Confusing Starting / Electrical Problem on my 3rd Gen

fefelarue · Post by **fefelarue** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 3:30 pm

Hey guys.

When I try to start the car, the starter clicks and doesn't turn over. Sometimes you hear the engine turn for a fraction of a second but then it just clicks.

The voltage on the battery is 11v AFTER this, but before trying to start it has been charged to 12.5ish V.

It then takes about an hour to charge the battery fully again (going by the charged light on the charger). Sometimes the battery drops down to about 9V on the voltmeter.

This same problem happens with 2 different batteries, which is confusing as drokk.

When i bump start the car, the battery light will stay on for the journey, and the lights etc are dim, unless i rev the engine, then they get brighter.

I'd say it's a problem with the battery, but this problem has been ongoing for months, steadily getting worse and worse until now i fully charge the battery and it wont start at all (it used to start after a good charge)..

WHAT THE FRIG!?

mercutio · Post by **mercutio** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 3:33 pm

check the output on your alternator the starting issue is a bad battery

Post by **Vtecmec** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:01 pm

Yes I'd be looking at the alternator, check its output voltage across the battery, also do a check for AC voltage too, if you read +0.5v ac then there is an issue.

fefelarue · Post by **fefelarue** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:43 pm

So no matter how much i charged the battery it didnt work.

I jump started it from another car and it started perfectly.

I then took off the jump leads and all the lights dimmed, and the voltage from the alternator is 10.9V at idle, when i rev it it goes up to 14v and the lights get brighter again!

But is this low voltage because of the battery being drokked? if so would the voltage still rise when revved if the battery is screwed?

Post by **Vtecmec** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 4:50 pm

If the alt is only offering 11v at idle then it's not doing it's job properly. This plus the cold weather is probably killing the battery.

fefelarue · Post by **fefelarue** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:03 pm

Thanks for the replies.

That's what i thought Vtecmec, but this battery was new 6 months ago, so i'm confused as to why it's died already. It almost seems like something about the car is eating through batteries.. Is that possible?

'92 Si VTEC · Post by **jjmartin349571** » Mon Dec 29, 2014 5:20 pm

If your alternator isn't running at a sufficient voltage then it's not charging the battery as it should, and over time the net result is the battery will drain. Until the alternator is replaced/repaired then it will keep draining batteries. My 3rd gen Accord is doing this so I don't drive it any more

Blarge · Post by **Blarge** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 12:46 am

@fefelarue

You could have a Battery & Alternator issue by the sound of it but to help diagnose the problem I have included a few Youtube videos that walk you through the investigation of the battery/ alternator and help with a drain on the battery.

Is the battery you have purchased the correct rating of battery for the car? This is on the side of your battery as CCA (Cold cranking amps) basically the power it can give to start the car in the cold more is better but not too excessive

A quick check assuming this is a Mk3 then you need at least 450 CCA (Checked with the halfords site). This is on a car with no extras I.E AMP, subs, alarms etc.

With the cold weather batteries can experience problems starting a car as mentioned by @Vtecmec, I would also check the battery terminals and give them a clean with some sandpaper on the inside to ensure good contact and they are not loose around the terminals. A poor contact and corrosion can effect the alternator charging the battery its an easy one to do.

As you mention something is eating the power it could be a short, I had this on my lude recently it was the audio install draining the battery. The third link should help you work out what's causing it

How to test your alternator
[youtube][/youtube]

How to test your battery
[youtube][/youtube]

How to test for a short
[youtube][/youtube]

Hope the above helps, let us know how you get on.

Ben

Post by **Pushki** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:02 am

Blarge wrote: [youtube]LGB6ZEjGm7Q[/youtube]

How to test your battery
[youtube]COJr7OB23Hw[/youtube]

How to test for a short
[youtube]n5FJDgcdii8[/youtube]

Hope the above helps, let us know how you get on.

Ben

Blarge · Post by **Blarge** » Tue Dec 30, 2014 1:13 am

@Pushki Thanks