My **** car is at it again.

Can skip to end to get short notes.

Yesterday it didn't start in the morning. And I mean it is acting like a fully dead battery. The starter isn't engaging at all. Figured battery took a ****. I was able to jump the car with the gfs (had to buy 4ga jumper cables for $40) and the car started right up after like 30 seconds. Let the car idle as I cleaned out the garage so I can park it inside to stay warm. Car idle for 15 minutes and I took it for a spin down the road (maybe 1/2mi) and parked it. Tried to start it back up and nothing. So I figured new battery. Go buy a battery ($120 for a 5 year warranty battery and then $10 for wrenches), and try to put it in. The ****ing positive terminal clamp falls apart. Go buy a new clamp ($10). The one the has the stud that fits into the maxima doesn't fit the battery so I had to use the bigger clamp which meant I had to drill out the starter wire hole and positive wire hole. Then the stupid ****ing wingnut that came with the clamp wont work because it hits the fuse on the wire. So back to the store to get a nut. After finally getting the battery on, still wont ****ing start. Same exact issue. I was able to jump it again, let it run for 10 minutes, then drove it for like 10 miles. Bring it back, park it, and it wont ****ing start.


Torn battery, and mount out to check wires. The ground from battery to chassis to transmission looks the same it did last month and isn't loose.
I couldn't check the starter as I couldn't reach under the car.
I then put the battery from the GF's car into mine so I can rule out battery. Nothing.

When I try to start, it doesn't even click. Stop trying to start and the lights go haywire and flicker for a little but even if I remove the key. Well I put the battery back into the GF's car and now her car has aids. This morning, it ****ing died on me when stopping, but will start right back up (just wont idle).


Any one have ideas. If anyone says battery or alternator, please shut the **** up now as you are not helping and ****ing clueless.

I haven't checked the starter yet, will be doing that tonight after work when it should hopefully be at my parents.


To recall, the car wont start over even turn over. Jump it with a running car and it runs. Drive it around and runs great. Turn off and it wont start again. Tried a known good battery and still nothing. Alternator is less than 3 weeks old.

 

Make sure the terminal is good. Buy it from the stealership. I replaced my battery terminal because it wasn't really tightening and it was kind of crowded. I bought it from the dealership and it cost $20 but the car runs so much better. Also make sure you are sending down all your connections.

Don't rule out the alternator, even though it is only 3 weeks old. Once I bought 2 bad alternators in a row before I finally got a good one.

 

Starter solenoid is on the fritz. Time for a new starter.

 

Freak relax.... the so called good battery might not be good IMO....as you said it starts with another car jump ....when my starter started going out A few taps on it while A friend started it worked A few times till it gave out for good.

 

I agree. I recently bought a battery for one of my bikes and it was bad right out of the box. I returned it for a different battery and the problem was solved.

 

Battery was good, i took it out of the car I was using to jump. Reason I said it wasn't the alternator is because that has zero to do with starting. If battery is dead and alternator is junk, the car wouldn't junk after 30 second with cables then run for 20 minutes.

It was the negative terminal clamp. Even though it was tight on the battery, and no corrosion, it was ****. The wire on the clamp wasn't frayed either.


FYI, reason I hate my car.

November 4ish, car lost a rod bearing and engine took a ****. Swapped engines, put in new oil seals, valve cover gaskets, got it together then alternator went out and rear main started to leak. Fix that, then the crank seal started to leak, replaced that and all belts. Then this happened.

 

These cars are getting old now. Stuff is going to start to happen. I have been lucky in 139,000 miles to have done very little fixing to my car that is not routine maintenance. I had a clutch hose burst at 100,000 ($20 to fix), my ballast on my HID went out around then too ($50, but I just fixed it this week ), and the sunroof is getting funky so I leave it closed. Thats about it. Sorry you have had a string of bad luck. Maybe your luck is changing.