Car will not start

Tiny
KIRSTENY16
  • MEMBER
  • 1997 ACURA CL
  • 4 CYL
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 184,000 MILES
My car will not start. I got someone to jump me off and it ran fine, but when I tried to turn it over again everything went out. Could it be the alternator?
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 2:37 AM

22 Replies

Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the battery condition and connections and the alternator-start. Here let me know.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 3:04 AM
Tiny
KIRSTENY16
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
The battery and battery terminals were both replaced in November of last year and are still in great condition.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
-1
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 3:08 AM
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Check the starter motor, starter relay, clutch switch or transmission range switch and ignition switch.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 3:13 AM
Tiny
KIRSTENY16
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Thank you!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 3:18 AM
Tiny
DANLESABRE
  • MEMBER
  • 230 POSTS
Even though you replaced the battery recently, that does not mean the battery is good. A bad alternator and/or parasitic drain can cause a battery to slowly drain out. Does the car start every time you jump it? What is the system voltage when the engine is running?

Do you know if the battery is properly mounted and secured? An improperly mounted/secured battery may develop an internal short which will cause a symptom that you are describing.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 4:48 AM
Tiny
MORADEYO
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
I will advise you to take the car to a technician for proper check up. It could be the starter, battery or even the cable from the battery to the starter.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Friday, June 17th, 2011 AT 10:24 AM
Tiny
JOEY8D
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 ACURA CL
Four cylinder front wheel drive automatic 180,000 miles

Hi, my car shut off while driving with no engine codes or symptoms at all. I replaced the distributor module and coil figuring this would remedy it and nothing. I checked the coil leads and they are getting juice, this is a under the cap coil so I took the dist cap off and cranked it and spark did appear across the coil. I pulled number one plug placed timing on TDC and checked rotor and all seems fine. But I have no spark at the distributor cap plug wire terminals, down the wires or at the plug with the distributor cap in place. I have power to crank, power to excite the coil and am getting spark there. So I should be getting spark across the rotor to my wires and plugs but am not. Does this sound like a crank or cam sensor issue? Thank you for your time on this matter.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
L cranks over strong will not start.

Could be the CPS. No snapping blue spark continue to troubleshoot the ignition system-power input to the coil/coil packs, distributor pick-up coil, ignition control module, ECM, Igniter cam and crank sensors.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:17 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SEANG95648
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 ACURA CL
Four cylinder

sometimes when I try to start in the morning it will just crank over until the battery drains out. Sometimes it cranks over longer than usual and when it does start it stays running fine. It will shut it off and it will start right back up. What in the world? I was thinking maybe a relay going out. Recently changed spark plugs, wires not sure if it was doing that before the replace. Also, how do I retrieve the codes? Is there an ADLDlink and can I retrieve it with the jumper wire?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
KHLOW2008
  • MECHANIC
  • 41,814 POSTS
Hi seang95648,

The diagram is for code retrieval.


https://www.2carpros.com/forum/automotive_pictures/192750_SCS97AcuraCL_1.jpg



When engine would not start, you need to check if it is fuel or ignition that is missing.

The following link should help identify.

https://www.2carpros.com/first_things/car_cranks_but_wont_start.htm
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
FL4ISA
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
  • 1997 ACURA CL
Six cylinder automatic 147000 miles

for last few months I have a trouble with starting my car.
This is exactly how it happens:
first of all, it happens mostly when I am trying to start my car in the morning, in general, it happens if I am trying to do it for a first time that certain day. After it starts for a first time, after that (for the rest of that day) it starts just fine, no problems!
I turn the key and I hear the engine trying to fire up, but it just will not do it. I have to do that for good eight to ten times in order for engine to finally start!
First few times the engine would kinda start, but it feels like it does not have enough power to keep running and if I try to press the gas pedal the engine simply shuts off and I have to keep doing it all over again.
Another interesting thing I noticed (and that happens every single time during the process) is that the whole car starts shaking pretty bad, and that is how I know that the engine is going to shut off and that I have to try to start it again.
I spoke to few mechanics, and friends who know about cars, and I would get different suggestions and diagnoses.
There are no check engine light showing.
I changed spark plugs and cables, new stronger battery, new fuel filter, still the same!
Few of them mentioned that it might be a fuel pump or either some kind of sensor that starts the engine or something like that.
I am ready to get the problem fixed. If anybody would just tell me what it is. I am becoming desperate!
Thank you so much and sorry about such a detailed description. I just wanted to give you detailed picture of what happens.
Thank you
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
MATHIASO
  • MECHANIC
  • 1,209 POSTS
Hello fl4isa,

Thank you for the detail of the problem.
That help us understand what happens and how to solve it.
On behave of 2carpros, I wish you merry Christmas.

The first thing to do is to listen to the fuel pump when starting the vehicle.
Have someone start the car, while you listen to the fuel pump through the fuel filler neck. You should hear buzzing sound from the tank.
Write me back if you hear or not a buzzing sound.
We are going to take things in small step so we can locate the problem.

Thank you.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LMDIXON127
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
  • 1997 ACURA CL
  • 2.2L
  • 4 CYL
  • FWD
  • MANUAL
  • 172,000 MILES
Car has always started fine. Last night a friend of mine was moving it and does not know how to drive a standard and started it and revved it so high it jumped and shut off and when I tried to start it minutes later I started to turn key and it was like it shut down and the headlights and hazards were blinking along with a "ding dong" bell sound? I ended up pulling battery cable off to stop it and now car will not start unless we push start it and then it drives normal until I turn it off again. What happened and how do I fix it! Please help!
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
CATAFINA
  • MECHANIC
  • 167 POSTS
Check the clutch switch and the starter motor relay. Start here.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LMDIXON127
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Both those things would have something to do with the blinking headlights and complete "nothing" when I turn the key. No ticking no nothing! I thought it may have to do with something to security or computer anti theft shut down or something. But, I will see about those others.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
HMAC300
  • MECHANIC
  • 48,601 POSTS
Try resetting the security system if no owners manual look online.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
LMDIXON127
  • MEMBER
  • 3 POSTS
Okay, I am looking at manual right now. Thank you.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
  • MEMBER
  • 0 POST
  • 1997 ACURA CL
  • 40,000 MILES
Light on and car will not start.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
RASMATAZ
  • MECHANIC
  • 75,992 POSTS
Be specific what light is on and what is it doing. Cranking over and will not start or will not do anything at all when you turn the key to cranking position. Let me know.
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
With the engine not on there will be warning lights on also any codes?
Was this
answer
helpful?
Yes
No
Monday, January 23rd, 2017 AT 3:18 PM (Merged)

Please login or register to post a reply.

Sponsored links