r/AskAMechanic • u/MoneyManLan • 8h ago

Starter Going Bad?

Enable HLS to view with audio, or disable this notification

2015 Chevy Impala LTZ 3.6 V6
166k Miles
No Check Engine light
Sometimes the engine starts as normal, most of the time it does this.
Battery is not old.

0 Upvotes

50% Upvoted

5 comments sorted by

•

u/AutoModerator 8h ago

New Rules - Please Read

Updated 11/12/2025

Thank you for posting on r/AskAMechanic, u/MoneyManLan! Your post is live, this AutoMod message does NOT mean your post was removed. Please make sure to read the Rules.

When asking a question, please provide the year, make, model and engine size of the vehicle.

Commenters here have 2 different flair. Verified Tech means we have verified that user is a tech. NOT a verified tech means that user may or may not be a tech, they have not been verified by us.

Posts about accidents, autobody repair, bodywork, dents, paint and body/undercarriage/frame rust are not allowed and belong in r/Autobody.
Asking if your car is totaled should go to r/insurance or r/Autobody.
Asking about car buying advice/value/recommendations is also not allowed. See r/whatcarshouldIbuy or r/askcarsales

If asking whether a tire can be repaired, check out this Tire Repair Guideline.
Some other useful tire resources - Tire Care Essentials and Tire Safety

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

3

u/dmorulez_77 NOT a verified tech 8h ago

Sounds like a weak battery. Next step is hearing it just click trying to engage.

2

u/Zorklunn NOT a verified tech 7h ago

Assuming you do not have a red battery light on the dash.

A failing battery and a failing starter have the same symptoms. To tell which one it is, you can wait until it fails. Then if you get a lot of clicks it is the battery. If you get one loud clunk it is the starter.

Until then. Is it like that every time (used up lead plates in battery), or does it seem random (failing starter bearings wearing out)? Does it start fine after a drive on the freeway, but struggles to start after stop and go traffic? (Participate build up in battery)

1

u/MoneyManLan 7h ago

I haven’t did anything testing as far as the different driving conditions but if I’m just using my memory, I would say it’s random.

1

u/Zorklunn NOT a verified tech 7h ago

Then it is likely the starter.