1. Check the battery.
Disconnect the negative battery terminal and use a multimeter to measure the voltage across the terminals. It should be between 12.6 and 13.2 volts. If it's below 12.6 volts, the battery may be discharged and may be the cause of the starting problem.
2. Check the starter wiring.
Inspect the starter wiring for any loose connections, damage or corrosion.
- Clean any corrosion and reconnect any loose wiring.
- If the wiring appears to be damaged, it will need to be replaced.
3. Check the starter relay.
The starter relay is located on the inner fender near the battery.
- Remove the starter relay and test it by bridging the terminals.
- If the relay clicks and the starter cranks, the starter relay is good.
- If the starter relay does not click, it is faulty and will need to be replaced.
4. Check the solenoid.
The solenoid is located on the starter motor.
- Hit the solenoid a couple of times with a hammer.
- If the starter motor cranks when you do this, the solenoid is faulty and will need to be replaced.
5. Check the starter motor.
If all the other checks come back fine, then the starter motor itself is likely the problem.
- The starter motor is located on the side of the engine block, near the transmission.
- To remove the starter, you will need to:
- Disconnect the negative battery terminal.
- Remove the bolts holding the starter in place.
- Slide the starter out of the vehicle.
- Once the starter is removed, you can bench-test it. To do this, you will need to:
- Connect a battery charger to the starter motor terminals.
- Touch the positive terminal of the battery charger to the "S" terminal on the starter motor.
- If the starter motor spins, it is good. If it does not spin, it is faulty and will need to be replaced.
If you are not comfortable performing these checks yourself, you can take your car to a qualified mechanic to have them diagnosed and repaired.
