why wont my car start?

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 12, 2003

#1

• Nov 12, 2003

• #1

ok so last night i go to start my car and all my accessories got power but the car wouldnt turn over. The starter was getting power though because i could hear it(no center console). When i turn the key all it does is the starter makes noise. a couple clickey noises then a drone. Then it started, but stalled after like 2 minutes, and wouldnt start again. Now today i started it and got it to about 170 degrees and it suddenly just stopped running, RPMs dropped but fuel pump and radio still had power. What the hell is wrong with it? Is it a low battery? alternator? starter? something else?

 

X

xplo89gt

Founding Member

Jul 14, 1999

945

0

16

Boston, MA

Nov 12, 2003

#2

• Nov 12, 2003

• #2

How many volts are you getting from the battery?
It sounds like it is probably the alternator. But that would also drain your battery quickly if you got it to start.

Have you made any changes lately or did this just all of a sudden start happening?

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 12, 2003

#3

• Nov 12, 2003

• #3

i dont know how to check the volts and it just happened, i havent changed anything recently

 

1Stang2Go

Founding Member

Feb 4, 2002

389

16

39

CT

Nov 12, 2003

#4

• Nov 12, 2003

• #4

Do you have a voltmeter? Get the car fired up and put the meter on the battery. it should read 14+ volts. 14.2-14.4 with the motor spinning above idle. Thats if the battery is ok. Do you have a charger? If you do, set it up and let it charge over night. You should atleast have 12 volts if the battery is ok. If not...You've got battery issues.
Start by getting the battery charged. Check the battery. if you have 12 volts, start the car and see if its charging. 14+ volts. If you don't you have alternator issues...
hope this helps..

 

1Stang2Go

Founding Member

Feb 4, 2002

389

16

39

CT

Nov 12, 2003

#5

• Nov 12, 2003

• #5

ok wait a sec, did the car crank normally one it did crank?

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 12, 2003

#6

• Nov 12, 2003

• #6

no i dont have a voltmeter or a battery charger, and when it turns over it starts, but it doesnt turn over

 

1Stang2Go

Founding Member

Feb 4, 2002

389

16

39

CT

Nov 12, 2003

#7

• Nov 12, 2003

• #7

if its cranking normally when its starting, maybe your starter solinoid is going south.

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 12, 2003

#8

• Nov 12, 2003

• #8

its only a month old

 

Black331Stang

Active Member

Apr 29, 2003

1,485

0

36

Long Island, NY

Nov 12, 2003

#9

• Nov 12, 2003

• #9

sounds liek a starter or solenoid when u say it doenst wanna turn over and u just get a hum...but then u say it stalled..which could mean alt/battery..witehr way your gonna need a voltmeter or try to borrow one.

 

Black331Stang

Active Member

Apr 29, 2003

1,485

0

36

Long Island, NY

Nov 12, 2003

#10

• Nov 12, 2003

• #10

or now i read better and it says when it does turn over its fine....could mean sometimes its just not getting enought power from teh battery

 

1Stang2Go

Founding Member

Feb 4, 2002

389

16

39

CT

Nov 12, 2003

#11

• Nov 12, 2003

• #11

I think BrodeurNJ is on to something..Check all your grounds...

 

9

91lx5liter

New Member

Nov 11, 2003

39

0

0

paris tennessee

Nov 12, 2003

#12

• Nov 12, 2003

• #12

OonDeanisS said:

ok so last night i go to start my car and all my accessories got power but the car wouldnt turn over. The starter was getting power though because i could hear it(no center console). When i turn the key all it does is the starter makes noise. a couple clickey noises then a drone. Then it started, but stalled after like 2 minutes, and wouldnt start again. Now today i started it and got it to about 170 degrees and it suddenly just stopped running, RPMs dropped but fuel pump and radio still had power. What the hell is wrong with it? Is it a low battery? alternator? starter? something else?

Click to expand...

sounds like a weak battery

 

9

91lx5liter

New Member

Nov 11, 2003

39

0

0

paris tennessee

Nov 12, 2003

#13

• Nov 12, 2003

• #13

OonDeanisS said:

ok so last night i go to start my car and all my accessories got power but the car wouldnt turn over. The starter was getting power though because i could hear it(no center console). When i turn the key all it does is the starter makes noise. a couple clickey noises then a drone. Then it started, but stalled after like 2 minutes, and wouldnt start again. Now today i started it and got it to about 170 degrees and it suddenly just stopped running, RPMs dropped but fuel pump and radio still had power. What the hell is wrong with it? Is it a low battery? alternator? starter? something else?[/QUO

you can bypass the solenoid by jumping the small terminal on top to the big terminal with the positive battery cable solenoid post (closest to the firewall) if it does nothing or it arcs you have a weak battery. if your battery amperage is ok then you may have a starter issue, but also you should check for corroded cables, bad battery cable ground too.

Click to expand...

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 13, 2003

#14

• Nov 13, 2003

• #14

ok i checked my battery... 12.46 volts with the car off, and still not starting. I dont think its the starter because it started yesterday, then stalled. I dont know what the hell to do... and i just got a job today where i need my car! AAAH!

 

8

88mustangGT

New Member

Apr 6, 2003

298

0

0

Nov 13, 2003

#15

• Nov 13, 2003

• #15

im having the same exact problem. it just clicks. my starter is 5 months old or so. i tryied using a battery out of a diffrent car and it still didnt start. i did notice the wire got really hot so i think theres resistance someware. could it be the starter relay or what?

 

G

GET OUT DA WAY

New Member

Aug 15, 2003

5

0

0

CHARLOTTE,NC

Nov 13, 2003

#16

• Nov 13, 2003

• #16

Check the fusible link on the starter,my 92 gt did the same thing.I brought a new starter but kept the old wire from the fusible,and it did the same thing.When I used the new fusible link presto....

 

8

88mustangGT

New Member

Apr 6, 2003

298

0

0

Nov 13, 2003

#17

• Nov 13, 2003

• #17

would this explain the wires geting hot? where is the fusible link located? ive never herd of that thing before.

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 13, 2003

#18

• Nov 13, 2003

• #18

me either, what wires get hot?

 

8

88mustangGT

New Member

Apr 6, 2003

298

0

0

Nov 13, 2003

#19

• Nov 13, 2003

• #19

the power ground from the battery and wire to the starter

 

OonDeanisS

Founding Member

Jun 16, 2002

902

1

19

Danbury, CT

Nov 14, 2003

#20

• Nov 14, 2003

• #20

what is the fusible link? is that the wire that connects to the starter on the side? there is only one wire connected to it... so i guess thats it, but how would i go about checking it?