No problems before I tried to start the car today. When I turned the key, I heard it barely turning over, then it stopped. Tried again, not turning over. I could hear the pump priming behind me. So I popped the hood...and saw some smoke and smelled something burning. The smoke was around the passenger side close to the firewall. It possibly could've blown that way from wind, but that's where I saw it. Could this be my starter? I don't know much of anything at all when it comes to engines. If it possibly is the starter, how difficult is it to swap out? How much would a used starter cost? What else could this be? Thanks in advance.

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The starter is on the front ofthe motor under the exhaust manifold. More likely it was your alternator spontainiously combusting. Depending on the extent of the damage itmay not be charging at all, and you may have drained the battery trying to start it.

Nice username by the way. That's confusing as fuck.

Nice username by the way. That's confusing as fuck.

yea your profile cracks me up to. know a few girls in that state. anyways sounds like the alternator first, perhaps the starter

Might be blow-by, and the reason your car wont start. Do a compression test if you can. Take the breather hose off and see if it blows out while cranking. If not the smoke may be backfire... ignition problem? I'm no mechanic, just my 2 cents.

I skimed over the part about barely trying to start and revoke that statement about a 420a having blow-by! like we'd ever have that problem?! HA. I'd check the battery before you consider my previous post.

The battery is fine, it was just replaced a few months ago, and all the dash lights/head lights work fine, and I could hear the fuel pump. The battery terminals had a little green gunk on them, so I cleaned them off - no dice. I tried jumping the car. No dice. Still not even a click, just the pump behind me.

What is my next step? This is very important to me as this car is my daily driver and I'm borrowing someone else's car to go to work, but I can't do that much longer. I appreciate any replies that have something to do with my problem, and not my username.

Help! :x

Well, I'd see if the starter will engage at all. Test this by taking the smaller of the two wires that runs to it, the solinoid wire (look south of the battery, it's black and yellow if i remeber correctly) and apply 12v+ directly to it by jumping it to the battery. If the starter engages and turns, I'd suspect the starter relay and/or associated wiring harness. If it does not, it is most likely the starter.

Originally posted by DarkOne
Well, I'd see if the starter will engage at all. Test this by taking the smaller of the two wires that runs to it, the solinoid wire (look south of the battery, it's black and yellow if i remeber correctly) and apply 12v+ directly to it by jumping it to the battery. If the starter engages and turns, I'd suspect the starter relay and/or associated wiring harness. If it does not, it is most likely the starter.

Thanks a lot...you've been very helpful.

Yes, you remembered right, the small wire was Black and Yellow. Unfortunately nothing happened when I jumped it to the battery. Maybe I did it wrong, but I doubt it. Next step is getting that starter out of there, I guess. I have the Factory Service manual on CD, but it just so happens that for some reason the starter section is missing. Is there anything special I should know when taking it out? Looks like it's connected in about 2 spots, one of them looks like it has a ground wire connected? Is that right?

Thanks again.

Originally posted by _
Looks like it's connected in about 2 spots, one of them looks like it has a ground wire connected? Is that right? Thanks again.

Yup.

Originally posted by Ark
Yup.