startup problem

[skriFF]

Ever since I bought my car(9 months ago) it has had a problem starting. When its cold it will usually start up pretty good but as time goes on while im driving it and I have to stop it and then start it again, it gets hard to start. As time progresses it gets harder and harder to start.

Then last night my car was running fine and at around 1:45 I went to start it up and it wouldn't start. It would hardly turn over. It would turn over one time every 4 seconds. The wierd thing is that I had drove it 10 minutes earlier and it started/drove just fine. A fairly loud clicking sound was also coming from the alternator.

I had my friend try to jump start me and it still wouldn't start. We went back this morning to try and start it and we let it charge a little longer before turning the key and it turned a little faster than last night.

Its not the battery, so does anybody know of a way to test the alternator/starter? Or maybe somebody has another idea of what it might be. Also, I think the progressivley harder startup problem has to do with the timing chain not being lined up just right.

Any ideas? Thanks.

[wrightz28]

Almost sounds like a straight forward charging issue.

What makes you say it's not the battery? What about when everything is running: headlights radio, wipers, you name it, hit your turn siganls I'll bet they're on the slow side.

Now, you may be somewhat correct that the batter man be ok, but your problem almost definatley would lay in the charging system, I'd give it a thorough looking at, all your connections are clean and tight etc. Would seriously recommend load testing the sytem as well.

[jesus058]

You can quickly check if it's the charging system or you have a short on the wiring by starting the engine and than while running disconnect the battery, if the engines dies than there is a short or alternator problem.