Starter Dead?

[Austin H]

Car started chugging when starting earlier today. Now when I turn it nothing, lights come one but it wont turn over. Have fuel pressure. Battery is 3 months old and volt meter is reading 12.6 with all the lights on.

Car is a Manual 850 turbo. What's the possibilities?

[Austin H]

Yup it's the starter. Tow truck guy just pushed me down a hill and I compression started it.

[BEJinFBK]

Could be plenty of things besides the starter.

Cables, connections, interlock, ignition switch.

Check for voltage at the starter posts while cranking.

Be sure you have trigger getting there while cranking

and if it does, check for volt drop at the big post next.

[rocketman4321]

Agree. Failing starters are often actually the solenoid, and that will either cause grinding (partially engaged) or no operation at all. That's why sometimes a whack on it while trying to crank "fixes" it. If "chugging" is straining or slow operation, that could be a lack of power (volts and/or amps) at the starter. Sudden intermittent brushes are possible but a bit of a coincidence.

I concur with the above list, but I'd start by charging the battery (directly on its terminals) once you're home and see if that makes a difference. (The 12.6V with the engine off seems OK, but...) Voltage doesn't change much with the state of charge, and you could be low and not read it under light load, only to have the voltage collapse when you draw heavily. Our 850 did this the week after we bought it--turned out the battery connections were dirty and it wasn't getting much of a charge. Then check the voltage while running to see if the alternator's ok. And the list above.

If the battery wasn't getting charged, take it back in and have the shop test it under warranty. A couple deep cycles can hurt a car battery, but you'd get a full replacement after 3 months.