Turn the key and theres nothing

[92_eclipse]

Ok to start i have a 92 gsx 5 speed and last night i had it out and i went to pull into the driveway and there was no head lights and the dash lights were vary dim, so i park the car and let it idle for a min and it start idling at 1500 then down to 800 then 1000 and it kept on doing this so i turned it off and tryed to turn it back on and there was nothing, so i left it for the night and in the morning i tryed to start it up and once again there was nothing. so my buddy came over and gave me a jump becouse i thought it might be the bat, and its started right up but once it was running for a little bit it started jumping idle, so i took it out for i drive to see what was up and i got about 500 feet down the road and it started having no power and it was jumping a jerking then it just died, and i tryed to start it again and all it did was some clicking nosie and then everything turned off all the dash lighting the cd player everything and it wouldent start, and eveytime i try to tune it over i dose the same thing and then everything just turns off, and i have no power locks and the seat belts dont work and also the windows dont ether, any help would be nice thanks for your time.

 

[misplcdmemries]

Check your alternator.

 

[WI_99'GST]

yes i agree with the alternator diagnosis, since that is what is supposed to act to keep your battery at a steady charge. if it is not working properly it could drain the battery, as in this situation

AJ

 

[Enigma_Man]

Don't start checking your alternator yet, always start simple:

1) Clean your battery terminals. Buy a $2 terminal cleaner, give that a whirl, see how that works.

2) Get a new battery, or get your battery tested. Batteries physically die when they get too old, especially during the winter months; the cold makes them die quicker, and they have to work harder to crank the engine through the thick oil.

3) THEN check difficult things like the alternator, you'll save yourself a lot of headaches if you start with the small, problematic things and work your way up.

-Jesse

 

[WI_99'GST]

it just sounds more like an alternator to me, ive never have a battery die while i was driving, if there is enough juice to start the car, then a properly working alternator should hold that charge as long as the car is on...as far a i understand it.

AJ

 

[92_eclipse]

How do u go about checking the alternator, becouse i have checked the bat and it was low so i took it and got it charged up just for the time and put it back in at full charge and it still dose the same thing it was doing it makes some clicks and then i go to turn it over and theres nothing, and theres still no power in the car nothing works.

 

[Enigma_Man]

Did you clean your battery terminals when you put it back on? A car will run without an alternator, if the battery is in good shape, and is connected well.

I highly doubt the alternator is what's causing your car to not start (though it may also be dead separately).

Buy a terminal cleaner!

-Jesse

 

[AWDPetmitsu]

I would say to get a new battery first, too. How old is your current battery? It may be old and not be able to hold a charge.

 

[Red1]

This is the same thing that was happening to me when my alternator died in my old BMW. A really good way to test the alternator is to start the car w/ a charged battery and then disconnect the negative battery terminal. If the car dies, you have a bad alternator. If it runs fine, everything is groovy. The battery does not run your ignition system. It is only for starting the car and supplementing the alternator's when there are large drains on the system (stereos, lights, etc.). Keep in mind that the alternator might function properly and sometimes it wont. Mine had got oil in it which caused it so charge sometimes and sometimes not. If you car does die when the battery is unpluged the nest step would be to take the alternator off and have it tested at an electrical repair shop. They will normally test it for free and the price of having it rebuilt with them is way better than buying a new one or an already rebuilt one. Hope this helps.

Robert

 

[96TSi_Chris]

Originally posted by Enigma_Man
Did you clean your battery terminals when you put it back on? A car will run without an alternator, if the battery is in good shape, and is connected well.

I highly doubt the alternator is what's causing your car to not start (though it may also be dead separately).

Buy a terminal cleaner!

-Jesse

This is the cheapest route to go and im thinking its the prob. Ive had it happen on 2 other cars and cleaning the terminals w/ a wire brush solved the prob.

 

[92_eclipse]

Ok its has nothing to do with the bat i just got a new one and cleaned all the stuff up, ok this is what its doing everything is working on the inside untill i go to turn it over the start it and everything in the car go's dead theres no power nothing and then i take the key out and it makes this clicking sound for about 2 mins or so and the power comes back, any ideas i have no clue, thanks for the help so far.

 

[96TSi_Chris]

Originally posted by 92_eclipse
Ok its has nothing to do with the bat i just got a new one and cleaned all the stuff up, ok this is what its doing everything is working on the inside untill i go to turn it over the start it and everything in the car go's dead theres no power nothing and then i take the key out and it makes this clicking sound for about 2 mins or so and the power comes back, any ideas i have no clue, thanks for the help so far.

Alternator

 

[Red1]

Did you do the test that I told you? I bet anything that its the alternator.