car wont start, what signs of failing starter/alternator

[K Dan]

I get off work, go out to my car and the damn thing wont start. It cranks but wont start the engine. After 20 minutes of trying it finally started, i get home go to park acidentally let off the clutch and it stalled, then took another 15 minutes or so to start it back up. I was having problems starting my car a few weeks ago. I so took the battery down to autozone to have it tested and they said it was bad so i put a new battery in and it started up fine until now. Now i guess I have to look at the starter and alternator. If the starter was bad would the car even crank?

 

[loco4G63]

If your starter were to go bad than your motor wound not crank at all and if it did, it might sound like a grinding on the flywheel; starter gears can't grab. If it was your alternator than your battery should be dead again. The ghetto way to check your alternator is to make sure your battery has a full charge(12-14 volts), than crank the car. While the car is running remove the battery cables and if your car keeps running than your alternator is good. If not then your engine is running off the battery: alternator is whacked out. Good luck buddy I hope this will help out some.

 

[K Dan]

well when i turn the key to on, my turbo timer reads 12.3 volts. To do this alternator test, when i get the car running (if the damn thing will ever turn over), do i remove the + or - terminal?

 

[ravennymph]

I'm having a VERY similar problem. My car won't start at all. I turn the key and get one good try outta her and then NOTHING. no lights no noise just silence!

I'll go with the alternator being crap since I put a new battery in her about 2 days ago. Anyone know what an alternator will run me?

(an yes, my cars a her.....it's named "pinkie" even )

 

[K Dan]

When i turn the key i can hear a noise coming from the engine bay that i didnt hear when my car was starting fine. I just took the battery out, I'll bring it down to autozone later to have it tested. If the battery is bad i guess i'll be pulling the alternator later in the week (if the weather will ever break into the 30's). I checked the alternator and the belt was kinda loose so maybe thats the problem. Also i noticed my car is missing a belt. It's the belt that goes from the pulley thats below the intake manifold to the crankshaft pulley. Is this the belt for the AC? I don't have think i have AC because i didn't see a button for it in the car but if i don't have AC, should i not have the belt, but why is the pulley there if i don't have AC?

 

[Raph]

if the car doest start ,try hitting the starter wit a lugtool or a hammer while someone else cranks the car.if it then does indeed start,you need a new starter or have the starter overhauled.

Viel Glueck

 

[machgsx]

has to be alternator. take the "-" cable off. i wouldn't try it, i've heard that it can do damage to your car. just what i heard.

double check all the connections to the battery. i had loose connections and was not able to get the car to turn on. had to switch out the alternator regardless because it was bad.

i paid like $160, that included the core charge. but otherwise it cost me $110.

 

[K Dan]

i took the battery down to autozone, and it was getting a little over 14 volts. I left the battery out of my car overnight, but it back in the next morning, and my cars starts up fine. So i drove back to autozone to have the starter tested. I had to turn the car on and off like 5 times during the test and it started right up each time. They said there wasn't anything wrong with it. The battery also stays fully charged so i don't think it could be the alternator. I talked to someone who had problems starting there car and they took it to a shop and my friend was told that the car wouldn't start cuase the fuel lines were clogged with ice. Maybe that happened to my car. It's been like 5-15 degrees the past few weeks and i only drive it like a half mile a day. and today it was 35 and my car started fine. hopefully i'm the clear (fingers crossed)