Weak starter? How do I test the starter to see if it's bad?
06-22-2006, 08:44 PM
#1
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Weak starter? How do I test the starter to see if it's bad?
What is going on here...
Last night I accidently started the car in gear (you can do that w/ '97s). It jumped forward a foot or two. Ever since the car has felt like it didn't want to start - almost like a weak battery.
I stopped by Kragen on the way home this evening and they tested the battery, which is okay.
The starter was replaced about a year ago when the ignition broke (starter went out while in the dealer's posession, but I still got charged for it).
The car also threw a check engine light today while getting on the freeway, but I think that'd due to my N75 valve going out.
Is there any way to test the starter? What else could be causing the problem?
Thanks!
Last night I accidently started the car in gear (you can do that w/ '97s). It jumped forward a foot or two. Ever since the car has felt like it didn't want to start - almost like a weak battery.
I stopped by Kragen on the way home this evening and they tested the battery, which is okay.
The starter was replaced about a year ago when the ignition broke (starter went out while in the dealer's posession, but I still got charged for it).
The car also threw a check engine light today while getting on the freeway, but I think that'd due to my N75 valve going out.
Is there any way to test the starter? What else could be causing the problem?
Thanks!
06-22-2006, 09:04 PM
#2
AudiWorld Uber User
Starter dyno?
that should not have damaged your starter motor. I'd check for corrosion on your battery cables and the starter power cables.
06-22-2006, 09:07 PM
#3
AudiWorld Super User
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2000
Posts: 2,968
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Oh yeah - and there was a hint of burning electrical or plastic last week...
don't know if it's related or not. I looked around for a plastic bag melting to the exhaust or something, but I didn't see anything.
It seemed to be coming from the right side of the engine bay... but was faint when the car was parked or idling.
It seemed to be coming from the right side of the engine bay... but was faint when the car was parked or idling.
06-22-2006, 09:19 PM
#4
AudiWorld Super User
Join Date: Feb 2004
Posts: 4,755
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
make sure its reading 1.21 gigawatts!!!!!
<ul><li><a href="http://www.ebaumsworld.com/mechanic.html">i was talking to my co-worker earlier today (thurs) about this mechanic prank and he said it would be funny if he mentioned about the flux capacitor</a></li></ul>
06-22-2006, 09:28 PM
#6
AudiWorld Uber User
Starter dyno is something I just made up out of my ***
there are devices used to measure torque of electric motors. I suppose you could try to find one.
Trending Topics
06-22-2006, 09:50 PM
#8
AudiWorld Senior Member
Join Date: May 2003
Posts: 3,342
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
the only good way to test the starter is to take it out and bench test it
it should draw 80-100 amps unloaded(didnt look this number up but thats the usual number for 4 cyl starters)
06-23-2006, 04:21 AM
#10
Hard to say. Does it seem like it's laboring to start the car?
I'd just keep an eye on it.. probably just being overly sensitive to it. I know I tend to do that as well from time to time.