Hard Start: on my 5th battery

[Eliteracingghmi]

I can't get my car to start without a new battery! I hooked a voltmeter to my battery cables and I'm getting 14.5 V., but I'm on my fifth battery. The car starts hard. It has to crank like 10 times before it starts, if it starts. Also, I noticed that when I hit my turn signal, it resets my turbotimer! I don't know if that's related. My A/F ratio is super lean, but I don't think that's it because my car was running rich and it was still hard to start. I checked the timing and that's correct (according to my shop manual). Any ideas?

 

[918273645]

check your ecu.i had hard start found it was blown cap in ecu.got new on from ecmtogo.com now it starts first try all the time

 

[95blackGsTurbo]

I'd check the ECU first too but 14.5 volts sounds like a lot. Alternator could be overcharging your battery and frying it as well.

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

I'm going to pull my ECU tomorrow and check it out. VFAQ (and a few other sites) said that there are 3 electrolytic capacitors that are usually to blame in the 1G. models. They also said that if you haven't changed them in 7 years, you're in trouble. I'll keep everyone posted.

 

[oldman]

Sound like a short somewhere is drainning out you battery.

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

Sound like a short somewhere is drainning out you battery.

That is another possibility, but with the condition my car is currently in, it is easier for me to pull my ECU and check it, than to find a short. I've got a rat's nest of wires under the hood right now. I started re-wiring the car, and haven't finished yet. The symptoms of bad caps in the ECU all fit with how my ride is acting.

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

UPDATE: The ECU has new caps in it, and a date from 2001 stamped on the cover. I think I found the problem though. The wiring coming into the three harnesses is a mess. There are a number of wires spliced and twisted together using wire nuts. Now, if I were a gambler (and I am), I'd bet that some of those wires do not have a very good connection if any. Would anyone else put money on that?

 

[oldman]

It probably had a safc hooked up to it.

 

[RSTwnnabe]

My gsx has been doing the same thing. I have 2 batteries, both of which are new, and the car wont start! i had them hooked up, and the car just wont turn over. the alternator is fine, everything seems fine. lately, whenever i went to start it tho, it would take 10 or so times to start up. can someone tel me more about this ECU problem? its a 98 gsx, with a 94 motor.(6bolt swap)
thanks
dave

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

It probably had a safc hooked up to it.

BINGO, we have a winner! I called the last guy that had the car, he had a SAFC hooked up to it for about a week.

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

My gsx has been doing the same thing. I have 2 batteries, both of which are new, and the car wont start! i had them hooked up, and the car just wont turn over. the alternator is fine, everything seems fine. lately, whenever i went to start it tho, it would take 10 or so times to start up. can someone tel me more about this ECU problem? its a 98 gsx, with a 94 motor.(6bolt swap)
thanks
dave

The ECU on a 1990-1994 has three electrolytic capacitors in it that are notorious for not lasting longer than 7 years. Over time, the electrolytic fluid drains out of them and the caps lose their properties. Also, the electrolytic fluid will, over time, eat away at the copper tracks on the circuit board, causing a short. You may also want check out www.vfaq.com for more info. Most places charge a good chunk of cash to repair this, but let me know if yours has this problem and you want it fixed. I've got 6 years electronics experience, my associates in electrical engineering, and I have all the tools to develope a new board if necessary. Oh yeah, and I charge a heck of a lot less.

 

[oldman]

BINGO, we have a winner! I called the last guy that had the car, he had a SAFC hooked up to it for about a week.

Uhm...so like what do I win.

 

[Eliteracingghmi]

Uhm...so like what do I win.

A big thumbs up