Hey guys. About a month ago a friend repayed a debt by signing over her 1993 convertible, 4 cylinder Mustang to me. When she gave it to me, it hadn't started in a couple of weeks, though the battery had just been replaced and all of the fluids checked. I went to take a look and arrange a tow to my house, and I put the key in and it started right up. Being the middle of summer, I drove it for a couple weeks (can't beat a drop top) and then out of the blue it wouldn't start for me.

I hadn't had a lot of time to look into it, so I left it in my driveway for about 2 weeks. I tried to start it, and again, out of the blue, it started for me, and it continues to start. At first I thought it was the starter, so I found one for $30, but now that it's starting again, I don't know if it would be a waste. Every shop around here wants $60 to look at it, and if it ends up being the starter, I'll be pissed if I waste $60 for a diagnostic when I could have replaced the starter myself for $30.

When it doesn't start, it doesn't turn at all. The radio and gauges come on as I turn the key, and I can hear that the car is getting power, but the starter just doesn't turn at all. Any ideas about what the problem might be, and can I fix it myself?

 

Maybe a pissy starter solenoid? They are only a few bucks and it's worth a try.

 

i think you can check if its the starter solenoid if you make contact on the two posts with a screwdriver or something and it cranks, but that wont tell you if it's "pissy". either way they are like 20 bucks tops and worth a shot.

 

Would it matter at all that her brother replaced the starter solenoid just a week before she handed it over? I know it was replaced with a new one.

Also, got any good sites to walk me through some of this stuff? I haven't worked on a Mustang before so a decent reference would be helpful.

Thanks for the quick replies, btw.

 

if it was recently replaced, that's probably not the cause. my guess would be starter. i know you can get a starter checked out at most parts stores like autozone or orielly for free, but their tests aren't always conclusive, cause i had a bad starter that spun up just fine when they tested it, but the gear on the starter pushed out too far or something strange so i got a new one anyway and it solved my problem

 

I'll try autozone then. I just didn't want to waste the money on a diagnostic if I was going to end up replacing the whole starter because it would be half the cost just to replace it. I need to gut the doors and center console and get all the power options working again, rather spend the money there. It's in pretty good shape other than some paint work that needs done. Maybe if we get a decent day up here in Cleveland I'll take some pics and post them.

 

a flat place in the bendix of the starter will do that ..if it does it again jump start it ,it should start