car problem - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

SofaKingA · 06-13-2003, 09:17 PM

I took my car into get an oil change today and after I got home I noticed that they cleaned some corosion off of my battery which i thought was cool. When I tried to start my car later that day, it wouldn't start. The only thing I hear after I turn the key is a clicking noise. My friend said that it's probably not the battery because my headlights shine bright. I tried jumping it anyway and it still didn't work. I have no idea what the hell is wrong with it. If anyone has any ideas please tell me. Thanks.

mazak · 06-14-2003, 01:04 PM

make sure the terminals are tight,it;s possible after they cleaned them they for got to tighten them. also make sure all the connections are tight at the starter,and the ground cable is tight where it hooks up at.check all the ground wires for tightness rust or corrosion.good luck!

grumpyolddude · 06-14-2003, 05:43 PM

Could be a bad starter, though I hope it's just a bad connection.

What kind of vehicle? Some have common problems that may be easily corrected.

The fact that someone cleaned your battery MAY just be coincidental. Who did the work? Many quikee oil changers hire cheaply and don't train worth a damn.

Good Luck!

ps. All that MAZAK says is true and good advice!

gigawatz · 06-15-2003, 01:29 PM

I hate to be the 2nd one to tell you but is sounds like a starter.... If after checking all of your connections it still wont start... Take something long like a hockey stick or such and try banging on the starter and try again... the spindle may be stuck and just needs jared.... but for your sake, I hope that it is only a bad connection... depending on what kind of car and FWD or RWD could make replacing a starter a nightmare...

Best of luck to ya.

Let us know what's up when you are done.

maddemon802 · 06-15-2003, 01:57 PM

What kinda of vehicle is this in? Sounds like the starter, but could also be the starters solenoid too. If you are cabable of taking it out yourself and can get a lift places like advance or autozone will test it for free...I have had good luck w/ them
Hope you get it straight
Demon

ElwoodBlues · 06-15-2003, 07:00 PM

well, i'm sure this isn't the case, but when my friends car wouldn't start, only made a click when we tried to start it, and the headlights and all electronics ran, it wasn't starting because her engine had seized. Hopefully thats not the case with yours, i doubt it is.

joshibahn · 06-16-2003, 07:50 AM

Alternator

thadon · 06-16-2003, 07:57 AM

it's your voltage regulator ...

shakran · 06-16-2003, 08:08 AM

no it's not. alternator and volt. regulator kick in after the engine's started. It could be starter. It could be main relay (especially if you drive a late 80's, early 90's Honda - the original main relays go out after 150,000 - 200,000 miles or so)

Kruz · 06-16-2003, 03:40 PM

make sure the battery cables are clean and TIGHT.... it may be making enough of a connection to power the lights but not the starter.. check connections at started motor.. if ok it's prob the starter bad...

DEI37 · 06-16-2003, 04:21 PM

Yeah, gonna go with either bad connection or a starter on this one. And guys...think about this...the solenoid HAS to be good still. It's clicking! The relays will be good...the solenoid will be good. It's either a connection (most likely at the battery), or the starter itself.

Snakeyes · 06-18-2003, 10:04 AM

Your battery's dead. It hardly takes any power at all to shine headlights and courtesy lamps, but takes every cold cranking amp in there to turn a 12 volt starter motor.

The "click" is the switch for the motor clicking over, and trying to turn, but not having enough power.

Edit: Also to those that said alternator, what the hell does this have to do with the alternator? That keeps the car running AFTER the engine turned over, and has nothing to do with starting. If your alternator blew, it would start, but not having any other power source your headlights, distributor, etc. would all run off the battery's power.

WarWagon · 06-18-2003, 09:05 PM

I agree, the odds of a starter just going unexpectedly when the battery just happens to be fooled with is a little too suspicious. I agree with snakeyes, lights dont require anywhere near the current that a starter draws. Charge the battery, it'll probably turn over no problem.

06-13-2003, 09:17 PM	#1 (permalink)
SofaKingA Crazy Location: Erie, PA	car problem I took my car into get an oil change today and after I got home I noticed that they cleaned some corosion off of my battery which i thought was cool. When I tried to start my car later that day, it wouldn't start. The only thing I hear after I turn the key is a clicking noise. My friend said that it's probably not the battery because my headlights shine bright. I tried jumping it anyway and it still didn't work. I have no idea what the hell is wrong with it. If anyone has any ideas please tell me. Thanks.

06-14-2003, 05:43 PM	#3 (permalink)
grumpyolddude Deliberately unfocused Location: Amazon.com and CDBaby	Could be a bad starter, though I hope it's just a bad connection. What kind of vehicle? Some have common problems that may be easily corrected. The fact that someone cleaned your battery MAY just be coincidental. Who did the work? Many quikee oil changers hire cheaply and don't train worth a damn. Good Luck! ps. All that MAZAK says is true and good advice! __________________ "Regret can be a harder pill to swallow than failure .With failure you at least know you gave it a chance..." David Howard

06-15-2003, 01:57 PM	#5 (permalink)
maddemon802 Addict Location: SouthEast	What kinda of vehicle is this in? Sounds like the starter, but could also be the starters solenoid too. If you are cabable of taking it out yourself and can get a lift places like advance or autozone will test it for free...I have had good luck w/ them Hope you get it straight Demon __________________ don't worry, I'm not lookin at you

06-16-2003, 07:50 AM	#7 (permalink)
joshibahn Psycho Location: portland, or	Alternator __________________ TFP=heaven Heaven, n 1: the abode of God and the angels and the souls of those who have gained salvation 2: any place of complete bliss and delight and peace [syn: eden, paradise, nirvana, promised land, Shangri-la]

06-16-2003, 04:21 PM	#11 (permalink)
DEI37 Go faster! Location: Wisconsin	Yeah, gonna go with either bad connection or a starter on this one. And guys...think about this...the solenoid HAS to be good still. It's clicking! The relays will be good...the solenoid will be good. It's either a connection (most likely at the battery), or the starter itself. __________________ Generally speaking, if you were to get what you really deserve, you might be unpleasantly surprised.

06-14-2003, 01:04 PM	#2 (permalink)
mazak Crazy Location: louisianna	make sure the terminals are tight,it;s possible after they cleaned them they for got to tighten them. also make sure all the connections are tight at the starter,and the ground cable is tight where it hooks up at.check all the ground wires for tightness rust or corrosion.good luck!

06-15-2003, 01:29 PM	#4 (permalink)
gigawatz Crazy Location: Pittsburgh	I hate to be the 2nd one to tell you but is sounds like a starter.... If after checking all of your connections it still wont start... Take something long like a hockey stick or such and try banging on the starter and try again... the spindle may be stuck and just needs jared.... but for your sake, I hope that it is only a bad connection... depending on what kind of car and FWD or RWD could make replacing a starter a nightmare... Best of luck to ya. Let us know what's up when you are done.

06-15-2003, 07:00 PM	#6 (permalink)
ElwoodBlues Psycho Location: Massachusetts	well, i'm sure this isn't the case, but when my friends car wouldn't start, only made a click when we tried to start it, and the headlights and all electronics ran, it wasn't starting because her engine had seized. Hopefully thats not the case with yours, i doubt it is.

06-16-2003, 07:57 AM	#8 (permalink)
thadon Cruisin thru life Location: Alpharetta, GA	it's your voltage regulator ...

06-16-2003, 08:08 AM	#9 (permalink)
shakran Tone.	no it's not. alternator and volt. regulator kick in after the engine's started. It could be starter. It could be main relay (especially if you drive a late 80's, early 90's Honda - the original main relays go out after 150,000 - 200,000 miles or so)

06-16-2003, 03:40 PM	#10 (permalink)
Kruz Upright Location: Marietta GA	make sure the battery cables are clean and TIGHT.... it may be making enough of a connection to power the lights but not the starter.. check connections at started motor.. if ok it's prob the starter bad...

06-18-2003, 10:04 AM	#12 (permalink)
Snakeyes Loser Location: Toronto	Your battery's dead. It hardly takes any power at all to shine headlights and courtesy lamps, but takes every cold cranking amp in there to turn a 12 volt starter motor. The "click" is the switch for the motor clicking over, and trying to turn, but not having enough power. Edit: Also to those that said alternator, what the hell does this have to do with the alternator? That keeps the car running AFTER the engine turned over, and has nothing to do with starting. If your alternator blew, it would start, but not having any other power source your headlights, distributor, etc. would all run off the battery's power.

06-18-2003, 09:05 PM	#13 (permalink)
WarWagon Loser	I agree, the odds of a starter just going unexpectedly when the battery just happens to be fooled with is a little too suspicious. I agree with snakeyes, lights dont require anywhere near the current that a starter draws. Charge the battery, it'll probably turn over no problem.