sup guys, i have a 1998 accord with about 135k. i just replaced my battery and spark plugs, but the car just makes a ticking noise. should i buy a new altenator? and if so, what else should i be looking to buy when i need a 'full tune-up' before winter comes. thanks.

 

Cool. What's making the ticking noise? Where do you hear the noise coming from? Is it only at idle? Does the frequency increase with RPM? Hot? Cold?

Or, are you saying the car won't start and only makes a click sound when turning the key to the start position? If so, voltage drop the starter, check your connections. You've probably got a bad starter.

 

silly me, i forgot it DOESNT crank. i had to pop start it today. how do you perform the voltage drop starter? my cousin was saying it was the starter was bad too..

 

Phootbag brought up some good points. No doubt that atm, the starter doesn't want to do it's job for whatever reason.

Only other thing I can add at this point is are there any CEL's?

 

yeah, ive got the CEL. but its just the cat. ive had it for years. im just wondering how to you test the starter to see if its bad?

 

Measure voltage on both sides of a load to determine the amount of voltage the load is using. If you measure a 12volt difference on each side of the load, in this case the load is the starter motor, the load is using the available voltage and should operate. If you have a 12 volt "drop" and the load doesn't operate, the load is defective.

Or, you could "whack" the starter with the key held in the start position, if it starts, the starter is bad.