[Shotimes] Re: cranking but not starting

[MonsieurBoo@aol.com]

Funny, last month my '94 wouldn't start one morning.  Lights looked dim so I 
checked the battery voltage -- was about 11.3 and a charge barely got it up to 
12 = bad cell.  Went and schlepped a new one home, put it in.  Now the lights 
were all nice and bright (including the Check Engine), fuel pump spooled up, 
but STILL not a click from under the hood.  Turned out the starter had gone 
bad at the same time the battery failed!

Moral, the problem may not always be the obvious one, but if you follow the 
diagnostic process you will find it sooner or later.

I guess the cable and (even though new) starter have to be checked as long as 
there's still a question of the engine spinning too slow.  After that it's ye 
olde internal-combustion-engine gas, spark, timing checks.  Normally in that 
order, but if you still have low cranking rpm with a good starter/cable you 
might wanna check that timing belt.  If it's outright broken, the valves won't 
ever open and it's constantly cranking against cylinder pressure.  While on the 
other hand, it tends to crank quicker without fuel since it's only pumping 
air.

Best of luck,
Mark L
94 ATX 125k

=============

True, but it still could be a cable problem.

And....I've seen bad starters come out of the box.

The main point of the post you quote was to clarify/define whether the engine 
is
turning or not, and to try to eliminate SOME of the possibilities.

George