A common problem that's surfaced a great deal lately is a car/truck that
starts fine when the engine is cold but won't when the engine is warm.
Most of the time, the car will require a jump start with a warm engine
to get it to start. Most mistakenly assume a bad battery and change it
out, only to have the same problem. What happens is most starters don't
just "quit" when they are defective. A bad starter will usually start
your vehicle when it's absolutely cold. Once warm, the starter will
behave as follows:
- No power
- Click then nothing
- All other electrical is fine (headlights, stereo, alarm etc)
If your car or truck won't start when the engine is warm, but starts
fine when it's cold, you most likely have a bad starter. Although
replacing the battery is less expensive, it rarely (if ever) will
resolve this issue. Consider the age of the car / starter when these
symptoms occur. If you have an older vehicle (older than 5 years) then
replacing the starter is a good place to start prior to buying other
electrical components (battery, alternator).
Always bring the vehicle to a shop that offers a free electrical
diagnostic test to confirm the electrical system is sound to rule out an
electrical problem first. If the electrical system is sound, I'd go
ahead and replace the starter.
Although this tip will show under the Lincoln category, it applies to all makes and models.
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