Subject: '96 Mitsubishi Eclipse 4 cylinder stick
Question: My son has this car. Today it would not start. Itried to jump it and it will not even try to crank at all.
I took the battery to have it checked and it is fine. We recently had a new alternator put in it and all belts are fine. Could the problem be the starter?
Thanks
Answer: Dave,
There is a 95% chance the starter is the problem. If you can jack up the car, get under it so you can see the starter. You can try to GENTLY tap it with a hammer. Sometimes that's all it needs to get it to start. But if that does work to get it started, don't shut off the engine. You may have to hit it again to get the brushes to turn.

The remaining 5% chance of the car being unable to crank could be due to the starter relay; or a seized flywheel if the car is a manual. But it's quite rare for those things to happen. Have the starter replaced and his car should be fine.
Good luck!