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Below is a collection of Jim Grant's Tech Tips sorted by Vehicle Make. These Tech Tips were answers to questions submitted to Jim by ALLDATAdiy.com users over the course of many years.
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  Jim Grant's Tech Tips

'92 Pontiac Grand Prix SE, Failed Starter Diagnosis

Q: I recently had a starter replaced on my '92 Grand Prix. It was not detected at the time that it was put on the diagnostic computer at the shop. Is it normal for starter problems not to show up beforehand on the diagnostic system? Or not have any symptoms that would be noticeable to the driver?

- Tina

A: I would first ask what type of diagnostic test did you have performed? If the diagnostic test involved connecting to the vehicle’s computer then you would not receive any information that would report the condition of the starter. To understand why, you first have to understand that all vehicles are made up of many operating systems. Even though all these system are part of the vehicle and may even share some components with each other, does not mean that they’re all communicating to one central system or computer. A good example is your starter. The computer knows it exists only because it sees the crank/start command from the ignition switch. Other than that, the computer knows nothing more about the starter. You could even remove the starter from the vehicle and the computer would not know the difference. As for starter failure, it can happen many ways. Sometimes a starter will be slow at cranking the engine, make a grinding sound, just click or give up without a sound. Needing a replacement starter in a vehicle of your age is not out of the question and not surprising except when you really need it.

 
     
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