jyoteen

Patient: 2003 Carrera C4s, 73K miles, 6speed.

The starter has been replaced at least once in this car.

On friday, I come out from the gym, and the car does not start. AAA comes out and installs new battery. Maybe the battery was on its 3rd year, but most probably closer to 2+. Car starts right up and i don't think about it twice.

This morning at the gas station, same deal. Car will not turn over, voltage shows 12 and a hair as I turn the ignition switch. Odd.

Call AAA and jumping does not work to turn over the car. So we tried push starting which went unsuccessful due to the lack of speed.

Anyhow, I tried to start and voila. The car started.

What say you? And possilbe costs?

Ubermensch

How does the car behave when you try to start it? Clicks, whirs, attempts to turn...

jyoteen

nothing. the initial whirr of the fuel pump when on the on position, but the start position, not a peep. All instruments, etc, work, trunk pops, windows work, etc.

slant911

No "click" from the backend starter area? If not usually bad starter solenoid. However...I have heard that a bad ignition switch could be a culprit too with these symptoms.

Usually the ignition switch gives other funny gremlins when it goes.

If it were me. I would replace the ignition switch because it is the easiest/cheapest part to start with AND you state that the starter has already been replaced.

jyoteen

well, they found it to be the starter. it is getting replaced. I wonder what makes these things go south. This new starter will be #3 (including the original).

Barn996

Out of curiosity jyoteen, were your 2nd and 3rd starters new or remanufactured? What would cause a starter to go bad so fast?

jyoteen

well, #1 was the original that came w/ the car. I don't know whether #2 or now, #3 are new or reman. I'll ask when I pick up the car.

I'll also find out the mileage when the second one was installed.

Ubermensch

Very odd. I had something similar on another car one time. It turned out to be a bad connection at the starter. I ended up having to buy a new connector.

Did they test the old starter (out of the car) and it was bad, or did they replace it and that cured the problem?

jyoteen

I have no idea, but I noticed that on the work order, it said reman unit.

I don't think they test much because it would take more time, but who knows. All I know is that my car has that quick start kick feel instead of it feelign like it's underpowered on cranking.

cdodkin

Just FYI - his 03 model should have the later (improved) ignition switch any way I believe.