• THe Lumina Dies

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

Sarah called today. The Lumina wouldn't start. They jumped it and got it to start, but then it wouldn't the next time they jumped it. So...we took the battery to Autozone and it tested perfect. Put the battery back (that's a BITCH by the way on a 2001 Lumina...see the pic below...) and she tried again. Nothing. No click from the starter, no lights, just the "door open" chime.

So I crawled under the car and hammered on what I think was the starter. I got in and tried again and guess what? Yep, turned over. Got it to start five consecutive times.

So it COULD be the starter. Probably is. But I've been told it could also be a flaky ignition switch. So how do I find out?

I changed the starter on my old Explorer, but it looks like it was significantly easier than this will be. LOL.

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

As promised, here's the battery. Oh, you can't see it? Sorry. It's UNDER that washer fluid resevoir (peek in the little hole...see the letters?) which is held down by a fuse box and that STRUT brace. All need removed to get to the battery.

And we wonder why GM had problems?

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

that's f'd up dude...so you give your daughter a hammer and a blanket? :lol:

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

LOL, nah. I told her we'd get it to the house Saturday and I'd try to change the starter. SHouldn't be too tough, but I have read somewhere that Lumina starters require you to drain the radiator, since the hose is in the way. Ugh. Until then, she'll have to bum rides.

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

This is blunt so i apologize in advance, but just buy her a more reliable car. The amount of money you have, or will spend on continuously fixing old domestic crap cars is not worth it imo. See if you can find like a 96-99 Toyota Camry, i had a '99 Camry with 99k on the clock and not a single problem ever. You may have to pay a little more but at least she wont have to call you ever other month to fix the car or even worse have the current one die or become to much of a hassle like the last. Again sorry being blunt i just hate to see people waist their time and money on worn down cars.

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

I know, Andrew, but we had to get something where she could handle the monthly payments. This is the first problem she's had with the car, and this model Lumina is supposed to run forever on the original engine and tranny. That's why they were the workhorse of so many police departments. Not at all like that POS Beretta she had.

Starters are designed to wear out, so it doesn't bother me that it failed. I changed the one on my old Explorer in like an hour. So I'm hoping this one will be easy too.

Posted: **Thu May 15, 2008 9:14**

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stealth01 @ May 15 2008, 09:26 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=46522]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

LOL, nah. I told her we'd get it to the house Saturday and I'd try to change the starter. SHouldn't be too tough, but I have read somewhere that Lumina starters require you to drain the radiator, since the hose is in the way. Ugh. Until then, she'll have to bum rides.[/b]

How about somehow clamping off the hose? Put a kink in the hose and use a vise-grip to keep it clamped shut? You'll spill a little but not drain the whole thing.

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

Well, my research so far indicates it's the 94-97 models that require the engine oil drained and the radiator drained to get the starter off. Shouldn't require it for this year, but we'll see.

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

Not to be an ass nor to beat a dead horse, but you should either resell or burn down that piece of crap and get yourself a Yota or a Honda if you want a reliable and dependable daily driver. Not only that car is unreliable, but it is badly engineered when it comes down to assess basic maintenance. It's almost as if they engineered it on purpose so they can milk you even more at the stealership. I bet their parts are also engineered so they would fail right outside the warranty.

I am mad, and it's not because Japan has better workers than us. After all, the bulk of their cash cows (Camry, Accord, Civic etc) are built here in the USA. Ford or GM could do just as good if they invested more resources in quality control instead of trying to figure out how they are going to milk us so they can overpay these stupid unions that are ruining our industry.

/rant

Oh yeah, sorry about your problem. Wait... what problem? It's working and starting now, right? Don't fuck with it! No problem! see!

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Anh Bi @ May 16 2008, 06:41 AM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=46574]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

Not to be an ass nor to beat a dead horse, but you should either resell or burn down that piece of crap and get yourself a Yota or a Honda if you want a reliable and dependable daily driver. Not only that car is unreliable, but it is badly engineered when it comes down to assess basic maintenance. It's almost as if they engineered it on purpose so they can milk you even more at the stealership. I bet their parts are also engineered so they would fail right outside the warranty.

I am mad, and it's not because Japan has better workers than us. After all, the bulk of their cash cows (Camry, Accord, Civic etc) are built here in the USA. Ford or GM could do just as good if they invested more resources in quality control instead of trying to figure out how they are going to milk us so they can overpay these stupid unions that are ruining our industry.

/rant

Oh yeah, sorry about your problem. Wait... what problem? It's working and starting now, right? Don't fuck with it! No problem! see! [/b]

see post #6 dude...you're going to have to wait in line! :lol:

I looks like Stealth did his research with this vehicle and found one of the better models. Shit happens. things wear out...even in imports.
You can get a domestic that runs forever and/or a import that has issues galore. Case in point we had a japanese made '06 highlander, which had a
faulty tranny which failed after 7k miles. I also helped my old man rebuild the engine of his Gmc Jimmy multpile times because there was a faulty
engine seal....getting off soapbox now....

BOT Good luck with your starter replacement!

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

There is nothing wrong with a lumina calm down all of you.

I would also look at the battery cables. I had that happen on my car and it turned out that the cables had curroded in the inside and you could not see that by looking at them. Having the washer res over the batt could cause that.

Also when is the problem? Is it when that car is warm and has been driven? Is the starter close to the exhaust manifold that would cause it to overheat?

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

Where's the starter solenoid? My guess, is "attached to the starter". You may be able to rotate or replace the contacts.

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Stealth01 @ May 15 2008, 09:26 PM) [url=index.php?act=findpost&pid=46522]<{POST_SNAPBACK}>[/url]</div>

LOL, nah. I told her we'd get it to the house Saturday and I'd try to change the starter. SHouldn't be too tough, but I have read somewhere that Lumina starters require you to drain the radiator, since the hose is in the way. Ugh. Until then, she'll have to bum rides.[/b]

Just clamp the hose. Did you search for solenoid repair kit for the year of your vehicle?

Posted: **Fri May 16, 2008 9:14**

I'll jack around with the solenoid when I get under the thing tomorrow. For now, it's starting for her, so at least she has transportation. And yes, Chris, the problem seems to be when the car is warm, which from what I've read is common for older Luminas.

I'll crawl under there tomorrow and see what it's like. If it looks easy, I'll replace it just in case.