Electrical gremlin

[pwrusr]

After dealing with this issue for the past year or so I think it's time to post up about it since it's gotten alot worse recently.

Every so often (when the problem began) my car wouldn't start, the starter would just "click". All I'd have to do was try again and it would start up. sometimes it'd do it when the car was cool others it'd do it after I've been driving around for a wile.

Over the past couple of weeks I've had this problem almost everytime I've started the car. and it's gotten to be a big PITA push starting the car almost everytime I'm not on some sort of incline.

Today just for the heck of it I had my mom jump start my car (with a starter I thought was bad). And what do ya know, it turned right over.

I know I have a electrical problem somewhere I'm just not quite sure where it is.

My battery is brand new (as of this past april).
Alternator tested to be in good working condition.
I have a old ghetto alarm that was installed before I even got my car.

I tested the alternator today by removing the negitive batt cable. car still ran fine.

I had to push start the car after driving only a mile to the local gas station today which is why I'm posting this thread. I really don't want to be doing that again. I just want my car to start everytime I need it to.

[aero]

Have you tried the starter? Thats what mine would do.. sometimes it would be fine, others it wouldnt want to start. The solenoid on the starter usually goes bad, and makes it act stupid. Since you say it is happening everytime now, have someone tap the solenoid on the starter (the little thing that looks like a mini starter). If it fires right up.. most likely the problem

[pwrusr]

Both my starters are fine as far as I can tell. Like I said as soon as I got a jump from my mom it started right up.

[aero]

Both my starters are fine as far as I can tell. Like I said as soon as I got a jump from my mom it started right up.

Do you have stock battery cables? Make sure they are all tight, grounded good.

[accordaffair]

Next time it happens, take a multimeter to it, check for voltage at the battery, check for continuity at key components like starter alternator and such. Make sure they are getting juice, cuz it could be, say, a bad ground. Like an old TV you could try hitting it with a rubber mallet in several places to see if somethings loose :P

[pwrusr]

Do you have stock battery cables? Make sure they are all tight, grounded good.

The batt is in the trunk. I've checked all the contact points for the grounds and they all look fine.

Next time it happens, take a multimeter to it, check for voltage at the battery, check for continuity at key components like starter alternator and such. Make sure they are getting juice, cuz it could be, say, a bad ground. Like an old TV you could try hitting it with a rubber mallet in several places to see if somethings loose :P

I'll try to get ahold of a friends muti meter and check it out.

[lil_dcb7]

I had the exact same problem with my Z, It might be your terminals. the ground one to be exact...

How i fixed my Z, well, i got so pissed that it wouldnt start, that i pounded on the negative terminal with a wrench, untill it sparked, and well, that fixed it.

not completely, but it pinpointed the problem. Picked up a new ground terminal, and its been cherry!!.........

now i just gotta get a clutch for the sucker.... and spark plugs... and wires...and injectors... damn.......

[pwrusr]

The ground wire from the batt to the frame looks fine nut I'll give it a closer look later on today....

[SSMAccord]

I had a problem similar to this, sometimes the car would start other times it would just crank, thought it was dist. but it turned out to be the main relay under the dash. Replacing it totally fixed my intermittent starting problem. Just a thought.

[aero]

I have 3 ground wires from the battery. One to the tranny, and 2 to the body. Make sure the paint is all sanded off, and you use some di-electric grease so it wont rust/corrode.

[bazingo]

I had a problem similar to this, sometimes the car would start other times it would just crank, thought it was dist. but it turned out to be the main relay under the dash. Replacing it totally fixed my intermittent starting problem. Just a thought.

I agree - main relay replacement fixed my similar problems. A good indicator of the status of your main relay (so I've heard) is to find the main relay under your instrument cluster and touch it to see how hot is it. If indeed it is hot you might want to get it checked out.

[pwrusr]

The main relay idea helped me ALOT!
I've soldered up the relay for a temp fix untill I can get another one. Odd thing is the car wasn't showing the common signs of a main relay failure. Go figure

*edit* If anyone would care to add their thoughs please do so. I'm still wondering how the main relay would have anything to do with my problem
I thought with a bad main relay the car would crank over but wouldn't start.

[lil_dcb7]

*edit* If anyone would care to add their thoughs please do so. I'm still wondering how the main relay would have anything to do with my problem
I thought with a bad main relay the car would crank over but wouldn't start.

that prob with the main relay, if its not working, dosnt it cut off power to the fuel pump? thats what was wrong with my sucker...

[lkm]

hmm

everyone should just replace they main relay now and get it over with. only $60 bucks wholesale.

[mrhonda]

Sounds like the starter to me. Either that or it related to that aftermarket alarm. First thing I'd do is rip all that shit out of there and repair the factory wiring.