1992 Buick Park Avenue Starter

SOULSURVIVOR45

MEMBER
1992 BUICK PARK AVENUE
6 CYL
FWD
AUTOMATIC
120,000 MILES

My car has been parked without running for almost a year now. I replaced the battery but it will not turn over. The new battery only lasted about a half an hour with my aftermarket alarm. I wanted to tap the starter to see if it may have seazed from the weather conditions but Im not sure where it is located. Where is the starter located and are there any parts that may need to be replaced since it has been sitting for so long? Fluids are all fine but I cant get the engine to fire.

1 Reply

ED ARMES

MECHANIC
129 POSTS

It is mounted at the lower front side of the engine behind the radiator.

It is possible that the starter solenoid on top of the starter is bad. There is a large copper disc in the solenoid that could corrode and not make good contact under bad weather conditions. Do you hear any clicking sound when you turn the key? If not, then I bank on the solenoid being bad. If you do hear a click then I bank on the starter being shorted out which would definitely destroy a battery in short order.

You can remove the starter and solenoid as an assembly by reemoveing the wires on the solenoid
( before or after removeing the starter mounting bolts ) and lower the starter out of the car. In some instances there may not be enough clearance to drop the starter out and the radiator may have to be removed to facilitate with removal clearance.

With the starter removed you can take it to most auto parts stores and they can check it and tell you if it is the starter or solenoid.