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Azurik = Car Idiot

Azurik

Azurik

Platinum Member
My car's timing belt broke last week while driving home from school. I have a non-interference engine though, so the engine was luckily not damaged. It cost $400 for the timing belt and pulleys to be replaced.

When I drove it again for the first time yesterday night, it stalled a couple of times. Once, when I was at a stop light and one more time, when I was just sitting idle.

Now, I know my battery is dying, I am getting it replaced tomorrow. COULD THIS BE THE REASON though? I thought once a car is started, the battery will get recharged by the running engine. Can it ever get too weak? It is so weak in fact, when I got gas before my timing belt broke down, I left my lights on for 5 minutes while the gas was pumping, and I couldn't even start it without cable jumpers.

I just hope that is the case, and it's not something else.

Azurik

Yes, it wouldn't start because my battery was dying. I know this is a fact because whenver I leave the light on for a little bit without the engine on, this happens.

What I'm confused about is whether this would actually make it die when I'm stopping at traffic lights.
 
When you were tryin to start it at the gas station, was it making ticking noises? If so that means your battery was indeed dead. If not then something else is messed up.
 
Originally posted by: Cawchy87
When you were tryin to start it at the gas station, was it making ticking noises? If so that means your battery was indeed dead. If not then something else is messed up.
Click to expand...

Yes, it wouldn't start because my battery was dying. I know this is a fact because whenver I leave the light on for a little bit without the engine on, this happens.

What I'm confused about is whether this would actually make it die when I'm stopping at traffic lights.

Azurik
 
when it stalls out at a stop light, can you restart it or not?

If you can start it, its not an altenator problem, otherwise it probably is.
 
Originally posted by: Colt45
when it stalls out at a stop light, can you restart it or not?

If you can start it, its not an altenator problem, otherwise it probably is.
Click to expand...

Yes, it is easily restarted. I just can't let the engine idle, because it puts and eventually dies sometimes.

 
Ok. then it is not a battery / altenator problem.

uh.. what do you drive? how many miles? give a guy a hint here 😉
 
Weak battery and the alternator isn't putting out sufficient voltage at idle. The failing alternator is probably why the battery is weak.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Weak battery and the alternator isn't putting out sufficient voltage at idle. The failing alternator is probably why the battery is weak.

ZV
Click to expand...

The battery is like 6 years old. That wouldn't be a problem?
 
I think I'm going to replace the battery tomorrow and come back on here 🙂 Conflicting opinion, LOL!

For all I know, they might have put the timing belt in wrong? No?
 
Originally posted by: Azurik
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Weak battery and the alternator isn't putting out sufficient voltage at idle. The failing alternator is probably why the battery is weak.

ZV
Click to expand...
The battery is like 6 years old. That wouldn't be a problem?
Click to expand...
Yes. Typical life expectancy for a lead-acid car battery is 3-5 years. If the battery has gone completely dead, the life expectancy shortens dramatically. If the battery is really bad, it can introduce sufficient resistance into the circuit to cause problems at low RPM.

ZV
 
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Originally posted by: Azurik
Originally posted by: Zenmervolt
Weak battery and the alternator isn't putting out sufficient voltage at idle. The failing alternator is probably why the battery is weak.

ZV
Click to expand...
The battery is like 6 years old. That wouldn't be a problem?
Click to expand...
Yes. Typical life expectancy for a lead-acid car battery is 3-5 years. If the battery has gone completely dead, the life expectancy shortens dramatically. If the battery is really bad, it can introduce sufficient resistance into the circuit to cause problems at low RPM.

ZV
Click to expand...
I was working (and carpooling) with my bro-in-law over this past summer. One day after work we went out to his car to drive home...wouldn't start. Push started it and it started fine, drove fine. He turned on his headlights and it killed the engine every time. Turns out it was just the battery...somehow during that day it just took a crap sitting under the black hood of his car :Q The battery wouldn't take a charge from the alternator, and he even tried to charge it with a bench charger...no go.
 
Originally posted by: Azurik
My car's timing belt broke last week while driving home from school. I have a non-interference engine though, so the engine was luckily not damaged. It cost $400 for the timing belt and pulleys to be replaced.

When I drove it again for the first time yesterday night, it stalled a couple of times. Once, when I was at a stop light and one more time, when I was just sitting idle.

Now, I know my battery is dying, I am getting it replaced tomorrow. COULD THIS BE THE REASON though? I thought once a car is started, the battery will get recharged by the running engine. Can it ever get too weak? It is so weak in fact, when I got gas before my timing belt broke down, I left my lights on for 5 minutes while the gas was pumping, and I couldn't even start it without cable jumpers.

I just hope that is the case, and it's not something else.

Azurik

Yes, it wouldn't start because my battery was dying. I know this is a fact because whenver I leave the light on for a little bit without the engine on, this happens.

What I'm confused about is whether this would actually make it die when I'm stopping at traffic lights.
Click to expand...

my old car had that same exact problem; stalling at low rpm. the only way i found to lessen the likelihood of stalling was switching to neutral when stopping at lights and low revving, etc. unfortunately the problem started the same way yours apparently did. timing belt f!@ked the car up. at first they tried replacing the fuel injector, after a month it started happening again. alternator, fuel injector, battery, etc. replace, repeat, replace, repeat. no matter what the guy tried replacing it won't be fixed. finally we gave up and donated the car to charity.

in short, timing belt f!@ked up the car and car became ever unfixable.
 
Get a fresh, quality, battery. Interstate's are good. Have the alt. checked at the same time. If the problem persists, then suspect the timing belt is off a notch.
 
Could be a poor battery contact, it doesn't sound like your battery is dead. Also, you IAC could be dirty and finally it's possible the mechanics fvcked up.
 
Originally posted by: HappyPuppy
You don't need to pay more than $40-$50 for a battery. Buying expensive batteries is a waste of money.
Click to expand...

My last interstate cost $60 and lasted 9 years, even thou I killed it flat a couple of times over the years. Added a quart of tap water the last time and it went 2 or 3 more years. I say spend the extra $10.
 
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