No Start Need advice
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 3,365
Likes: 5
From: Lake Villa IL
Cruise-In IV Veteran
Cruise-In V Veteran
St. Jude Contributor
No Start Need advice
Hey all, I think I know what my car's problem is...Bwahahahahahahaha. Awww hell, who am I kidding? I don't have a clue.
At any rate, the car sat for about a month. Then, last night, I dropped in a new radiator. I got in the car, turned the key, and the car started. Slowly. But the engine did start. The engine ran for not quite a minute. Then, the idle dropped, became rough, and the engine died.
When I tried to restart, when I turned the key, I got nothing. I have power to the gauges, I can hear the fuel pump prime. But when I turn the key, nothing. No clicking, nothing.
What do you all think?
Thanks in advance.
At any rate, the car sat for about a month. Then, last night, I dropped in a new radiator. I got in the car, turned the key, and the car started. Slowly. But the engine did start. The engine ran for not quite a minute. Then, the idle dropped, became rough, and the engine died.
When I tried to restart, when I turned the key, I got nothing. I have power to the gauges, I can hear the fuel pump prime. But when I turn the key, nothing. No clicking, nothing.
What do you all think?
Thanks in advance.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 54,124
Likes: 30
From: Cincinnati, Oh USA
Most likely your battery is discharged. If you didn't keep it charged while the car sat for a month it becomes discharged and the first start discharged it even more. One minute of running will not allow the alternator to do very much. Here is how you can tell the state of charge on your battery. Measure the battery terminal voltage under no load (hood lights are ok). 12.0 volts and lower, discharged. 12.9 volts and higher, fully charged. If discharged, charge your battery back up with a battery charger off of a wall outlet. NEVER charge a battery up with the alternator (or,buy some stock in an alternator company).
Lead acid batteries self discharge 1% each day even disconnected. Charge your battery periodically either with a battery tender or if you have a charger, buy an interval timer (turns your lights on when you aren't home) and have it charge your battery every day on its shortest interval (usually 15 mins).
While you are fooling around with the battery, eliminate the possibility of corrosion on the battery connection by removing the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and replace the cables (neg last).
Lead acid batteries self discharge 1% each day even disconnected. Charge your battery periodically either with a battery tender or if you have a charger, buy an interval timer (turns your lights on when you aren't home) and have it charge your battery every day on its shortest interval (usually 15 mins).
While you are fooling around with the battery, eliminate the possibility of corrosion on the battery connection by removing the battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs and the battery posts and replace the cables (neg last).
