Finally gonna fix my car

[1991LaserRsT-5]

My car hasn't ran since august and i plan to fix it. i was driving down the road and all a sudden my car just died and like all my lights on the dash came on. i coasted to a stop and tred to start it and it wouldnt start. it just makes this weird tick noise. i went out lastweek and tried to start it and its not even making the noise anymore, now the fan just turns on. What could this problem be? its a 91 Laser Rs Turbo

 

[97boostedTSI]

My ford mustang (fix or repair daily) did that when my alternator took a dump. It just wouldnt charge the battery anymore while driving and so once the battery drained it couldnt start. New battery/alternator and i was good to go!

 

[96ETT]

My car hasn't ran since august and i plan to fix it. i was driving down the road and all a sudden my car just died and like all my lights on the dash came on. i coasted to a stop and tred to start it and it wouldnt start. it just makes this weird tick noise. i went out lastweek and tried to start it and its not even making the noise anymore, now the fan just turns on. What could this problem be? its a 91 Laser Rs Turbo

Is the motor turning over at all? Your battery maybe to weak to spin your starter if it has sat this long. Make sure your battery is charged and then continue reading my post.

It could only be one or several of 1.2 million things. With that said you need to start your basic tests as to why a motor would shut off. The "tick" may be valves not getting along so i would inspect the timing belt and see if it is broken, or has jumped time. With all of the covers removed you should try and get the crank on TDC and then see where everything else lines up. If your timing is right then start the three basic checks; fuel, spark, and compression.
This means compression test, test plugs against frame for spark and smell for fuel. Then report back grasshopper!

 

[96ETT]

My ford mustang (fix or repair daily) did that when my alternator took a dump. It just wouldnt charge the battery anymore while driving and so once the battery drained it couldnt start. New battery/alternator and i was good to go!

His car died while driving. Your scenario is not really applicable here.

 

[boostin92awd]

His car died while driving. Your scenario is not really applicable here.

How do you figure it isnt? Because he used a mustang as a refrence? If the alternator dies the car will run off the battery untill the battery also dies so just because he was driving it at the time doesnt mean this couldnt be a factor of his problem.

 

[96ETT]

How do you figure it isnt? Because he used a mustang as a refrence? If the alternator dies the car will run off the battery untill the battery also dies so just because he was driving it at the time doesnt mean this couldnt be a factor of his problem.

i was driving down the road and all a sudden my car just died and like all my lights on the dash came on. i coasted to a stop and tred to start it and it wouldnt start. it just makes this weird tick noise.

He didn't say that the car wouldn't start one morning, he said it died while driving and after coasting to a stop he tried starting it and it made a tick noise but no go. That doesn't seem related to the other guys mustang having a dead battery because the alternator wasn't charging it. It sounds like something else when out in his car or timing jumped. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

[tkelly27]

You are wrong. If it had enough juice to start and run for a while, then it could do exactly what the OP is describing. If you disconnect your alternator the car will run until the battery dies. The other thing is the click, that's the starter not being given enough juice to engage in most cases.

Typically when the alternator is dying the brake, coolant, and... uh.. check engine? light come on. It's been a while, I forgot, but 3 lights that don't normally come on, do. Sometimes they can be very faint, I only saw mine barely at night. Not much later my alternator died. Try hooking up a battery charger and see if that lets you start the car. Then you can take it to a repair shop and get the charging system checked for free.

Any time my car won't start I set it at TDC and check the cam gears before I do anything with the starter. It's not worth me not taking the time to check. Another option for your problems can be the slipped cam timing. If the valve broke of and wedged between the head and the piston the starter will click to engage, but not have the torque to move the engine.

 

[96ETT]

Is the motor turning over at all? Your battery maybe to weak to spin your starter if it has sat this long. Make sure your battery is charged and then continue reading my post.

The "tick" may be valves not getting along so i would inspect the timing belt and see if it is broken, or has jumped time. With all of the covers removed you should try and get the crank on TDC and then see where everything else lines up.

You are wrong. If it had enough juice to start and run for a while, then it could do exactly what the OP is describing. If you disconnect your alternator the car will run until the battery dies. The other thing is the click, that's the starter not being given enough juice to engage in most cases.

Any time my car won't start I set it at TDC and check the cam gears before I do anything with the starter. It's not worth me not taking the time to check. Another option for your problems can be the slipped cam timing. If the valve broke of and wedged between the head and the piston the starter will click to engage, but not have the torque to move the engine.

Thank you for repeating exactly what I said after calling me wrong. So we are up to check the battery and timing. Glad you were able to contribute that very helpful advice.

 

[MaNGiNa24]

Sounds like an alternator problem.

 

[LandoAWD]

Sounds like an alternator problem.

Yep.

His car died while driving. Your scenario is not really applicable here.

Yes it is.

Misinformation makes posts go away...fair warning.

Break out a multimeter.

 

[96ETT]

Yep.

Yes it is.

Misinformation makes posts go away...fair warning.

Break out a multimeter.

Sorry but I guess I am just thinking that checking your alternator/battery would be common sense for a no start issue so I am not thinking of it. If you are actually driving and it dies then makes a weird ticking noise and wont start for 5 months, I can only assume he at least checked the battery first. That is why I was thinking it is not applicable in this case. Yes he needs to break out a multimeter and check his electrical system over like you mentioned.

 

[LandoAWD]

As bad as this sounds, and no offense to the OP or any member in particular, never assume the basics were done. If someone tells you they did it, then perhaps move on, but a dying car, lights coming on, etc all seem electrical and alt/batt is where to start.

Timing jumps for a "click" is way out in left field.

 

[knochgoon24]

Multimeter that battery. Chances are you'll need to charge it, especially if it's sat for that long. Put it in and try to start it again. If it starts, good. Now multimeter the alternator. Chances are it's taken a dump.

You can also take the alternator out and take it to a parts store. If it's completely dumped on you, this is probably the best option. They can run their little tests and tell you what part on it went wrong.

Also, have you check to make sure the alternator belt is still on the pulley? Is the belt even tight?

 

[brownfinger]

I've had my alternator die on me, in the middle of the night, in the middle of Missouri, on my way to New Orleans. I bought a new battery at a Wal-mart hoping it was that. That got me to within 30 miles of Memphis. Lots of stuff stops working before the car can't run the ignition and fuel.
The time my car just died for no reason while driving down the road and all the dash lights went goofy, then made wierd clicking noises, was the time the MPI relay and ECU decided to kill each other. I can't believe no one mentioned that. You should have smelled it at the time if that's what happened. I think it's a lot easier to pull out the ecu and look under it's cover than it is to pull the alternator.

 

[badabing33a]

yea its most likely not a freak incident with the timing or valves etc. first, check the alt/ps/water pump belt is there. next, is it tight? also, make sure the alt tension bolt is there as well. if everything checks out fine to this point, get a multimeter. charge your battery overnight on 10A setting. then start the car. it will most likely start. then eventually lose power to the engine, lights, and everything else if its the alt. which would be my guess as to your problem. also, check your pulley.

 

[1991LaserRsT-5]

it charged for about 3 days before i tried to start it and when i tried to start it makes the same noise as it did before.

 

[1991LaserRsT-5]

I recorded the sound my car makes for one of my teachers to hear, and he said something like its either not getting fuel or spark plugs, and one of my other teachers said, it doesn't sound like it's getting fuel, and he asked ,when was the last time the spark plugs were changed and i haven't changed them since i got the car back in october 07