Car Wont Start

Ok heres the deal. I own an 88 crx dx. I have a 1200 watt amp wired directly to the battery and also my stereo going to the battery. A friend of mine owned an 88 crx hf with an intake, euro tails etc so he gave them to me. The intake doesnt fit right. it touches the positive of the battery terminal, I put up some styrofoam by the terminal so it doesnt touch. ANYWAY lately my car hasnt been starting, sounds like a dead battery or alternator, i just replaced the atlernator because of this problem and also took my battery to checker auto parts to get it tested, they said its fine. I just let my car run for a while, drove it up the street (with nothing electrical on) when the check engine light came on (another problem) so while i was coasting i turned off the car for a good 10 seconds and it started just fine. When i got home i turned car off and it wouldnt start back up, when i try to start it, it sounds like the battery is dead. When i jump the car it starts fine. this problem is very frustrating, any help would be greatly appriciated, thanks

try cleaning the battery terminals.

Thanks man, i just took my car up to the auto parts store and he said the alternators puttin out enough juice and he said the battery has just enough of a charge to keep my car started. He said something with the wiring from the alternator to the battery is messed up so ill mess with the terminals, thats the best i can do considering im not mechanic :tongue: , thanks man ill let you know how that works out!

took my battery to checker auto parts to get it tested

Can you tell me how did they test it? cause if they only put a volt meter on it to see how much voltage the battery has means nothing, it has to to run a "current draw test" to proof the battery is good or not.

When you have a stereo system that draws alot of current (amp, power, voltage, juice...whatever you call it) from the battery, it is best that you have the system connect to another battery. Eventhough you change your alternator, it may still have the same problem if the output of the alternator does not provide enough ampage to your stereo system then your battery will tribute the difference.

Try to find out how much ampage does your alternator puts out, it should shows on the alternator's casting.

while i was coasting i turned off the car for a good 10 seconds and it started just fine. When i got home i turned car off and it wouldnt start back up, when i try to start it, it sounds like the battery is dead.

How long was the drive home from the time you turn off the engine and started back up?

Do the lights light up on your dash board when you turn the key to the first click in the ignition switch?

Do the lights go dim when you try to crank it?

Did the engine try to turn the second time when you crank it?

For now, all I can advice you is that don't turn on any electrical system before you start the car.

Also, after you jump started the car try to at less let it run for about 20 minutes striaght without using any electrical system before turning it off and then please answer the above questions again.

Ok so i unplugged the stereo, sorry it took so long i totally forgot i posted this on forums, but anyway unplugged everything i put into the car that i wired, drove around for 30 mins came home turned it off and it still wont start. when i put key in and turn it, doesnt start, dash lights are dim. wont start second time. the dash lights go dim when i crank it.. also, at night the lights are really dim when the car is started and i turn the lights on.. they get even dimmer when i push on the break. about checkers all they did was put a voltmeter on the battery for the battery, and on a place on the alternator and the chasis to test the alternator

Tr33X0rs---You either have a dead battery or your connection from the alternator to the battery is disconnected.

first you should check out the wire connection from the alternator output to the battery terminal to see if they are secur.

If the connection is fine, you will need to take both ends of the wire off and check it with an Ohm meter to see if the wire is still conducting, if it is conducting good then your battery is not taking charge (dead battery).

Have you tried taking out that intake? If you didnt have the problem till you put it on and its touching the positive terminal it could be grounding your battery...

Is your amp running off of your stock alternator? It could be the sound system too that is drawing too much current. Try with your radio off.

I had a 94 civic dx that I put a 60 amp amplifier to push a 12" and lights dimmed to each beat as I was bumping it really loud. It's was really harmful for it because when I turned on the headlights, the rpms dropped a bit. I eventually got a capacitor, maybe that's what you need. It'll store up some power so that your alternator isn't suffering so much. Try that with A/C on, at night with headilghts, parking lights on, and bumping it really loud.

It also could be the intake because the engine is grounded and the only thing that should be positive is the (+) on the battery. If it's touching, it is shorting that circuit.