Car Won't Start...HELP!!!

[SHOnOFF]

Ok, I went out to my car about an hour ago to go to church, but it won't start!! It's about 25-30 degrees here, I think. Yesterday morning it had some problems starting, but it started on the second try. Today...nothing. I turn the key and all it does is click!! It doesn't even TRY to crank or turn over! However, I turned on the headlights, radio, climate control...all worked. (However, when I got out of the car and used the remote to lock the car, I pressed the button twice so the horn would honk to tell me it's locked. The horn would not work right...it gave out this little pathetic sound instead of a usual honk.) Is it my battery? Starter? DIS? Please help!! and soon...I may have to get a jump and go get my battery tested later on today if you guys tell me it's the battery. Thanks.

P.S. - If it IS my battery that's bad and I have to get a new one, which kind should I get?? I've always told myself that I would get a Die Hard whenever my battery died, but I've heard people talking on here about other batteries, too. Any recommendations? Thanks.

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Brian
'94 Green ATX
5%/13% Tint
Coneless/Boxless
Upper 60K - Finally! (8/18)
Blazer driving lights
96 Brake Upgrade
24/26mm sway bars waiting to go in (need bushings)

 

[Rob94]

With your headlights on, trying starting the car. If the lights go out, or get extremely dim, I'd say battery. If they just dim a little bit until you release the key, that is probably the starter. Judging by your "pathetic" horn, I would almost certainly say it is the battery.

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Rob
White 94MTX
K&N Filter otherwise stock

 

[AutoSHO]

I agree! Pull your battery & have it tested at a local parts store. I'm almost positive thats what it is!

Chris
1989 Nissan 240sx
243,600 Miles
K&N Filtercharger
Removed Intake Silencer

 

[SHOnOFF]

Originally posted by Rob94:
With your headlights on, trying starting the car. If the lights go out, or get extremely dim, I'd say battery. If they just dim a little bit until you release the key, that is probably the starter. Judging by your "pathetic" horn, I would almost certainly say it is the battery.

Ok, I'll go out and check that out in a little while. (I guess I have to have someone go with me to look at the lights and my roommate isn't here right now.) In the meantime, does anyone else have any thoughts on this? SDPatt? Thanks guys.

P.S. - Any suggestions/opinions on what brand of battery I should get?? Die Hard? Something else?

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Brian
'94 Green ATX
5%/13% Tint
Coneless/Boxless
Upper 60K - Finally! (8/18)
Blazer driving lights
96 Brake Upgrade
24/26mm sway bars waiting to go in (need bushings)

[This message has been edited by SHOnOFF (edited 01-20-2002).]

 

[Bizzy]

Sounds like what my car did when I had a combination bad battery/bad connection. I'd say check your connections...make sure they're tight on the terminal (and clean)..if that doesn't work then go for the battery.

Die hard batteries are good and come with a good warranty. There are other brands out there, I'm not one to quote who's the best, but die hard has always had a good rep with me for reliability.

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Proud to be an American!

Beth
'91 Plus MTX, Mostly stock
K&N Filter, Coneless
Colgan Custom Bra
Racing Series Driving Lights
Mods in the works
Many items on wish list!

 

[Rob94]

Any good name brand....Diehard..Interstate......I wouldn't put a parts store discount in, but most batteries come with a decent warranty, and they're cheap enough to boot......good luck.

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Rob
White 94MTX
K&N Filter otherwise stock

 

[MeShoHorney]

I agree with Bizzy. Check your conections to the terminals 1st! Make sure they are clean and nice and tight.

 

[SHOnOFF]

Originally posted by MeShoHorney:
I agree with Bizzy. Check your conections to the terminals 1st! Make sure they are clean and nice and tight.

Ok. checked the connections to the terminals and they're fine. no corrosion anywhere. my dad and I took care of that last summer and then put on those felt washer-like things around the posts before reconnecting them to the battery cables.

think it's the battery. Sears closed at 5 so I couldn't get there in time (it was like quarter of when I did this) to get a Die Hard. started calling around and found an Optima at Advanced Auto....$130!! yeah right. anyway, i think i might just wait and get a Die Hard at Sears on Tuesday for like $70 or so.

By the way...I got a jump from my brother and drove the car around for a little while to let the alternator charge up the battery. Got low on gas so I had to get some more. Shut the car off to pump the gas. Tried to restart it when I was done...nothing. Just more clicking. (had to get another jump.) Does this mean I have a bad alternator as it's not charging the battery?!?! Or is the battery just so freakin dead that it's not doing any good?? Any ideas? I just had the alternator replaced last January (for $800 under warranty - I paid $50 deductible)...the new one wouldn't be dying already, would it??



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Brian
'94 Green ATX
5%/13% Tint
Coneless/Boxless
Upper 60K - Finally! (8/18)
Blazer driving lights
96 Brake Upgrade
24/26mm sway bars waiting to go in (need bushings)

 

[ManySHOs]

It sounds like your battery is dead. Did you try jumping it?

There is nothing special about a Die Hard. Get a battery with a warranty. If you want a true upgrade, get a sealed battery such as an interstate or an Optima.

Ian

 

[SHOnOFF]

Originally posted by ManySHOs:
It sounds like your battery is dead. Did you try jumping it?

There is nothing special about a Die Hard. Get a battery with a warranty. If you want a true upgrade, get a sealed battery such as an interstate or an Optima.
Ian

Yeah, I got it jumped...but it wouldn't hold a charge. After letting it run for 20-25 minutes and shutting it down, it wouldn't start up again.

Where can I get an Interstate battery from? I know Advanced Auto sells Optimas, but they don't have Interstate. Neither does AutoZone. Anyone know where Interstates are sold??


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Brian
'94 Green ATX
5%/13% Tint
Coneless/Boxless
Upper 60K - Finally! (8/18)
Blazer driving lights
96 Brake Upgrade
24/26mm sway bars waiting to go in (need bushings)

 

[SHOnOFF]

Nevermind. I'm not getting an Optima cuz I can't afford it and Interstates are good but they're not sold nearby. I want something with a warranty, a reputation, and a store nearby in case something happens in the future.

So now it's down to either the Die Hard Gold from Sears for $80 or the Duralast Gold from AutoZone for $70. I was leaning toward the Duralast, but now I think I might just get the Die Hard because of the reputation and the abundance of Sears stores in case I need to get it serviced later on. Any experiences with either of these batteries? Thanks.

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Brian
'94 Green ATX
5%/13% Tint
Coneless/Boxless
Upper 60K - Finally! (8/18)
Blazer driving lights
96 Brake Upgrade
24/26mm sway bars waiting to go in (need bushings)

[This message has been edited by SHOnOFF (edited 01-22-2002).]