Car won't start....

[speedblue88]

Ok, got a strange one here and I'm running out of ideas.

Drove my car yesterday, no issues. Parked it in the garage yesterday afternoon. Got back in it about three hrs later, turned the key and nothing but a series of clicks. Tested the battery last night, looked good at about 12.71 volts. Figured it was probably the starter, so took it off today and took it over to Advance Auto. They run test on it, say it's faulty. Buy a new one, install it, same issue. Hmmm. Battery still right around 12.71 volts. Only other things I can think of are alternator or fuel pump. I ruled these out earlier as car was running fine and I had no signs of failure of either one that I've had in the past (stalling, lights dimming, weird engine feel), and I can hear a whirring noise when I turn the accessories on that is usually associated w/ fuel pump. What am I overlooking here?

 

[RockerPro5]

When you replaced the starter, did you also replace the solenoid?

 

[speedblue88]

Yes, solenoid came attached to the new starter motor.

 

[RockerPro5]

Only other things I can think of are connections, maybe corroded wires?

 

[speedblue88]

I thought about that too. It's weird, the radio, lights, and all electronics work....though, when I turn on combinations of devices they act all weird and some dim. That's why I ruled out fuel pump. I'll take a look at the battery wires and wires that connect to the solenoid as well, just to double check.

 

[-Batman-]

any blown fuses? (if the starter went it could have blown a fuse and even though you have a new starter it wont work cause of a popped fuse)

is it a stick shift?

one time i couldn't figure out why my car wouldn't start and i found out that (my old 94 civic) a cheap little plastic thing that is attached to the clutch pedal had broken and wasn't pressing the little button that tells the car that the clutch is pressed in, thus it wouldn't start. also it is possible (if its manual) that the little relay for the clutch pedal is busted (thus no matter what it wont start unless fixed or bypassed) cause i think on our cars the little cheap plastic things have long since been replaced with non breakable metal welded pieces.

could be an ignition problem or fuel problem

when you turn the key do you hear the fuel pump prime?
when you crank the key does the solenoid on the starter at least click?
does the car try and crank over? (crank and crank and crank but no starting?)

 

[speedblue88]

Fuses are good. I can hear the fuel pump priming (at least I think that's what that whirring sound is). Engine doesn't try and crank, just gives that woodpecker-like series of clicks.

 

[pasadena_commut]

Could still be a bad battery, even though the resting voltage looks OK. Have a buddy turn the ignition while you watch the voltage across the battery. Or try jump starting the car.

I don't recall how the wires run off the battery on the P5, but assuming it splits off into a thick high current lead that runs to the starter you could have a broken wire in there, still measure good on the battery, still have most of the rest of the electrical system working, and still not be able to start. Maybe clip (but do NOT hold by hand) the multimeter leads onto the starter? That way you can check the voltage across the starter directly.

 

[speedblue88]

Well, I took the battery over to the auto store and had it tested. The machine recommended that it be replaced, so I bought a new one and threw it in. Fired right up. Is it possible that the starter motor went out and shorted the battery at the same time?

Anyhow, thanks to everyone for their input. It is much appreciated as always.

 

[BoostedPR5]

Well, I took the battery over to the auto store and had it tested. The machine recommended that it be replaced, so I bought a new one and threw it in. Fired right up. Is it possible that the starter motor went out and shorted the battery at the same time?

Anyhow, thanks to everyone for their input. It is much appreciated as always.

If you get a starter that is taking too many amps to turn over it can stress a battery, I've seen that kill them before. My only thought though, I wouldn't say it would short the battery.

 

[pasadena_commut]

The machine recommended that it be replaced, so I bought a new one and threw it in. Fired right up.

For future reference, file this under "if the car won't start it is almost always the battery". It isn't that there aren't other things that can keep a car from starting, but car batteries usually only last 3-5 years, so they account for the vast majority of instances where cars won't start.

How old was the battery that failed?
Was it very hot (or cold) in your area just before this happened?