Its taking longer to start and thers a puff of smoke coming from under the hood, drivers side, at the front. Starter? If so, how hard is to change out w/ a new one? Thanks.

 

No starter resides at the driver side front. What kind of smoke, electrical oil blowby? Have someone watch as you start the car. not enough info to venture a guess..... Tedd

 

White puff. And then it's gone. Def not oil. Drivers side, towards the front of the car. Happens just at turn of the key, before the engine turns over. Starter cranks and cranks mostly when it's cold, starts better when warm, but not always. I thought I heard it slip the other day but can't be sure

 

Year, model, engine...

Insulation from an overheated wire from excessive current. Check the small ground wire to the body. If it's melting the large ground is bad.

 

Turned out to be the small ground to the battery. It has split - I have it temporarily hooked back up and the car fires right up, but the insulations totally gone, so I'll get it replaced. Once again, thanks for the excellent info on this site

 

There is a problem with the engine ground wire, the heavy cable between the battery and the cylinder head. The small wire should not be carrying cranking loads; it did because the heavy wire has high resistance and the load took next path of least resistance, in this case the little ground wire from the battery.

If only the little wire is replaced it will fail again and the car will have unexplained electrical gremlins.

Good luck!!!
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Ok great info. Thanks again!