Car won't start.. battery remains dead! Please help

ASSISTANCE Electrical & Entertainment Systems
1

I’m pretty new to the Integra scene. Thus far I have done some simple things to my 92 Integra and it’s had a few problems that I’ve been able to diagnose and fix myself but now I am just stumped.

It first started having troubles a few months ago, shortly after I got it. I ended up getting the battery that was in it checked when it first died. Was shot, so I purchased a new one. A week or so later, it was dead again. So I ended up getting the alternator checked and I needed a new one due to a bad regulator.

So I got it, registered here for a little alternator help (and might I add removing the left driveshaft is NOT required to replace the alternator :smiley: on a DA ) along with replacing the battery fuse which was blown and sailing seemed smooth.

A month or so went by until it randomly started having electrical problems. When I brake my stereo would cut out so I took out my deck, pulled the ground from my trunk and made sure no faulty wires were the problem.

Around Tuesday I went to Best Buy and left my lights on (I know… save it! lol) and somebody jumped my car and I was able to drive it the rest of the day with no problems. On Wednesday my car failed to start for work, thankfully my driveway is on a hill, so I rolled out popped the clutch in reverse and went to work. In the week leading up to this, there has been a great delay in the car firing up! It hesitates for up to 5 full seconds then fires up just fine. After work it failed to start again… someone jumped me and I went home. THIS morning it had a delay but actully started up on it’s own, only seemed to want to die but I just punched it and went to work, SAME symptoms on the way home.

I can’t seem to diagnose this problem for it is not consistant BUT it has been getting worse seeing as my car won’t start at all right now. It will not even turn over.

I have no idea what to do, I don’t know if this is a short or what… if someone has a good indication as to where I should start… It’d be greatly appreciated.
-Dustin

2

Id check/replace all your grounds to start.

3

Id check/replace all your grounds to start.

Ditto that.

Start by redoing your main grounds, batt. clamp, batt. to chassis and chassis to engine, the grounds should be removed, both contact surfaces cleaned and then reconnected making sure they are tight.
The ground cable is one cable with the chassis ground under the batt. “box” and the engine ground on a bracket where transmission connects to engine.

If the above does not solve your problem, do the same, [remove/clean/reconnect] with the main power connections, batt., batt. to engine bay fuse box, main fuses, [the ones held in place with philips screws] also do the alt. charge lead, at the alt. and the engine bay fuse box.

I would also do a parasitic drain test, it can be done with a simple 12V test light.

Need some clarification, you say car will not start and sometimes there is a delay, and sometimes it will not even turn over.

1 Each time you turn on the ign. do you hear the fuel pump prime?

2 Each time you turn on the ign. do you get instruments/cluster lights?

3 When you say engine does not start, does that mean it turns over, but does not fire?

4 When you say there is a delay, does that mean it is cranking but it will not fire or the cranking is delayed?

5 You said, “my car won’t start at all right now. It will not even turn over.” when trying to start can you hear any clicks?

6 Do the head lights work, does the horn work?

7 Open door so dome light is on, try and start the car, does dome light stay on when ign. key is in start position?

Try a “bypass jump” using a jumper wire, [12ga min.] connect one end to batt. pos.(+) and touch other end to starter solenoid input, thinner of the two leads at the starter motor, unplug the stock lead and touch the jumper lead to the terminal on the starter solenoid.
CAUSTION CAUSTION CAUSTION
Engine will crank even if car is in gear, even if ign. is off, even if clutch is not stepped on.

Do the bypass jump first, before the grounds and powers or drain test. 94