A few weeks ago my battery died on me so I got it replaced. Ever since then I’ve been having trouble starting my car if I let it sit for about a day. It cranks and everything as long as I have the clutch in and the key turned but it just won’t start. The first time it happened I turned everything off, radio, AC, etc. And tried starting it again with no luck. Then I unhooked the power cable to my amp and it started up just fine. Today I did all that and still couldn’t get it to start so I think it’s getting worse. I got it started after about 5 minutes of trying and then I turned off the dome light inside the car and it finally started.
My impression is that maybe it’s the alternator. But the engine is cranking fine when I turn the key so I think it’s getting spark and since I just replaced the battery I think that’s fine. But I’m not sure if you even need the alternator to start the car. I thought the battery started the car and then the alternator took over. Anyway, someone please help me out. TIA.
I haven’t added anything new recently. I’ve had the amp for a year. Is it possible the battery doesn’t have enough cranking amps? I got it from Autozone and they had the cheap one and the more expensive one. The more expensive one had about 150 more cranking amps (300 vs 450 or something like that) but they have a 2 year warranty on the batteries so I just got the cheaper one and figured I’d get it replaced if it died on me.
If I have trouble starting it I just keep turning stuff off and keep trying it. But the weird thing is that I only have trouble starting it if I haven’t started it in about a day. How can I tell if the car’s getting fuel?
Originally posted by whiteyg2RS I only have trouble starting it if I haven’t started it in about a day.
Sounds like a slow drain, like something staying on when it shouldn’t be. Get a volt meter and measure your battery voltage before starting the car, especially when it’s been sitting for a day or two. You’ll know for sure if it’s battery related or something else.
Originally posted by SE-37K Sounds like a slow drain, like something staying on when it shouldn’t be. Get a volt meter and measure your battery voltage before starting the car, especially when it’s been sitting for a day or two. You’ll know for sure if it’s battery related or something else.
Good call. Measure it right after you stop the car, then after you haven’t touched it for a day or two, at a time when you know that if you tried to start it, it wouldn’t.
I’m pretty sure the battery is fine because even when I have trouble starting the car I can still turn the radio on and the AC on and my clock hasn’t been reset or anything. And it’s definitely clicking when I keep the key turned. So according to smoke it’s not my starter and it really doesn’t seem like the battery is getting drained. So is it a bad plug or maybe the fuel pump?
We mean that it sounded like a slow drain in your system, the battery is not the problem (other than it can’t handle the constant slow drain obviously). HOWEVER: if it’s clicking, it’s your starter. Well, I mean, when mine was clicking it was my starter…
Things to test.
-Main fuel relay.
-Voltage to main coil connection (on top)
-Voltage to cranking coil output (inside the coil, this is what starts your car)
-Ground wire from motor to frame. (that thick wire that bolts onto the valve cover and goes to somewhere near the radiator)
-The obvious, cap, rotor.
-Check all of your fuses, there’s a fuse that goes out that causes a similar problem, I can’t remember which one it is so check them all. I had this problem once.
-Injectors, possible but unlikely.
I’ve had similar symptoms multiple times and each one of these items caused me a problem at one time or another.
I had this problem once.