Help! All you Mechanics or people that know stuff about cars - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

wooohooo · 04-02-2011, 02:56 PM

So my girlfriends car which is old... sorta died. So old we're looking at a new car but in the mean time we need this puppy to keep working.

The car doesn't start immediately, you usually have to let the key sit in the ignition for a few minutes then you can start it. The last two weeks or so they had problems starting the car and the car wouldn't crank (what she told me). The just boosted the car but once they turned the car off, it wouldn't start again which needed another boost. Do you know what kind of problem this could be? Alternator? Battery? The car is planned for destruction soon so if it's a costly fix we won't even bother.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Okay so apparently the car drove really poorly after starting it and it died right when they were parking it.

burn_this_city · 04-02-2011, 02:58 PM

Try swapping out the battery and see if that helps. You don't necessarily need to buy one first, just swap one out of another vehicle to see. The whole wait with the key in thing doesnt make much sense.

Young-Sneezy · 04-02-2011, 03:00 PM

i would probably guess the alternator if the battery isnt holding a charge...you could TRY a new battery...but if it doesnt work your stuck with a new battery.

im pretty sure alternators are quite expensive too... maybe see if you can pick up a battery on kijiji for cheap or something?

Jackpot_Smooth · 04-02-2011, 03:01 PM

^^^^^ I agree.

Sounds like the battery toast and no longer holds a charge. Canadian tire can test it pretty quick.

burn_this_city · 04-02-2011, 03:04 PM

If you can boost it and it stays running indefinitely its not the alternator.

Pinner · 04-02-2011, 03:07 PM

Fuel Pump

onetwo_threefour · 04-02-2011, 03:12 PM

Sounds like a problem I had with an old car once and it was the battery. The tow guy I had to call said it was a dead short, the car wouldn't even try to turn over. I think the waiting a few minutes between tries thing could make some sense if there is a problem with the battery as well. Kind of like when you'd have an old Walkman and the batteries would die and the tape would stop turning, but if you turn it off and wait a few minutes there would be enough juice to get the tape turning again for a few seconds again.

Josh · 04-02-2011, 03:24 PM

Sounds like a dead battery to me.

EDIT: Changing my answer, since you're able to crank it, sounds like a fuel pump.

Champion · 04-02-2011, 03:33 PM

I have a question. I have an old car (2004 Accord) that I haven't drove for months. My wife started driving it now until we sell it, but the last 3 weeks I have noticed a problem that's becoming worse.

When you turn the key, it won't start right away and it's getting worse. I don't know a lot about cars, but it's like the cars "coughing" and has trouble starting. I haven't had time to take it to a shop, but one mechanic said it's probably the battery. Could it be the alternator?

I didn't want to start another car help thread and fill up the topic page so sorry if I am partially hi-jacking the thread :-)

Edit - reading above, it sounds like that turn over problem. It's like it can't muster up the energy to start and gets so close. When I stop turning the key and wait a second and do it again, it usually starts pretty quickly.

REDVAN · 04-02-2011, 03:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pinner

Fuel Pump

If you leave the car on without cranking it, then you try and start it after a few mins then yeah it's prob the pump. I had this issue with my car.

But if it won't even turn over, then it's prob battery related.

RougeUnderoos · 04-02-2011, 04:04 PM

These guys don't know what they are talking about. This is OBVIOUSLY a regulator problem. Not knowing the age of the car, I can't say if the regulator is worn out or there is a short or what, but it's your regulator.

Take it to Esso and ask them to test it with a standard can of steam. If the test is positive (I'm 99% sure it will be), you'll have to rebuild your regulator, but don't do it at Esso. You can do it yourself, assuming you have a set of bookend wrenches and a little elbow grease.

burn_this_city · 04-02-2011, 04:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RougeUnderoos

These guys don't know what they are talking about. This is OBVIOUSLY a regulator problem. Not knowing the age of the car, I can't say if the regulator is worn out or there is a short or what, but it's your regulator.

Take it to Esso and ask them to test it with a standard can of steam. If the test is positive (I'm 99% sure it will be), you'll have to rebuild your regulator, but don't do it at Esso. You can do it yourself, assuming you have a set of bookend wrenches and a little elbow grease.

I always figured you were old, but I didnt think Mr. Burns old.

Morozee · 04-02-2011, 04:59 PM

What year/make/model is this car? I would suspect the battery as well, but if that can be ruled out it could also be your starter solenoid or starter motor itself are worn out. I had a similar problem on my 96 Tacoma and a 91 Sunbird I own.

The Tacoma I removed the starter and simply replaced the starter contacts at a cost of $12. Over time the contacts groove out and no longer make contact with the plunger when the start sequence is engaged. Only took about an hour.

On The Sunbird, the motor and solenoid were completely fubared. In fact when I removed the old one and gave it shake there was all kinds of debris rattling around in there!

wooohooo · 04-02-2011, 05:34 PM

Okay well it's a... I'm taking a complete guess here, a 98 Nissan Maxia. It doesn't even crank or click anymore. Perhaps it's just dead haha.

So I should look at the fuel pump, the alternator, and the starter? Any way I can check these?

burn_this_city · 04-02-2011, 05:40 PM

If it doesnt do either its a dead battery..

Locke · 04-02-2011, 06:09 PM

I doubt its the fuel pump, the problem seems too consistent for a fuel pump problem, but then I'm hardly an expert.

Besides, if its the fuel pump and you dont want to spend much on repairs then you might as well can the damn thing.

Check the battery first, because its easy and Crappy Tire will do it for free if you bring the battery in. After that, test the alternator. Same deal, if you pull it off then Crappy Tire will test it for you. Granted, their tests arent the most accurate when it comes to alternators.

Its also entirely possible that its also a loose connection from the ignition because that part of the story doesnt make any sense as to why you have to leave the key in the ignition for a while.

4X4 · 04-02-2011, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooohooo

So my girlfriends car which is old... sorta died. So old we're looking at a new car but in the mean time we need this puppy to keep working.

The car doesn't start immediately, you usually have to let the key sit in the ignition for a few minutes then you can start it. The last two weeks or so they had problems starting the car and the car wouldn't crank (what she told me). The just boosted the car but once they turned the car off, it wouldn't start again which needed another boost. Do you know what kind of problem this could be? Alternator? Battery? The car is planned for destruction soon so if it's a costly fix we won't even bother.

Thanks in advance!

EDIT: Okay so apparently the car drove really poorly after starting it and it died right when they were parking it.

If this were my car, my diagnosis process would go like this:

What happens when you turn the key?

a) The engine cranks and cranks and cranks, but it never catches
b) One loud click, or no click at all, but the heater, radio, and lights work
c) A weak attempt at cranking, followed by a couple of clicks, followed by nothing

If A: Starter, Alternator, and battery are fine. Start figuring out the 'running poorly' problem.
If B: Starter is pooched. Buy a rebuilt one (from a rebuild shop) and install that mofo.
If C: Either your battery or alternator is pooched. Take your battery to Auto Value or Crappy Tire and get it tested by someone who is coherent and lucid. If the battery is ok, it's pretty much gotta be the alternator. Buy a rebuilt one (from a rebuild shop) and install it.

As for the 'running poorly' business, this can start cheap and end up expensive pretty darn quick. You can get the vehicle tested at Auto Value, and that'll either tell you nothing at all, or that a sensor such as your TPS is screwed. If it says nothing, then you're looking at your fuel system. A fuel filter is the cheapest place to start. Cross your fingers. If not, then it's probably your fuel pump.

Of course, all of this is assuming that you've inspected the obvious, such as your battery connections.

afc wimbledon · 04-03-2011, 01:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wooohooo

Okay well it's a... I'm taking a complete guess here, a 98 Nissan Maxia. It doesn't even crank or click anymore. Perhaps it's just dead haha.

So I should look at the fuel pump, the alternator, and the starter? Any way I can check these?

What you need to do is get your girlfriend to give a mechanic a blow job.

Mad Mel · 04-03-2011, 02:15 AM

Spray a little ether down the top of the carb and see if she catches then. Stand back, though.

Or just listen to 4x4. His advice is spot on.

HPLovecraft · 04-03-2011, 05:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by afc wimbledon

What you need to do is get your girlfriend to give a mechanic a blow job.

Well that's helpful.