Starting issue

[aigochamaloh]

This is for an Avalon, but I'm posting here since this forum gets much more traffic.

My car is hard to start now, regardless of whether it's hot or cold. I turn the key, it turns over once, then nothing. I can do this 1 or 2 more times, then the next time it fires up just fine.

Is this starter related? Because it just clicks and turns over once, then nothing. If someone could chime in before I go and purchase a new starter, that would be great.

This is the 1MZ-FE by the way.

[BamZipPow]

Sounds like a near to dead battery. How good are the cables/connections and how old is the battery? Check the connection at the starter as well.

The starter problem will just chatter...that's just usually attributed to the contacts inside the starter...which can be rebuilt pretty cheaply compared to buying a rebuilt or new starter.

When you say it turns over...you mean the car engine is actually turning over like it's trying to start but it's not firing?

Some video would really help here...

[aigochamaloh]

Originally Posted by BamZipPow

Sounds like a near to dead battery. How good are the cables/connections and how old is the battery? Check the connection at the starter as well.

The starter problem will just chatter...that's just usually attributed to the contacts inside the starter...which can be rebuilt pretty cheaply compared to buying a rebuilt or new starter.

When you say it turns over...you mean the car engine is actually turning over like it's trying to start but it's not firing?

Some video would really help here...

Now that I've gone out to take some video, I think you're absolutely right. This was my car, I handed it off to my little brother, and he will get his license next week. It hasn't been driven much, maybe once a week, whereas I used to drive it every day. I just couldn't figure out why it wouldn't crank two or three times in a row, then the next time, it would fire right up just as if nothing was wrong.

Here is some video anyway. The first video shows what I encountered so far. The second video where it almost dies definitely says dying battery, the first time I've seen it crank like that. I'll put a charger on it overnight, maybe replace the battery, it's pretty old.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uopaHtul9Sg

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qx_plI55rwg

[Kozg]

I agree with Bam. Check the fluid level, then charge your battery then test at the parts store.

Check the battery connections, clean and tighten. I had a truck that would turn over once or twice, then would start on the 3rd or 4th try. I could actually hear the short occur at the loose battery terminal.

It could be a weak starter. Same truck would slowly turn over the engine, then would eventually crank. Maybe the parts store can test that also.

[aigochamaloh]

Ok, the battery was fully charged, it still does it. I put this battery into another car, and that one starts just fine. Any other ideas?