Honda Car Forum

Recently, when driving home from work my car stalled. When I pulled over
in a parking lot and tried to start the vehicle again it cranked a couple
of times and then the starter just spins. I was a little low on gas so I
put some gas in the tank. It still won't even turn the engine over and
when I try and start it I just get a "whirring noise". Any suggestions??
Thanks

"Andrew Petyo via CarKB.com" <forum@nospam.CarKB.com> wrote in
news:d0b64b04738c45ae8cef8fff7a041d9b@CarKB.com:

> Recently, when driving home from work my car stalled. When I pulled
> over in a parking lot and tried to start the vehicle again it cranked
> a couple of times and then the starter just spins. I was a little low
> on gas so I put some gas in the tank. It still won't even turn the
> engine over and when I try and start it I just get a "whirring noise".
> Any suggestions?? Thanks
>


Possible broken starter bendix.(spins out to engage flywheel to crank
motor)
Possible broken timing belt.(possible expensive valve damage depending on
model)

The "stalling" indicates a broken timing belt.

Stating the model and year of car would help,too,when seeking advice.

--
Jim Yanik
jyanik
at
kua.net

"Jim Yanik" <jyanik@abuse.gov.> wrote in message
news:Xns9647BE58DBDB6jyanikkuanet@129.250.170.83.. .
> Possible broken starter bendix.(spins out to engage flywheel to crank
> motor)
> Possible broken timing belt.(possible expensive valve damage depending on
> model)
>
> The "stalling" indicates a broken timing belt.
>
> Stating the model and year of car would help,too,when seeking advice.
>
(1987 Acura RS)

I agree - the big question is: has the timing belt been changed in the last
100K miles or so? If not, it is a big suspect.

Otherwise, the question is "why did the engine quit when it had been
running, and now the starter seems to spin?" If not the timing belt, I vote
for the battery being too low to engage the starter or to keep the engine
running. Charging or swapping the battery is a good place to start with
that.

But before going that far, watch the alternator/PS/AC belts to see if they
also move when trying to start the car and getting the whirring noise. If
they are moving, the starter is turning the crank but the valves aren't
keeping up... bad timing belt. I hope not.

Mike

Thank you guys for the feedback!! In response to stating the year and
model I put it in the subject line, might have been overlooked. There is a
good possibility that it is the timing belt. I bought the car used at 170k
miles and now it is at 188k and I don't know if the belt was ever replaced.
Going to try and open the oil cap and crank the car to see if the
cam/valves are moving.

--
Message posted via http://www.carkb.com

"Andrew Petyo via CarKB.com" <forum@nospam.CarKB.com> wrote in
news:d0b64b04738c45ae8cef8fff7a041d9b@CarKB.com:

> Recently, when driving home from work my car stalled. When I pulled
> over in a parking lot and tried to start the vehicle again it cranked
> a couple of times and then the starter just spins. I was a little low
> on gas so I put some gas in the tank. It still won't even turn the
> engine over and when I try and start it I just get a "whirring noise".
> Any suggestions?? Thanks



Remove the oil filler cap and peer inside. Have friend (or friendly enemy)
try to crank engine. See if camshaft is revolving. If, not, BROKEN TIMING
BELT!

--
TeGGeR®

The Unofficial Honda/Acura FAQ
www.tegger.com/hondafaq/