ok i just bought this car and when i try to start it it cranks. the problem is that i have to let it crank for about a minute for it to gain enough speed for the car to then start. what could it be? could it be the starter or something else? Ok i have another problem also i dont know if this could have anything to do with why it wont start. it idles rough so i starting pulling spark plug wires off one at a time while it was idling. when i got to my fourth plug wire the idle didnt drop like all the others. i know there is spark coming from it i got shocked by it. what could that be? could it be the plugs? when at idle the car blows white smoke could that be unburnt fuel or what please help. trying to get it running. so i have transportation. should i even bother or just wait about four months and drop my b16a1 in it? please help.

 

if ur engine is turning over it isnt ur starter buddy, its either going to be a spark problem or a fuel issue or air issue, check ur spark plugs, check ur plug wires, check ur distributor, change ur air filter if necessary, if when u pulled that one spark plug u noticed no difference u may have a dead cylinder, and that could be the white smoke but normally it'd be a bluish smoke if the cylinder isnt working at all from the unburnt gas, ur probably going to want to do a compression check on the individual cylinders, but a general tune up maybe all u need, do all the routine maintanance and then see if its still there if ur still having problems don't hesitate to let us know. btw don't crank ur starter too much all at one time, it overheats easily and can cause damage to ur starter, just for future reference.
ps make sure ur battery is fully charged also
also might want to clean off the fuel injectors make sure those are ok.

 

I second the battery checking My alt was going bad and my battery was weak and my car turned over slow as hell till the alt just went out completly... Good luck

 

ok about the battery it is new? i know this sounds stupid but if my alternater was bad would it have an effect on if my car would start or not? ok i was told something and i dont know if its true. i was told my starter has two gears. what i am hearing is the first gear engaging and the second isnt so that is the reason it wont start? please correct me if i was told wrong.

 

umm thats kinda true i guess, ur alternator does 2 things it spins obviously and engages into the flywheel ring gear which is wrapped around ur flywheel and when that pulls forward it engages ur engine and starts her up, ur starter also clicks forward when u turn ur ignition this is where it actually moves the gear forward to hit the flywheel cuz normally its about half an inch away, when u accidentally turn ur ignition when ur car is turned on that horrible grinding is the gear tearing accross ur flywheel ring gear when it clicks forward. this isnt really ur problem though buddy, ur engine is turning which means that ur starter is working fine, ur battery may be discharged so that the engine isnt moving fast enough to be self maintained but more likely its a fuel air spark issue, ur alternator charges ur battery, theoretically u don't need an alternator if ur battery is fully charged (some dragracing cars run without them because their runs are short enough to just charge the battery every few times or so). so as long as ur battery is charged up ur alternator doesnt make a difference (obviously if ur alternator is crap and ur battery discharges all the time its quite a PITA). i'm telling you check ur spark plugs, plug wires, cap and rotor, charge ur battery up all the way (even if its new some batteries are defective take it to where u bought it and have them charge it and test it while they are at it) change ur air filter if needed. let me know if u need more help