|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 66
CEG\'er
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 66 |
I started my car today and went to the mall. When i was leaving I tried to start my car and got 1 click. I was like...what the he--. So, me and my friend rolled it down the hill and jumped it. AFter driving for awhile and shut off the car, I tried starting it again aand got the same 1 click. So my question is....is it the battery or alternator? Thanks
99 SVT tour
00 Mercury Sable (winter car)
03 600 RR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 717
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 717 |
Could be either one really. Sometimes when you let the battery drain(leave interior light on etc.) it will take out the battery. But if you did nothing to make it die in the first place. Most likely alternator.
90' Bright Orange Mustang
65k - 13.306@105.1 
Looking for another CSVT
~Blas~
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,196
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: May 2000
Posts: 9,196 |
Heres the easiest way to find out which one it is. Once you get the car running take off the + battery cable, it should still run off the alternator, if not, its the alternator.
"THEE" Roger R
USMondeo@aol.com
2005 Crossfire Limited coupe'
-FOR SALE @buyout price & I'll...
-throw in my 93' Regal as winter car
*Dragon Run 06'...Oct 12-15th*
Puur-fection Auto Detailing
Complete packages from $140.00
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,319
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,319 |
Originally posted by The Striped SVT:
.. Once you get the car running take off the + battery cable, ...
Sorry, definitely not correct advice.
SVTBURG:
Suggest you start by cleaning/tightening battery terminals and connectors and see if that solves problem. If not, then with engine off, check volts at battery terminals (12.5). Turn headlights on, then if volts stay at 11.5+ after a few minutes battery ok, if volts drop quickly to 10.5 or below battery is faulty. With engine on bat volts will be about 14 if alt ok.
The fact that you did not report bat light on while driving would indicate alt ok. Also alt not involved during starting.
Starter problems can't be excluded until above checks are carried out.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888 |
go to autozone for a free battery/alternator test.... you dont have to buy either, just have them test it... i use a meter to test mine... with the car running the alternator should put out about 13-14.5 volts at the battery terminals and with the motor off the battery should read about 12.6 volts...... but if the battery is low(and now bad from leaving the lights on it will be low, maybe down to 4 volts??).... charge up the battery on a charger and see what it does.. matter of fact when testing any electrical problems that is what has to be done.. you gotta check it out with a fully charged battery....
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 66
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 66 |
OK.....the car is at my parents house, so i took my girlfriends car over there this morning. I went and checked the fuses.......everything ok. Everything (lights and radio) inside worked. So, it appears to me that the battery is ok. How do u tell if it is the alternator or starter?
99 SVT tour
00 Mercury Sable (winter car)
03 600 RR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 66
CEG\'er
|
|
OP
CEG\'er
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 66 |
WEll the weirdest thing happend to me this afternoon. Me and two other of my buddies (my help to push start the car) drove my car to autozone and I had them check alternator and my battery. My alternator was fine, but they said my battery i might need to replace. He also said "sounds like ur having a problem with your starter". So I got prices and so forth and came home. WEll get this.....when I pulled into my apartment complex and parked, I shut the car off. Just to amuse myself, I decided to try and start the car. You'll never believe it........IT FIRED RIGHT UP!!!!
So...what should I do now? I dont want to be stranded somewhre again?
99 SVT tour
00 Mercury Sable (winter car)
03 600 RR
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,319
Hard-core CEG'er
|
|
Hard-core CEG'er
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 2,319 |
As per my prior post I'm still voting for bat terminal connections, which AZ may have disturbed and made temporarily good while checking bat.
98 Mystique LS v6 atx 163,000km
97 Contour LX v6 atx 163,000km
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 90
CEG\'er
|
|
CEG\'er
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 90 |
Originally posted by SVTBURG:
WEll the weirdest thing happend to me this afternoon. Me and two other of my buddies (my help to push start the car) drove my car to autozone and I had them check alternator and my battery. My alternator was fine, but they said my battery i might need to replace. He also said "sounds like ur having a problem with your starter". So I got prices and so forth and came home. WEll get this.....when I pulled into my apartment complex and parked, I shut the car off. Just to amuse myself, I decided to try and start the car. You'll never believe it........IT FIRED RIGHT UP!!!!
So...what should I do now? I dont want to be stranded somewhre again?
I would say that it is your starter, sounds like you are hitting a flat spot in the starter brushes and it is not turning over? But, I am no mechanic 
Still workin on her!!!!!!!
|
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888
Veteran CEG\'er
|
|
Veteran CEG\'er
Joined: Apr 2002
Posts: 888 |
no just because the radio and lights work, does not mean the battery is any good, it maybe only putting out a small amount of amps... to operate the radio and lights.. try cranking it when the lights are on and if the lights dim then you need a battery with more amps... probably a new battery.....
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
