Starting problem
01-21-2001, 08:18 PM
#1
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Thread Starter
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Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: Las Vegas, NV
Posts: 997
I would greatly appreciate some help with my car.
A few days ago the car would barely start after I heard a clicking noise from the starter. The car started with a jump a few times and then it wouldn't start at all even with a jump. Meanwhile the battery really never went dead because all the accessories and lights still worked. I had to have the car flat bedded to the local infiniti dealership where they told me it was the starter and they replaced it and the car seemed ok for a day. I started it this AM and drove and parked it and then later on the trouble started again, the car wouldn't start and the starter just clicked. My son got me started again with a jump but now I don't know what to do.
Is the battery not holding a charge, it's an optima red top that I bought 18 mos ago or is the alternator bad? Suggestions anyone! I'm at my wits end.
A few days ago the car would barely start after I heard a clicking noise from the starter. The car started with a jump a few times and then it wouldn't start at all even with a jump. Meanwhile the battery really never went dead because all the accessories and lights still worked. I had to have the car flat bedded to the local infiniti dealership where they told me it was the starter and they replaced it and the car seemed ok for a day. I started it this AM and drove and parked it and then later on the trouble started again, the car wouldn't start and the starter just clicked. My son got me started again with a jump but now I don't know what to do.
Is the battery not holding a charge, it's an optima red top that I bought 18 mos ago or is the alternator bad? Suggestions anyone! I'm at my wits end.
01-21-2001, 08:33 PM
#2
Senior Member
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 339
Not the Starter.
If the car makes a clicking noise that means that the battery is dead, it's not the starter. The your problem may be the alternator which is not charging the battery corectly. The accessories do not need much current to go on. I am 90% sure that it's your alternator.
01-21-2001, 08:34 PM
#3
Couple of things.
Its all kind of a "catch 22", but I would look at all these, and I'll tell you why.
1) Alternator = could not be charging battery properly (at least 13.0 volts, no more than 14.4)
2) Battery could be bad (or not holding charge) a load tester can determine (accessories may be on, but not enough to turn over starter).
Best way to do it is to put your battery on a trickle charger overnight (if you have a regulator built into the charger) and if the battery amps or voltage drops again, its probably the alternator. It could also be the alternator.
Its hard to diagnose because one could cause the other to go bad, so its best to check both.
Starters are rarely the culprit in this case (but you never know)....
Don
Its all kind of a "catch 22", but I would look at all these, and I'll tell you why.
1) Alternator = could not be charging battery properly (at least 13.0 volts, no more than 14.4)
2) Battery could be bad (or not holding charge) a load tester can determine (accessories may be on, but not enough to turn over starter).
Best way to do it is to put your battery on a trickle charger overnight (if you have a regulator built into the charger) and if the battery amps or voltage drops again, its probably the alternator. It could also be the alternator.
Its hard to diagnose because one could cause the other to go bad, so its best to check both.
Starters are rarely the culprit in this case (but you never know)....
Don
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