Strange noises while starting.
Edit By:Care Cars
Q:Hello everyone. I drive a 1999 Ford Taurus LX 3.0L V 6, automatic transmission. Anyways i bought this car about 2 and a half years ago from a used car dealership. No major problems except for brakes but that's a typical problem with cars being in use for a while. Anyways lately i've been having problems. I had to replace the battery and tires, both things i haven't done since i got the car. But now a new problem rears its head. Whenever I try to start usually i used to get chugga chugga chugga and then the engine starts. But recently I've gotten chugga, awkward sounds like grinding, the grinding seems to be coming from the lower section of the big engine in the middle. and then the next sound is a loud i can't really explain it but it's sort of a mutated version of a chugga, and such and then the engine starts. After that car runs fine, it's just that it seems like the car is struggling to get started. About 3 hrs ago when i started the car to get home from an outing with friends it BARELY managed to fire up the engine. From what i've read at this forum, I seem to have found that it might be the starter, the spark plug, or the solenoid. I went to the mechanic and he said it might be the starter motor? Said it would cost me around 200-300. Hopefully i don't have to go to him if you guys think it could be fixed cheapily as I've already spent about 500 the past 3 weeks on the car. Any suggestions? Oh yea I am not very good with cars. So if there's something that i could help describe the problem more or needs result from me doing something, please give me detailed instructions. Thanks for reading.
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A:It sounds as if the starter motor isn't disenguaging as it should, hence the grinding sound. I'm not familliar with the layout of your car, but generally speaking, starter motors aren't that tricky to do yourself, just get a Haynes manual or similar if you haven't got one already! The only problem you might have is restricted space and a lack of tools. It would certainly be alot cheaper doing it this way! If you do give it a go yourself, make sure you read the instructions thoroughly, and disconnect the battery to be on the safe side!
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A:So what would happen if i don't repair this problem for a while? Will it kill the starter motor? And if i attempt the repair myself, what tools would i need? And what does the starter motor look like? Are there pictures in the Haynes manual?
EDIT: Okay after researching further, I think i found the starter motor. It's at the way bottom underneath the engine. I would probably have to go underneath the car in order to freely access it. Anyways what do i do with the starter motor? Any repair suggestions?
EDIT: Okay after researching further, I think i found the starter motor. It's at the way bottom underneath the engine. I would probably have to go underneath the car in order to freely access it. Anyways what do i do with the starter motor? Any repair suggestions?
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A:If it's underneath I would suggest getting at it from there, as you said. Chances are it'll be easier to just replace rather than repair. It certainly wont get any better if you ignor it, but then it might not get much worse, either...