mentioned above, it could also be the battery.
Take it to Advance Auto or Autozone and have them test it.
Old 10-13-2009, 10:09 PM
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but i just replaced this optima red like literally 2 months ago...
Old 10-13-2009, 10:52 PM
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sooooo u guys don't think it's the starter?
Old 10-13-2009, 11:39 PM
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Did you check the starter interlock switch like I mentioned above?
Have you tested voltage to the starter?
Both the constant 12V from the battery and the voltage to the starter solenoid when the key is turned to the 'start' position?

But you originally mentioned the car just died, then wouldn't start.
Is it possible that the battery wasn't being recharged by the alternator?
Can you measure the voltage at the battery with the car running and then with it off?
Should be about 12.2V with the car off and 14.4V with it running.
Old 10-14-2009, 12:34 AM
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hm.... don't really have the equipment to do that... nways... i'm just gonna have it towed to the dealer tmr and see what happens
Old 10-14-2009, 01:18 PM
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so... i took it to the dealer today, the looked at it and said it's a very weird situation. they are gonna bring a regional tech or sth to look at it. i might need a new engine. any thoughts?
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