heres the deal, three days ago i was at my mans house. but i left my fog lights on ny accident for maybe 3 hours. so im about to leave, and it takes a few tries to start. i figure it was cuz the batt was drained. but everytime i try to start the car after that...it will only click once, and thats it. no turning over...nothing. the only way to start it is to push start....once its on, it runs pretty strong...as if nothing happened. but once its off, it wont turn on till i push start it again.

so i go to autozone to get my batt tested, they said it was low. they also said it might be my alternator. i need some second opinions. im stumped

 

They should be able to test the alternator.

How long did you drive it after push starting?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Marauder &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">They should be able to test the alternator.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Yes they will as well as your starter.

 

they said they would, if it was out of the car.

 

I've had the same prob with all the same symptoms except my car wouldnt start at all. Turns out the problem was with my starter motor. Something to do with the bush being stuffed? cant really remember exactly what the mechanic said the prob was. Hope this is useful though.

 

hmm...i THINK its my started too. cuz the other night we jus banged on it and it started...but im not totally sure. maybe its both, just coincidentally.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by GSR_Jamee &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">hmm...i THINK its my started too. cuz the other night we jus banged on it and it started...but im not totally sure. maybe its both, just coincidentally.</TD></TR></TABLE>

I had the same thing happen to me. I just kept getting a really fait click. I got out a hammer and tapped the starter -- that was a month or so ago and I've had no problems since. There's some technical advise for you

 

most likely it's your starter.especially after you said you banged on it and it started.

 

here the confusing thing, wen i went to autozone they jumpstarted it. they didnt need to bang on the starter. do you think both are goin bad?? (btw, i started my car this morning and i got lucky. i turned it off and now it wont start)

 

When you go to the shop you should find out what the volts of the battery is,when the car is off the battery should have 12 volts,any thing under means your battery is going bad.Then run the car and check the volts again,it should be in the low to mid 14 volts,if it is still saying 12 while the car is running then you have a bad alternator.

 

it could be dirty terminals also.

 

Its probably ur battery or starter, because those two are used to start the car, not the alternator. If your car drives fine after its started, the alternator should be fine. Maybe all ur battery needs is a good charge and terminals cleaned.

 

I'd say its your starter.

Bad starters can also make your battery go bad cause it'll draw more power from it. Just having to bang on the starter at least one time an it started after that, would point right at the starter.

 

i have the same problem for over a year. but back then i bought a new battery and it worked. this time the battery isnt helping as it still wont turn over. changed the alt. out to and thats not wotking. thinking its the starter but sometimes it does turn over but when it does it idles for like 2-3 mins and it dies. what the hell? ( didnt wnat to steal your post)

 

its just the battery
get a new one and you'll have no problems, you probably killed one of the cells in it thats why its never fully charged when you start it, thats also why the starter clicks, its under 9 volts on the batt so the starter won't move the flywheel, it just pops out and thats the click,
just get a new battery

 

My opinion is that the starter is faulty. If the battery is low, when you turn the key, all the lights will dim down. I had a bad starter before and it sux. It would click but not action. I would have to click the ignition 2 or 3 times before it turned over, then it became like 30-40 times.

 

Here's your problem: first, the battery is damage due to it being drained to a very low state. It is going to go bad eventually due to the damage battey cells. No matter how many times you jump start it or try to recharge it, it's damaged. Replace it ASAP.

Secondly, your starter is going bad too. Typcially problem for hondas/acuras. It's the starter solonoid that is actually bad on your car. There's a "plunger" inside that starter solonoid that gets voltage from the battery that forces a sprocket outward into the starter gear that engages the ring gear that will engage into the flywheel. From there it will turn the engine over and from there the alternator takes over(what a mouthful ) Simply said you need to replace the starter.


Cliff notes: battery going bad(due to it being drained beyond the recharge point), starter going bad(typical wear & tear problem): replace both

 

thanks guys for helping my girl out. hopefully your baby will be fixed my May 1st jamee!! we'll be incomplete without you

 

I would seriously check that your battery terminals are tight and clean before you go out buying all kinds of parts...

If either of the battery terminals is loose or corroded, the battery can't supply enough juice to make the starter run, and all you'll get is a click. You can get a battery terminal brush for like 5 bucks at the parts store.

If you check those terminals, and you still can't get it to turn over, then try replacing the battery. If this problem coincides with you draining it, and you didn't ever have any problems with the starter before, then it's probably the battery, not the starter.

 

well...as i stated earlier, i got lucky and it started, but then died on me when i was on the road. i got it towed and got a new alternator from Ali (if yer a honda head in daygo, you know who ali is lol). the starter is still good, for now. but now my CEL is on. when is this all gonna end. ack.