this morning my car wouldnt start. the first time, i cranked it and it wouldnt turn over. i paused for a bit, and tried a second time. this time, the cranks were faint till eventually it wouldnt do it anymore. the dash lights would blink in correspondance with each attempted crank. i didnt think it was the battery because my radio and interior lights would work.

i was then told to try cranking it with my headlights on. in doing so, my dash went black, and i got no response. my friend came over, we pushed the car, then popped the clutch in 1st. the car started but i heard a ticking sound from the dash. i look and see the ABS light blinking and i also had no speedo/tach gauges. so i park it back into my driveway and let it maybe recharge the battery. i was experimenting and when i turned on the headlights, the car would almost stall. i did it again, the car did stall. now it wont even crank.

any help would be greatly appreciated.

 

just tried to start it again.. i hear ticking, thats it. radio works, windows, lights, etc.

 

check the battery connections....if it's not that...it might be the starter

But I have a feeling it's probably a bad connection somewhere..


[Modified by Interlude, 5:51 PM 3/30/2002]

 

ill check it.

but why wouldnt the speedo and tach work when we popped the clutch?


[Modified by illusion, 7:31 PM 3/30/2002]

 

try checking fuses. im not sure but there should be a big red one 50A in the engine bay.

 

My guess is dead battery. When my alternator died, causing my battery die, just before my car stalled out, the radio quit working, guages quit working, and no lights.

 

Probably a bad battery caused by a bad alternator. Once the car was started, it should've been fine, unless the alternator was not putting out enough current. That would explain why it stalled with the headlights on; too much current draw and not enough output from the alt.

 

jump start it with another car if she fires up then it your battery if not i will be a fuse at best or the strater

 

car stalled with headlights on after only being running for a min or two. i doubt that was long enough to recharge it anyway.

lowsol, ill try that.

 

ok update. my car blows.

my friend brought over jumper cables and we tried to start it. it didnt work. we pushed it and popped the clutch.. this time i had gauges. we went and filled it up with some gas. then we drove around a bit.. the car started losing the gauges and interior electricity. then it would start to stall at stop signs. we had to pop the clutch a few times again to keep it going. at full throttle the car would pop and make backfire noises. we were making the turn back to my house.. the car stalled cause we had to wait for a car to let us go. we pushed it and popped the clutch again to get it home. sigh.

 

It sounds more fuel related to me
have your alternator tested to be sure it might be that still.

 

ok more info. another friend came over with his focus. we swapped batteries. my car started up fine. the little glass hole into the battery on mine is completely black, his is green.

so i have concluded two things. 1. my battery is dead. im gonna need a new one either way. 2. i dont know if my alternator is bad or not. if it is, when i replace the battery, this battery should die out pretty quick then since its not being recharged, no? i was told that i can test how good the alternator is by pulling the battery while the car is running. i will try that.

 

its ur battery and alternator. why the car is popping is because ur battery does not have enough voltage to fire the car at wot. change battery and alternator and prooblem will be solved guaranteeded

 

alright

 

it could be your battery not holding a charge.
ive had it happen to me.

 

i thought i had fixed the problem. i bought a new battery. car worked for the last 2 days. today.. i get out for lunch at school and my car wont start. i had to push it and pop the clutch to get it home. POS

 

Im thinking aternator thats exactly the symptoms my car had when it went it died finnally died at the stop light right outside the shop and my mom pushed me with her car through the intersection. I thought it some thing electical or fuel too but after the new alternator i had no problems

 

do alternators just go bad like that with no signs?

 

i think u might have a short in your circuits
you gotta check all your grounds
and check your fuses.

my 7.5 amp fuse was blown, and i replaced it, blew 3 more times.
i got a new battery and replaced the blown fuses and got a new ground strap
for my valve cover.

i always got shocked when i stepped outta my car.

 

I had problems for a couple days prior i would jump it and it would be good for the rest of the day then a few days after jumping it every day i put a new battery in it and it was cool for a few then that died i had the same problems with the lights too ...but you might want to look into some of the other suggestions first before replacing the alternator

 

I had the exact same symptoms in my 2000 Prelude. The dealer initally thought it was a bad alternator, and they replaced it. But It did the same thing. It turned out being a bad ECU... Honda replaced the ECU too under warranty.

Andrew

 

i had this same problem with my old accord hybrid. heard the ticking sound. my speedo would go in and out though the car was still running. would almost stall. radio was working even though the car wouldn't crank.

my problem was bad battery terminals. so i put a screw in each and problem solved.

 

""? i was told that i can test how good the alternator is by pulling the battery while the car is running. i will try that.""

It is not a good idea to disconnect the battery on a running engine to check the alternator. The battery absorbs voltage transients that could otherwise destroy sensitive electronic components. $$$ Most parts places will test the alternator for you, but of course, you have to remove it first. If it tests OK, and the battery still discharges, check the connectors and wiring between the alternator and the main fuse box under the hood.