car starts 4 times and that's it!

[Eliteracingghmi]

I'm tryin to figure this one out and i'm not having any luck. I can get a brand new battery, and the car will start about 4 times for me and that's it. It turns forever before it will start. I thought perhaps I didn't have enough cranking amps so under the advice of a Mitsu mechanic, I put a marine battery in the car and that still didn't fix it. Then I thought maybe it was too small of a guage of wire from the battery to the starter relay. So I took the battery from the back of the car and set it on the floor in the front of the car on the passenger side. That didn't do it either. Any ideas?

 

[Mike1992]

Umm alternator? :laugh:

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

Umm alternator? :laugh:

Alternator tested at 14.5 V. :thumbdown

 

[Mike1992]

Whats the battery test out at after you drive it 4 times? Maybe you got a slow drain or something

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

The battery still tests out at 12 V., but the car won't start. I think it's just phantom voltage, no electrical current.

 

[Mike1992]

Does the starter turn?

 

[Defiant]

"Marine battery"?

"Phantom voltage"?

The sledride to hell lurches ahead with added velocity.

IF your alternator and charging circuitry is up to snuff (and it's probably not, as a charged lead-acid 12V battery should be 13+ at full-charge), then you apparently have something (alarm? stereo?) doing a vampire on your juice.

But I think it's the alternator or regulator. Or, a slipping alternator belt or bad harmonic balancer.

I also think I'd not bother with that Mits butcher any more, either.

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

This ride is a real frankenstein. Just to be sure it wasn't the stereo draining my voltage I disconnected it. How could the harmonic balancer affect all of this though? engine internals aren't my specialty.

 

[Mike1992]

The harmonic balancer likes to get old and lets go of itself turning into two parts, however defiant is getting a little quick on that speculation. Do you hear a squealing belt or any knocking noises?

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

The harmonic balancer likes to get old and lets go of itself turning into two parts, however defiant is getting a little quick on that speculation. Do you hear a squealing belt or any knocking noises?

How 'bout a squealing belt and a really high pitched tone coming from the motor. Also, just for kicks, do either of you know what a harmonic balancer would run me?

 

[Mike1992]

Heres a good test with car off look under the hood grab the crank pulley and see if you can wiggle it side to side? Another test is to start the motor and watch the crank pulley as its turning does it wobble? If its Wobbling or it moves side to side your lucky you found it b4 it came apart and possibly cause serious damage. A new crank pulley will run ya about $100

But most likely you belt is to loose thats why its squealing because the belt is simply riding the pulleys. If the alt pulley isnt turning its not charging

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

The alt. pulley, belt, etc... are all moving, but I still don't see why it takes sooo long to start. The engine will turn and turn and turn and finally start after turning like ten times. I'll check the crank pulley when I get home.