Current Events > My car won't start reliably. What's wrong with it?

(+) Yeah! (+)

When you put the key in the ignition and turn it all the way to starter position, I hear a click, but nothing. I try and try and try, and eventually the car starts.

I brought the car over to Autozone, and their testing unit showed that the battery, alternator, starter, and voltage regulator are all good. The guy there said it might be an ignition switch, starter gear, or other electrical problem.

Before I bring it to an actual mechanic tomorrow, anyone here have any educated guesses?
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I think the problem is it won't start reliably
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Sounds like an old car.
I mean, all I'm saying the parts are aging and the car is no longer performing the way it should of been x years ago.
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Darkrobotisback posted...

Sounds like an old car.
I mean, all I'm saying the parts are aging and the car is no longer performing the way it should of been x years ago.

Oh absolutely. It's a 13 year old beater car, but it's been taken good care of. Under 100k miles!
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I think there's something wrong with it, if I had to take an educated guess.
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Sounds like the ignition switch or possibly something as easy as plugs/wires, based on my recent experience with a similar problem.

I'm not a mechanic, but I was able to troubleshoot and replace an ignition control module, both coil packs, and plugs/wires on a "dead" 2002 Saturn. A $1200 repair done for $185 and half a day on YouTube.
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DarthGravid posted...

Sounds like the ignition switch or possibly something as easy as plugs/wires, based on my recent experience with a similar problem.

I'm not a mechanic, but I was able to troubleshoot and replace an ignition control module, both coil packs, and plugs/wires on a "dead" 2002 Saturn. A $1200 repair done for $185 and half a day on YouTube.

$1200? Wow. Good job!

I'm going to bring it to my trusted mechanic tomorrow, and pay the $20 diagnostic fee. Then decide if it's worth even fixing it or not, because at 105k miles, I have to replace the timing belt (which you then replace the water pump as well), which will add another couple thousand dollars.
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Sounds like the starter.

When they start going bad it may engage sometimes and not other times. I have the same type of tester at my job. If the starter is engaging when they go to test it it will come up as a pass.

The fact that you hear a click tells me voltage is being sent to the starter when you turn the key. It's just not engaging.
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