Car won't start – is it the starter or just the heat?
I'm genuinely at a loss right now and hoping someone can offer some insight before I end up spending money I don't need to. My car has been struggling to start for the past few days, like it takes a few extra seconds of cranking before it finally fires up, and this morning it just gave me a single click and then nothing at all. The battery is relatively new and all the lights and electronics seem to be working fine, so I'm pretty sure it's not that, which leads me to believe the starter motor might be on its way out. I've been reading up on it and apparently the heat here can really take a toll on starters, especially if they're already getting old, so it makes sense that it would choose to fail now of all times. I'm obviously going to need to get it fixed soon because I can't be without a car, but I'm also trying to be smart about this and not overpay for something that might be a straightforward repair. A friend of mine mentioned that finding Affordable Car Starter Motor Repair in Abu Dhabi is totally possible if you know where to look, and I'm hoping someone here can point me in the right direction. Has anyone had a starter replaced recently and can give me a rough idea of what it cost and how long it took? I'd really appreciate any advice before I start calling around blindly.
Single click and nothing, with lights still working, is the textbook starter solenoid symptom. But a new battery can still have corroded or loose terminals that pass enough current for lights and not enough for cranking. Wiggle the clamps and check for white crust before you buy a starter.
Went through this last summer with my Camry. The slow crank for a few days and then that one click was the starter, no doubt. Took a shop about two hours and the part was cheaper than I expected, but ask whether they're fitting new or reman.
Heat alone doesn't kill a starter, it just exposes one that was already worn. I'd be careful with anyone who quotes a replacement over the phone without testing first. A proper draw test on the battery and starter takes ten minutes and saves you paying for the wrong part.
Check the ground strap from the battery to the chassis and the main cable at the starter lug too, since heat soak makes a tired connection worse. If you tap the starter body with a wrench while someone turns the key and it fires, that pretty much confirms worn brushes or a sticking solenoid.
What car is it, and does it crank slowly and then click, or just click every time now? Also curious how old the battery actually is, "relatively new" can mean six months or two years here, and the heat cooks them fast.