My sister's Integra won't start. She left her car for like 3 hours, and when she came back it wouldn't start but would crank. Now, I tried jump-starting it today and it won't even turn over...not even a click. But, there is a constant clicking (even with the keys out) coming from under the instrument panel. The clock on the dash also dims intermittently; I'm assuming that this is an indicator for something, but I just don't know what. I tried tapping on the starter with a hammer, too (does this sound like a bad starter to you?) The thing that gets me is that yesterday it would turn over fine, but was kind of rough and shook the car a bit. That made me think something with the timing. I'm really not sure though...any ideas? Thanks.

 

Help please! Yesterday, even though it wouldn't start it at least turned over...now there isn't even a click.

 

It is an aftermarket alarm. Do you have the alarm button on the keychain?

 

Holy **** you're right...my sister bought the car from my friend and something was up with the alarm so we just ripped out the horn and she took the remote off of her keychain. There's a switch installed under the dash to toggle the alarm on and off, and I think I hit it! Wow, thanks a lot for that info...now the problem is that it turns over but won't start. It feels really rough too...like shakes the car pretty badly. That made me think the timing was off like I said, but what do I know. Any more ideas? Again Lan, thanks a lot.

 

What would make it shake so bad when trying to start?

 

Are you getting fuel and spark? Could be shaking due to old motor mounts, you said you hit the toggle switch, but the car still will not start?

 

It already wouldn't start, then I hit the toggle switch and it wouldn't even turn over. Now I'm back to it not starting but turning over and shaking pretty bad.

 

Seems really choppy when it turns over, trying a new cap and rotor.

 

New cap, rotor, and spark plugs and no luck. Fuel pump primes...what are some obvious things to check. I mean, the car only sat a few hours before it wouldn't start again. Has to be something simple. Help!

 

check your grounds man, especially the one on the thermostat housing. i had about the same problem.. hope that helps.

 

have you checked the battery?? this sounds like an extremly dead battery. Try checking if there is water in the battery cells, if there is not....then add some and charge the battery for an extended period of time. My car had the same problem before and this worked.

 

check all your battery connections and grounds, even the connection on the alternator. if the car still won't start, try jumping it, and keeping the jumper cables on (running her car off another running car). if after you pull the jumper cables off and it dies, it could mean that you have a bad alternator. her car could still run with a dead battery, but if the alternator is bad as well then it wont run at all. I had a similar problem with my first car where my alternator went out but the battery still had enough power to turn the car over - but not start it. hope this helps.

 

I haven't had a nice day or a day off of work to look at it some work...it's gonna turn out being a ground I'm sure. Thanks for all the help.

 

The car is getting fuel for sure, and good compression, and when I removed the distributor and manually turned it, it appeared to be activating the injectors.
Removed spark plugs and grounded to the head - no apparent spark. Like I said new plugs, cap and rotor.


Note: Engine seems to be cranking faster than usual. What do I do now? Seems like a no-spark issue. Is there a sensor that is needed to make spark?

 

rip out that alarm system. restore the wiring under the dash.

 

iginition coil. ignitor coil. do you have a multimeter? check those if you're getting no spark.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Mt3c &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">iginition coil. ignitor coil. do you have a multimeter? check those if you're getting no spark.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Ya, that's my next step...my friend is bringing his over tmr. Thanks.