Thread: need help with diagnosis

alright so heres the deal, a couple of days ago I drove to the gym, car ran fine, got out, started it up fine and took it for a 3 minute drive to cvs, came out 5 minutes later and it wouldnt turn over, just clicked. I was able to bump start it and get home. next morning it wouldnt start, me and my buddy bumped it and took it to his house where we took out the starter, got it tested at autozone, where it passed 4 times. When we put it back in and tried starting it we noticed the dash, dome light, and headlights would go dark as i tried to start it, so we figured the battery was bad. He just jumped me, and I drove home later where my headlights were going in and out on the way there. next day i started it with a battery charger and went to autozone to get the battery tested, and they said it was a good battery, and my month old alternator was also working. I was able to start my car a few times and get around but after a while it was just clicking again. Main overview--batterys fine, alternators fine, starters fine, what else could it be? any suggestions will help, I just want to get my car working again

man I had two starters both test good on my s14 and replaced it anyway and the thing never missed a beat. The cars that run an sr20 do not put out straight 12 volts to them it is more like 11-11.5 volts, tested by me with my digital volt-o-meter. If your solenoid is weak on your starter then it could and would test perfect when autozone hits it with 12 volts of electricity but not extended out when on your car in order to crank it. I would bet you have a weak solenoid on your starter which is causing your troubles. Do you have a voltmeter so you can test were it is and what is causing it. that is the only way to be a 100 percent sure.

The alternator could be going out, and only working randomly.

thats some good info to know, i will probably throw a new starter on there and see what happens. does that explain the light issue at all?

no it does not that would be something else. If electrical then start with main relay but I would start at the battery with a voltmeter and work my way through the electrical system until I found a short or were there is a break in continuity. Only way to be sure --- electrical problems suck to sort out but starting issues, there are only so many things it could be. good luck

If everything tested fine, and you have lights flickering, then you need to check for loose connections. Check the starting, charging, and main power circuits. That would be the only logical next step if everything's in working order. Of course starters, and alternators can be on their way out, just working intermittently, but that's 50/50. Loose connection, or shorts is my educated guess. I've had issues like this before, and it turned out to be a loose power wore on the starter, and loose negative post on the battery. Made the lights dim in/out, and starter feel weak.

Also check the grounds for your major electrical cables.

I had a starting issue once. HAd my started tested several times at 3 different stores and it passed. Then when I put it on my car it didnt work. I replaced it and havent had a problem for about a year.

This, make sure the Alt, battery, and starter have good grounds

fusable links.....i had one get just a little too much and was toast....but it was still good enough contact enough that it did EXACTLY what you said was happening to you