Car doesn't start without jump. Not battery

Tiny
WHIMISICALDORK
  • MEMBER
  • 2008 NISSAN SENTRA
Whenever my car is turned off it cannot restart without a jump. Battery has been replaced three times and tested as great. One of the people who jumped me stated that he noticed sparks and could be my wiring. When we try to start the vehicle there is a lot of clicking like a small automatic weapon and the wipers and dome lights come on. But if I try to restart it again when it doesn't work everything kind of goes crazy. All the lights and wipers start stuttering off and on. On a side note the car also (I assume) has a bad fuel pump system as after a few hundred miles my car starts losing rpms and tries to die. Don't think the two are related but I figure all issues should be mentioned as they might be. The alternator and the battery tested great. According to Advanced Auto starter battery and alternator tested normal. Another note. After we replaced the battery on the car the second time it ran fine without starting issues or jumps for about three weeks. I'm totally at a loss as to the issue.
Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 10:18 AM

6 Replies

Tiny
SATURNTECH9
  • MECHANIC
  • 30,869 POSTS
Do you have a multi meter that can read current draw?
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Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 10:23 AM
Tiny
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No I don't :( But the printout from advanced auto shows voltage :12.98v
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Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 10:42 AM
Tiny
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The charging system test resulted 14.35 not loaded and 14.32 loaded
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Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 10:45 AM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Draw is what is being drained from the battery with the engine off. You will need a multi meter to help diagnose the problem. There pretty cheap let me know when you get one.
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Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 10:57 AM
Tiny
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Ok, we got a multimeter, now what do you need me to do?
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Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 4:30 PM
Tiny
SATURNTECH9
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Now hook up the leads on the meter to read amp draw then set the meter to amps. Disconnect the positive cable and hook the meter leads in between the positive cable and the battery. Make sure everything in the car is off both doors are closed. Then wait ten mins for everything in the car to turn off. Then see what the meter reads?
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Sunday, August 18th, 2013 AT 4:38 PM

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