cangooner

Hi all,
I have an 87 Laredo 4.0l with an annoying problem. Very occasionally (4-5 times in the last month) it will refuse to start. When I turn the key to start, I can hear a faint click, but the starter does not kick in. The first time this happened, I did not hear the click and so I thought I had a solenoid that was sticking. I tried whacking it with a wrench, and it then worked fine.

So my initial diagnosis was a wonky solenoid.

Now when it happens, I hear that faint click which makes me think it might be the starter and not the solenoid that is giving out on me. And I also realized that I have been whacking the starter and not the solenoid all along (it was dark that first time!).

I know that wonky connections can cause intermittent starter problems, but because I can get that temporary cure with the little hammer that I now carry for just such occasions, do you think I'm right in thinking that this is a starter on its way out?

Any other suggestions?

Thanks.

BTW, NSS isn't an issue - I dealt with that one last winter!

freegdr

yes starter time , and wonky whats a wonky

Phatwitaph

yea starter, when youhave to whack it with a hammer time to replace haha

cangooner

Thanks folks - good to know I'm probably on the right track.

wonky [ˈwɒŋkɪ]
adj -kier, -kiest Brit informal
1. shaky or unsteady
2. not in correct alignment; askew
3. liable to break down or develop a fault

I think all three definitions apply here