1996 Honda Accord. Started the car this morning so it would get warmed up with no issue, then about 10 minutes in, the car just turned off. Now you try to start it and it just makes a clicking sound
14 Answers
battery is dead and if it ran dead during run it probably has a bad alternator
Well thank you. I don't believe it's the battery. Lights are still on in car when I try to start it. And still makes the clicking sound. I haven't had issues before. It's weird
How old is the battery? Does it hold a full charge of 12 to 131/2 volts? Hondas are very temperamental with voltage drops, and the alternators when on their way out make the cars behave extremely strange. Best bet is to first check the voltage on the battery, then fully charge it and let it sit awhile and check it again. Based on experience, my best guess is your alternator is failing and should be replaced.
the battery is bout 1 yr old. in the time I have had car its never done anything like this before. how do u charge the battery? tried starting it this morning and its trying to turn over. This car has at least 245,000 Miles on it. Would the oil have anything to do with this or the fuel line. it has a full tank of gas.
For non start conditions, the basics are first, 1 Power(battery) 2 fuel 3 spark. If you have all 3 of those, then time to dig further into the problem. To charge the battery you would need a battery charger. They are relatively inexpensive and usually can be purchased at any auto supply store or most department stores. Just because the battery is only 1 year old, doesn't mean it is still good. It could be older than the year you bought it or could just be defective, so that would be the best place to start. Have you had a friend use their car to give you a jump start from their battery with jumper cables? If not, try that first to see if the car starts right up. If it does, then your battery or your alternator are most likely your problem. Let us know.
AS to the oil, it shouldn't be a cause, unless you ran the engine without most of the oil and the engine got so hot that it seized up. To know if it did seize, you would need to watch the engine to see if the belt or pulleys turn and the engine cranks when you go to start it, which brings you back to try a jump start from another car and watch the engine while someone holds the key in the start position.
Well it's not the alternator it's not the battery both were tested
Just so you know, many alternators that are going bad, have tested as good, because the failures are intermittent, until they fail completely. Having said that, back to basics. 12 to 13.5 volts at battery, then check for 12 to 13.5 volts at main cable terminal going into fuse block, and the same voltage at the other main cable connection coming out of the main fuse block which goes to the starter, then 12 to 13.5 volts at the other end of that cable, on the starter. If all good, remove a spark plug cable from a spark plug, insert spark tester(very cheap at auto store) or another spark plug into the plug end of the cable & check for spark by turning key to start position. If a spark tester is used just watch for the spark, if you use a spark plug, you need to hold the gapped end of the plug very near to the engine block to complete the circuit and observe if there is a spark or not. Be VERY careful not to touch the end of the spark plug while testing or you will get a shock you will never forget! It is best if you hold that end of the cable with a pair of pliers with rubber coated handles while checking for spark. If a good spark, next check for fuel to be sure it is getting to the engine.
had a friend jump start car and nothing happened. we are getting plenty of fuel, the other thing is the spark plugs and we got new ones. there's oil leaking thru the head gasket into the spark plug ports. So maybe it's not getting spark cuz of all the oil in the way
Amber, when you say nothing happened, do you mean the engine cranks or spins but does not start, or do you mean nothing happens at all?
like it didn't start and still making the same noise. engine is 4 cylinder
Sorry Amber, but your description of what the engine does is still not clear or helpful. I am asking if the engine pulleys and belt are spinning or moving when you try to start the car, or if you just get a click when you turn the key. Also, if the plugs are oil fouled at the sparking end which is inside the engine that would be an indication of a cracked cylinder head or blown head gaskets of blown valve stems or stem seals. If the oil is inside the upper end of the spark plugs where the wires snap on inside the valve cover openings, that would just be a simple valve cover gasket.
The clicking is due to the fact your starter has failed. you need a new starter. These people are all dumb/ assholes
