Car won't start, need help?

Question

Well, I'm one of those stuck in the Midwest while we're having sub-zero temps. Anyway, my car won't start. At first I thought it might have been a dead battery, but then I took it to an Autozone and they recharged it. They said that my car should work because what was happening was that the battery was discharging way too much after they ran a diagnostic on it. Well, I went home, installed the recharged battery and my car still won't work. I hear a pretty strong rrrrr-rrrr-rrr sound, like my engine is turning, but it just won't come on. My lights dimmed a bit when I turned the ignition key, but it was very slight. So I don't think it's the battery. Could it be a starter problem, or possibly I might need new spark plugs? Thanks in advance. It's a '92 Honda civic LX with about 152,000 mi. on it. One last thing, could it be that the cold has made the oil too viscous? I drove it for about an hour on the freeway late Sat. afternoon, but came Sun. afternoon, it stopped working...

Thanks everyone for you inputs. I really appreciate them. Unfortunately I live in an apt. and the complex does not have a garage, it's all surface open lot parking so I can't do any major work on my car. The most I can probably get away with is replacing the plugs. Btw, what is a block heater? Sorry I grew up in S. California. I'm assuming a block heater runs off an AC adapter and not batteries? If so, then I'm out of luck. Warmer weather should be coming around the next couple of days (22 degrees or so!) so I'll give it another try. What do you think, should I try replacing the plugs and see what happens, or is it time to call for a tow to the local mechanic?

Answer 1

If it went from working to not (without going through a working poorly) I would suspect an electrical problem. One of the easiest to check is the fuel pump (turn the ignition on WITHOUT starting the car, and listen for a high-pitched whine - if you don't hear one then it may be that (assuming your car is fuel-injected). Could be your distributor cap and/or rotor. If there is a crack in the cap moisture can get in and ground out the ignition system. Replace them. Check your ignition coil, this is what generates the high voltage for the spark. One thing you can do to test your ignition system is to remove one wire from a spark plug and connect it to an extra plug. Hold the plug (by the rubber boot) and press the metal tip against an unpainted metal part of the car. Have someone crank the engine over and see if you can see the flash of the spark. If there is no spark then it is possibly the coil, distributor or the spark plug wires themselves. Most 4 cylinder and higher cars will run with one bad wire (they run rather rough though).
The fact that you are able to turn the engine over and it sounds "strong" indicates your ignition switch, battery and starter are good, also, there is no risk of the oil becoming "too viscous" unless the temperature drops well beyond -40.

Answer 2

If its making a "rrrrr-rrrr-rrr sound", the starter should be OK. Maybe try a little ether (starter fluid.) Don't worry about oil viscosity - the moving parts of the engine don't touch the oil in the bottom at the engine pan.

If this doesn't work, check the fuel and spark next. Make sure there's gas in the tank, first. You should just be able to hear the fuel pump from under the car when you first turn the key on (listen carefully - it will shut off pretty quickly once the fuel lines are pressurized.) Can you smell gasoline in the exhaust pipe?

Next, remove one of the spark plug wires from the plug. Gently insert a large Philips head screwdriver into the end until it connects with the metal terminal up inside the rubber boot. Hold the exposed part of the screwdriver close (1/16th of an inch), but not touching, a bolt on the top of the engine. DO NOT TOUCH THE METAL OF THE SCREWDRIVER, OR YOU WILL GET SHOCKED. Keep yourself and your clothing clear of the fan , belts, etc., and have someone else turn the engine over a few times on the starter. You should see a blue spark jump the gap from the screwdriver to the bolt. Its also worth removing one of the spark plugs to see if it is wet. If so, the engine is either flooding (too much fuel), or there isn't enough spark to ignite it.

Answer 3

Battery is just fine, especially if you went to Autozone and you left with the one you went in with. I agree with 2 of the other answers, warm up that engine. IF you can, do not turn the lights on and leave them on while trying to start the engine. A brief turn on of the lights, 5 to 10 seconds will help warm up the battery before you try to start the engine, but no more. You need all the current you can get for starting. A less expensive way to warm the engine is to use an inspection lamp, the kind that mechanics use with a standard incandescent lamp in it, and put it in the engine compartment. Don't let it touch any wiring, or be to close to any, and as close to the block as you can. This will help to warm the engine over night, and will help to start the engine. I wouldn't be concerned with the starter either.

Answer 4

To me it sounds like your starter is dead. But with the spark plug thing I believe that a car will still run with bad spark plugs but it will run like crap. Also your battery is losing power for no reason your battery may need to be replaced also. Ask your mechanic I may be wrong.

Answer 5

The car needs air, fuel and spark to start/run. Since it's turning over, and slightly dimming your lights, it may be trying to run off the battery.

Could be a dirty air filter, bad ignition module, dirty fuel filter, water in the gas, stuck valve train from a broken timing belt. or too cold (do you have a block heater?)

Answer 6

If your car has a block heater, plug it in, or buy a magnetic oil pan heater and let the oil warm before trying it.

Answer 7

is there spark at the end of the plug wires?

check that first....check the fuel supply too...

consider a engine block heater too...

if your car is turning over..the starter is working...

so...make sure it has spark...and fuel...

Answer 8

i dont think that it is spark plugs... but still check them... but you have to ask yourself if you have had to always crank the engine a lot to get it started, becuase maybe thats why your battery went down because your starter is defective

Answer 9

Put a heater in the dipstick tube and warm your oil.

Answer 10

you need a new battery, no doubt about it.