Im going to take a look at a 91 with 117000. Seller says that it was running fine until they went away for a week. When they got back it would not start. Lights came on in the dash.. but nothing when they tried to start it. No clicking or anything. They assume that its the starter, I asked if there was any prior indication of the starter going bad, they said no. From what I have seen here starters seem to last quite awhile on these cars, so im wondering what else might cause it to simply not start after a week. I think I can buy it for real cheap, but if its the starter, well we all know what a ***** those are to change... Also I asked if I could at least check out all the other options, windows tilt ect, they said that now the battery is dead and will need to jump it to see if electrical will work. They did say that they had to try to jump it when they got back from the week away... maybe its just a bad battery...any ideas?

 

Charge the battery and check it out. The starter can corrode just a tiny bit where the power goes through the copper contacts inside the starter. Take a long heavy rod or a hammer and smack the starter a couple of times on the heavy metal part of it. This normally moves the inside of the starter just enough to get a clear contact for the electricity to make contact on the cleaner copper.

If that doesn't work, tell them you'll give them half of what they are asking to take it off their hands.

 

i thought the starter was buried under the intake manifold... how can i smack it?

 

It is buried, you can't smack it. When he said that he probably doesn't know where the starter is located on these cars, he is a new member. Does the car crank at all or does it have juice (dash lights) and do nothing when ya turn the key? The factory alarm could be set. When you go look at it try unlocking the doors with the key a couple times and that turns off the alarm. I have to use my passenger door for it to work on my 93.