i went out today to warm up the car and it didn't start! it seems like the starter died cuz there's no clicking or turning sound you hear when you start a car. does this sound like the starter to you guys ? i also noticed for the past few days everytime i would start the car, it would kinda hesitate. i didn't think of it as anything cuz it is starting to get cold...what do you guys think ?

 

Check the condition of your battery, maybe it's weak or not holding the charge. Also, make sure the terminals are clean and secure.

 

Do the head lights come on? bright or dim?
The first thing I would check would be the battery terminals..
Remove the positive and negative and give them a good
cleaning with a wire brush.
Baking soda mixed with water works well also..
You can use an old toothbrush with it if a wire brush is not avalible..
(The terminals and the posts on the battery as well..)
Have the battery tested if it still seems weak..or put a charger on it..
When you know the battery and its connections are good,
You can go from there.
If you have a Volt meter,you can check for voltage at the starter.
The big wire should have 12 volts at all time and the small wire
should get 12 volts when you turn the key all the way to the start position..
If it is the starter,sometimes you can tap it with a hammer (easy now)
and it will start working again..

 

hmmm...i'll try tapping it with a hammer and i'll do the voltage tests also. i noticed when i turn the key to position 1 my cd player doesn't turn on...but the clock works so its can't be the fuse....

 

k i went to check the voltage but i'm not sure if its correct. i used a multimeter and it read 9.74 VDC ...what does that mean ?

 

anyone else ?

 

9.74 volts is low..it should be close to 12v..try swapping your battery or run some jumper cable from a known car that will start.

 

hmmm... i'll try that but will a low battery do that? i mean it doesn't even turn over but there's dash lights...headlights turn on...main relay goes on...fuel pump is on...

 

gee you guys are right! it was the battery...i wonder why though cuz that battery is like 3 yrs old. i have a stereo system but i doubt it takes that much power and i don't play it when the motor is off...my alternator seems to be fine cuz the battery light haven't went off...i might've left the parking lights for a bit...could that discharge the battery ??

 

If your battery light stays on while your driving your battery isn't charging, your car is pretty much running off the battery and if the battery is good will run for a while like that. I have a optima and drove for 3 days local with no alt. If you leave anything electrical on while the alt isn't running it drains off the battery. It may take a while but could kill it eventually. Everything runs off the Battery then the alt charges the battery when it is needed.

 

no no i meant the battery light on the cluster is not even on that's why i suspected it was the starter. well all is good now i just hope nothing happens when i'm out somewhere and its really cold outside. thanks guys!

 

Your alternator and can be bad without that light turning on. Take it from the voice of experience (my car died in between runs at autoX, I had no warning anything was wrong).

 

Mine did this the other day, turned out all I needed to do was put more water in my battery

 

i think my dad is right then. my battery might just need some water...

 

make sure its distilled water....not tap water....Tap water has minerals and other junk that will hurt more then help

 

I had the exact same problem as zcivics but for my 4th gen prelude. turned out to be my battery too but before I had even changed it I banged on the starter with a hammer and the car started right up even though it was a freezing 20degrees outside!!! Could be a common problem with the mitsuba starters, low battery power and the cold