patsfan81

Been working on new exhaust install over the past 3 months. Car has been sitting... itrecently ran a few weeks ago (had to jump the battery but it ran fine) for 15 mins and started the next day and ran with no problems..

Today I finished the exhaust install...
battery was dead... connected jumper cables waited about 2 mins and started it up...
started and ran about 1 min at a very low rpm(chugging) for a bit...
I disconnected the jumper cables and engine shut off...

Tried to jump it again... no luck... seems like the ignition or starter is strong... but the engine wont turnover...

CEL is on but..i dont have o2 sensors connected....
Oil light is on- but checked the levels and they are good..(oil was changed 1000 miles ago)

I tried tapping the starter - no luck
Fuel Injector cleaner - no luck
Carb/choke Cleaner- no luck
Let the battery charge then try to start- no luck

im not a mechanic just a DIY guy..appreciate any help I could get

doctorake

Sounds like the battery, what happens when you just try to turn your headlights on?

patsfan81

going to get battery checked...

das

If you jumped it and it still does not want to run , ( I had this problem only once - 88 civic dx ), the engine ground was disconnected - radio , lights and low current stuff worked . Found it was grounded via the ground cable fender clamp ( keeps it out of the way and secure ) by piercing the insulating jacket --- took a while to find that one .
Check your ground wires..... The battery ground, the starter/ engine ground, valve cover ground...... And thier contact with clean bare metal.

patsfan81

new battery installed.. same result... guy at auto zone said its probably the alternator...
but its never shown signs of problems...until now...
the battery light stays on..