Battery issue

Tiny
P.RICE.HOCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 1991 NISSAN 180SX
  • 2.0L
  • 4 CYL
  • TURBO
  • 2WD
  • MANUAL
  • 70,000 MILES
Hey guys! I'm working on my old S13 and my car would not start. The battery is rather old so I got a friend to come over with a jumper pack to see if that could help get it started. This turned the lights on but when I turned the key all I heard was the starter click and everything turned off simultaneously. I figured it had to be that the battery was shot so I went out and bought a new one. When I connected it none of the lights turned on and the car would not start at all. I am wondering if the battery I purchased is dead or if I have a serious problem on my hands. I checked the wiring for any loose/broken/ shorted connections and found nothing. What should I do?
Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 11:03 AM

12 Replies

Tiny
DOCFIXIT
  • MECHANIC
  • 18,828 POSTS
Firstly do you have a DVOM?
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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 12:19 PM
Tiny
P.RICE.HOCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
The one I have runs through my ECU. When I had the car on the jumper it read 12 volts but after trying to start the car, everything turned off. When I turned the key back it had dropped to 8 volts.
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Monday, December 31st, 2018 AT 12:25 PM
Tiny
KENW1
  • MECHANIC
  • 213 POSTS
It sounds like the new battery is either undercharged or has two dead cells. I would have it checked with a regular DVOM to make sure it's not a vehicle wiring issue and have it load tested by the parts store.
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Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 AT 8:07 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Good evening,

Just as Kris says, it sounds like the battery is either low in charge or dead. a fully charged battery should be 12.4 to 12.6 volts

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test.

Use your charger until you get this reading. then clean your battery cables really well. then try and start it.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-charge-your-car-battery

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Roy
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Tuesday, January 1st, 2019 AT 4:55 PM
Tiny
P.RICE.HOCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Alrighty guys, so I have the car turning over. I believe that the fuel is not igniting. The spark plugs have only gone about 3,000 miles, so i'm assuming it's the fuel now. I checked the battery and it appears to be working normally (12 volts at rest, 9.6 volts under the starter load). Have any of you ever tried the "Mechanic in a Bottle" stuff they sell at AutoZone? Because if it has worked for others in the past on fuel injected engines, I may try it. Otherwise, I'll be draining the tank.
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Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 11:42 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Okay, first, your battery is almost dead. It needs to be 12.6 volts. 12 volts is about 25% or less in the battery.

9.6 is no good. 10.8 under a load is the lowest it should be.

Charge the battery and retest.

Then recheck for fuel and spark. Without proper voltage, nothing will work.

Roy
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Saturday, January 5th, 2019 AT 11:46 AM
Tiny
P.RICE.HOCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
ASEMASTER (or anyone else willing to help for that matter),

I got a friend to help siphon the gas and jump the car. I added five gallons of 93 (which is what the car is tuned for) and I reached the listed voltage (10.8 under load, 13.3 at rest) but the car still would not start. This was using a six cylinder Subaru. Any ideas? The spark plugs have only been in the car for 3,000 miles, so I would be surprised if they were the issue. I'm getting 200 rpm's on my ECU when the key is turned. The car also ran fine before it was stored one year ago, I just had issues getting it insured so I was unable to drive it around.
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Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 AT 8:36 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
  • 52,797 POSTS
Did you drain all the old fuel out before adding new fuel?

Is the fuel pump working?

Roy
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Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 AT 8:46 AM
Tiny
P.RICE.HOCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Fuel pump is working. I drained all of the old fuel.
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Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 AT 8:59 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Are the injectors spraying fuel on cranking? Did you verify the ECU is commanding the injectors to give fuel?

Roy
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Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 AT 9:01 AM
Tiny
P.RICE.HOCKEY
  • MEMBER
  • 6 POSTS
Injector duty is normal as far as I can see. You may be correct that they are clogged though. I'll check that for you.
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Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 AT 9:06 AM
Tiny
ASEMASTER6371
  • MECHANIC
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Sounds like a plan.

Roy
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Tuesday, January 8th, 2019 AT 12:25 PM

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