car won't start

[alien42]

this morning when i started my car there was clearly a problem, she started up but it was a weak and dying start. sure enough the next start was in the early evening and again it was clearly a weak start. not long after that, on the third start of the day, nothing. the battery is fine and everything lights up but there is no actual cranking, just a click.

from my weak description does it sound like a starter problem?

 

[LTC8K6]

The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

This.

The starter can draw well over 200 amps when cranking the engine over during a cold start. The lights will draw, at most 25 amps or thereabouts. Lots of people think that if the lights come on it means the battery is OK, but that's just never been true.

ZV

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

This.

The starter can draw well over 200 amps when cranking the engine over during a cold start. The lights will draw, at most 25 amps or thereabouts. Lots of people think that if the lights come on it means the battery is OK, but that's just never been true.

ZV

i tried to jump it yesterday when the problem first occured and still nothing. i really think the battery is fine, any other test for the battery besides a volt meter?

 

[PottedMeat]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

This.

The starter can draw well over 200 amps when cranking the engine over during a cold start. The lights will draw, at most 25 amps or thereabouts. Lots of people think that if the lights come on it means the battery is OK, but that's just never been true.

ZV

i tried to jump it yesterday when the problem first occured and still nothing. i really think the battery is fine, any other test for the battery besides a volt meter?

It doesn't even jump? Maybe a bad starter relay/solenoid or starter motor? Can you borrow someone else's good battery to test?

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

This.

The starter can draw well over 200 amps when cranking the engine over during a cold start. The lights will draw, at most 25 amps or thereabouts. Lots of people think that if the lights come on it means the battery is OK, but that's just never been true.

ZV

i tried to jump it yesterday when the problem first occured and still nothing. i really think the battery is fine, any other test for the battery besides a volt meter?

It doesn't even jump? Maybe a bad starter relay/solenoid or starter motor? Can you borrow someone else's good battery to test?

not sure i can find a compatible battery just for testing but i could remove the battery and take it to Auto Zone to test if i can find a ride. i had a dying battery on this car a few years ago and it would at least try to turn over/crank which it is not currently doing. i am also thinking starter or solenoid after doing some internet research/troubleshooting.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

This.

The starter can draw well over 200 amps when cranking the engine over during a cold start. The lights will draw, at most 25 amps or thereabouts. Lots of people think that if the lights come on it means the battery is OK, but that's just never been true.

ZV

i tried to jump it yesterday when the problem first occured and still nothing. i really think the battery is fine, any other test for the battery besides a volt meter?

It doesn't even jump? Maybe a bad starter relay/solenoid or starter motor? Can you borrow someone else's good battery to test?

not sure i can find a compatible battery just for testing but i could remove the battery and take it to Auto Zone to test if i can find a ride. i had a dying battery on this car a few years ago and it would at least try to turn over/crank which it is not currently doing. i am also thinking starter or solenoid after doing some internet research/troubleshooting.

The click you are hearing is the starter solenoid engaging. If you are hearing the "click", the solenoid is 100% fine. When starters fail, they typically stop completely, they don't get weak first. 99% chance that the problem you are having is either the battery or a bad connection. First step should be to disconnect the battery and clean both the battery posts and the cable clamps. Clean everything until it shines. If that does not at least allow a jump start, clean the cables on the starter end and make sure they are attached solidly.

A volt meter test of a battery tells you very little. You need a proper load tester which can apply a large amp draw and measure how well the batter holds up under load.

ZV

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: PottedMeat

Originally posted by: alien42

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: LTC8K6
The battery is almost certainly dead. It takes far more power to crank the engine than to run the radio and a few lights. You need to get it jump started and then get the battery and charging system tested.

This.

The starter can draw well over 200 amps when cranking the engine over during a cold start. The lights will draw, at most 25 amps or thereabouts. Lots of people think that if the lights come on it means the battery is OK, but that's just never been true.

ZV

i tried to jump it yesterday when the problem first occured and still nothing. i really think the battery is fine, any other test for the battery besides a volt meter?

It doesn't even jump? Maybe a bad starter relay/solenoid or starter motor? Can you borrow someone else's good battery to test?

not sure i can find a compatible battery just for testing but i could remove the battery and take it to Auto Zone to test if i can find a ride. i had a dying battery on this car a few years ago and it would at least try to turn over/crank which it is not currently doing. i am also thinking starter or solenoid after doing some internet research/troubleshooting.

The click you are hearing is the starter solenoid engaging. If you are hearing the "click", the solenoid is 100% fine. When starters fail, they typically stop completely, they don't get weak first. 99% chance that the problem you are having is either the battery or a bad connection. First step should be to disconnect the battery and clean both the battery posts and the cable clamps. Clean everything until it shines. If that does not at least allow a jump start, clean the cables on the starter end and make sure they are attached solidly.

A volt meter test of a battery tells you very little. You need a proper load tester which can apply a large amp draw and measure how well the batter holds up under load.

ZV

i cleaned the battery posts and tried jumping again with the same results. the click i hear when the key is turned is not from the engine but more of an electronic click from the dash (if that makes sense). it is also a single click and not a repeating click-click-click.

some more info that may be helpful, i turned the headlights on and when i turn the key they do not dim at all.

 

[Zenmervolt]

Originally posted by: alien42
i cleaned the battery posts and tried jumping again with the same results. the click i hear when the key is turned is not from the engine but more of an electronic click from the dash (if that makes sense). it is also a single click and not a repeating click-click-click.

some more info that may be helpful, i turned the headlights on and when i turn the key they do not dim at all.

Ahh. Next thing to do would be to check for continuity at the starter. You want to check on the low-current leads to the starter solenoid and make sure that they are receiving voltage when you turn your key. It's possible that your ignition switch is failing isn't sending current to the solenoid. BE CAREFUL while testing this and do not short the high-current terminals on the starter solenoid.

ZV

 

[alien42]

Originally posted by: Zenmervolt

Originally posted by: alien42
i cleaned the battery posts and tried jumping again with the same results. the click i hear when the key is turned is not from the engine but more of an electronic click from the dash (if that makes sense). it is also a single click and not a repeating click-click-click.

some more info that may be helpful, i turned the headlights on and when i turn the key they do not dim at all.

Ahh. Next thing to do would be to check for continuity at the starter. You want to check on the low-current leads to the starter solenoid and make sure that they are receiving voltage when you turn your key. It's possible that your ignition switch is failing isn't sending current to the solenoid. BE CAREFUL while testing this and do not short the high-current terminals on the starter solenoid.

ZV

thanks for the help ZV, i just got back from the auto shop and it was the starter which they replaced.

 

[Doggiedog]

Ok. It was the starter.

I was going to suggest it was the engine immobilizer key. I had a 97 Prelude SH and it had a horrible problem not starting because there was something wrong with the immobilizer. I never figured out what it was but it put me in some pretty bad situations when I couldn't start my car.

 

[LTC8K6]

Good thing I said "almost certainly"...