car wont start

[elantra48]

97 gs completely stock 43k miles origanal motor
when i turn key car makes noise almost like a click click(constantly not once) sounds like it is at the stage right before it will start
its not a battery issue light and radio can go on
please help ASAP is it starter?

 

[DSM90AWD]

Make sure your battery terminals are clean and the connectors tight. The radio pull in muc less amps than the starter so a "marginal" connection may still allow the radio to run.

If that's ok.. your battery may be too low in voltage to supply the starter with enough juice. Can try charging it up and/or taking it into an Auto Parts store to have tested (usually free service)

 

[elantra48]

so its the battery? Even though the lights go on also? So what type of battery would you suggest. Should i just replace it?

 

[blueberry_dsm]

am i close here?

when u turn the key to the "on" position, the lights come on and the radio turns on. then when u try to cranck it, the lights and radio turn off and i just clicks? if so, this is a dead battery. if u install a new battery, while its running, hook up a volt meter to the battery and make sure that the alt is charging it enough, if not, then u need an alt as well.

shane

 

[DSM90AWD]

so its the battery? Even though the lights go on also? So what type of battery would you suggest. Should i just replace it?

I'd check what I suggested first.

I havn't had a battery last more than 3-4years on my 1G. So if yours is that age and my other suggestions don't help, likely it needs to be replaced.

FYI.. WalMart and Costco store brand batteries both rated very highly in this years Consumer Reports tests. They are also pretty inexpensive

Then again if you're a rich guy and want a pimp battery, go with the Optima.

 

[elantra48]

no when i turn the key to start it, the car clicks constantly, however i have full power radio, lights, windows, the car just wont ignite. Ill go walmart

 

[blueberry_dsm]

yea, i would try a battery. it sounds like that would solve your problems.

 

[elantra48]

UPDATE
so i tried to jumpstart the car and it wouldnt work
i checked the spark
the fuel
and fuses
everything was good
I then push started it and it started right up
what could have caused this?

 

[Catoboli]

could also be the starter, mine had a similar problem and when ichanged the starter it solvedteh problem, id try this last though im not 100% sure it will fix your problem

 

[elantra48]

so then what should i try first andwhere can i find reasonably priced starters?

 

[Slother]

starters are not to badly priced, the hard part is getting at it, mine was kinda tight, if you know how try to jump the starter, if it is bad it will click if it is something other than the starter it will crank

 

[elantra48]

changed starter this mourning still didnt start

 

[huafist]

See if you can start it this way:

Unhook your battery and set it out of the car. Put jumper cables on a known good battery and attach the other end to the terminals in the car. If it starts, the terminals are corroded or just hosed. Replace them. If that doesn't do the trick, then I'd suspect a bad ground somewhere.

 

[elantra48]

i honestly dont think it is a battery issue. i can turn the radio on full blast. Another point i havent mentioned is, when the car is warm it starts right up no problems. When the car sits overnight i guess something "freezes up" and it does not start. I was able to push start the car once, but the next mourning the car didnt start. There is no loss of power and like i said, fuses, fuel, spark are all good. NEED HELP

 

[Kollide]

do you have aim I have some questions.

 

[DSM90AWD]

I suggested you check the battery terminals/connectors several days ago. Have you looked at them?

Even if your battery is 100%, if the terminals/connectors are pitted, corroded and/or loose, your starter won't get much juice.

 

[Bostedquest]

i honestly dont think it is a battery issue. i can turn the radio on full blast. Another point i havent mentioned is, when the car is warm it starts right up no problems. When the car sits overnight i guess something "freezes up" and it does not start. I was able to push start the car once, but the next mourning the car didnt start. There is no loss of power and like i said, fuses, fuel, spark are all good. NEED HELP

You are not getting that the radio working means nothing.
The radio might take 5 amps...
the starter takes anywhere up to 450-575 amps.
A bit of a difference.

SO if the battery has no staying power (weak, not fully charged, bad cell) it cannot support spinning the stater.

 

[elantra48]

aim- wattsup4824 i am not on much but i am on now 950pm sunday eastern time

 

[elantra48]

i took a battery from another car and put it on the eclipse and their was no difference in the car. It still did not start? HELP THE CAR TURNS OVER JUST DOESNT START

 

[huafist]

i took a battery from another car and put it on the eclipse and their was no difference in the car. It still did not start? HELP THE CAR TURNS OVER JUST DOESNT START

You said in your original post that it just clicked. You didn't mention AT ALL that it was turning over. If you had mentioned that, we wouldn't have had you out checking the battery system (which it seems you didn't do anyway, you just ignored everything that was suggested). Check spark, fuel, and compression. If you do (which I doubt based on previous posts), you should figure it out. Good luck.

 

[elantra48]

i apologize for not expressing myself enough, however i had mentioned before that i checked, spark, fuel, fuses and their all fine. Not compression though. I changed the starter and put a battery from another car on therre. There was no difference. Let me know

 

[elantra48]

bump any ideas?