Car trouble, please see if you can help. - Honda Prelude Forum

Padge · 08-26-2002, 10:50 AM

Ok, here is the deal. I drove to school yesterday ( 1.2 hours) with the A/C off, stuff in the car and my radio playing loudly most of the time. I got here with NO problem. I parked in front of my house, unloaded my car (with it off), started the car again and went to park it. 2 hours pass and i go to my car again and try to start it and it doesnt start.
The key turns and it does a half hearted start and then all you hear is clicking. I went to get jumper cables, came back 20 minutes later and try one more time to start it and viola, it just barely starts. I let it run for a few minutes, then I take it up the mountain (at my school) to return the cables. I park the car get out, go see them, come back 20 minutes later again and the car once again BARELY starts. I dont have any idea what is wrong. Could it be the alternator, started, battery...etc?

Another thing is that when the car isnt started and I try to put down the windows they start strong and then the power drops drastically so they cant make it down all the way. Whats that tell you. PLEASE HELP ME IF YOU CAN, I NEED SOME DIRECTION.
Thanks guys/girls.

U.K VTEC · 08-26-2002, 11:01 AM

I would suggest either the battery or the alternator are in trouble.
Both can be tested at any good repair shop.

Mark94 · 08-26-2002, 11:02 AM

The battery is on its way out. Even thought you jumped it, the battery just can't hold a charge.

It's not the alternator, because the car is able to be jumped and it's not the starter because the clicking is present. Just get a new battery and that should do it.

Mark

influx · 08-26-2002, 11:03 AM

new battery man
take it to pep boys or some place with a tester/garage
they'll tell ya whether or not you're gonna have to buy a new one
they usually give you 8 or 10$ for the old ones

MR.CLIFFORD · 08-26-2002, 11:13 AM

Padge,
Now would be the time to think about a deep cycle battery for your system. Your output will increase dramatically and you will be able to play your system with the car off for extended periods of time.

Padge · 08-26-2002, 12:11 PM

$$lude, do you recommend a certain type of battery?

MARK94: I never actually had to jump it. It somehow managed to start itself up.

Mark94 · 08-26-2002, 12:18 PM

Padge, if you haven't had to jump it yet, then you are very lucky. It definitely sounds like the battery is having trouble holding the charge.

Is the battery original, and how old is it?

If you are going to look into deep cycle batteries, get an Optima battery.
http://www.1st-optima-batteries.com/
The optima red top is probably the way to go. The yellow top is for cars pushing A LOT of power through their systems.

Mark

MR.CLIFFORD · 08-26-2002, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Padge
$$lude, do you recommend a certain type of battery?

Go with the Optima. I am going with the Yellow Top for my system and the Red Top for cranking power. The Yellow Top doesn't have as much for Cranking power when compared to the Red Top. Be prepared to spend a grip though. I can get the Red Top at 112 bucks and the Yellow Top for 157. But Maintenance Free and Spill proof plus Deep Cycle makes it worth it to me

I installed a Yellow Top in my friends Cougar. He is running two BD1000's to a JL W7 and there was a night and day difference in how the lows sound.

EDIT: Mark, He has a large enough system to benefit from the battery

genlude · 08-26-2002, 01:33 PM

From post from above, check your battery and check your FI-Main relay since you said you did not have to jump it b/f it started.

Mark94 · 08-26-2002, 01:45 PM

I don't think the Main Relay is the problem. If the main relay is the problem, the car would still have the power to roll down the windows and the starter wouldn't be clicking. The main relay would cause the car to just have a problem starting (car would crank but not turn over).

It's the battery.

Mark

Absolut · 08-26-2002, 02:58 PM

Just for kicks, clean the battery terminals, you could have bad connections and not getting the juice you need to start, but enough to run the windows...
Its a free fix if it works and only take a few minutes...

brendon2k · 08-26-2002, 04:26 PM

I would go with battery. When my connection on my alternator got crusty and my battery lost its charge to the point the engine stalled the car would not come near starting. The next day it started and I didn't need to jump the car. A battery can recharge itself slightly after some time. This is what I guess allowed you to start your car after it sat a bit.

influx · 08-26-2002, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Absolut
Just for kicks, clean the battery terminals, you could have bad connections and not getting the juice you need to start, but enough to run the windows...
Its a free fix if it works and only take a few minutes...

coke or baking soda/water works for that

MR.CLIFFORD · 08-26-2002, 04:31 PM

and a wire brush

Padge · 08-27-2002, 12:10 PM

It was the battery guys. Thanks for your help. For now I just got a simple replacement. Thanks again! -Pat

U.K VTEC · 08-27-2002, 12:52 PM

Glad it's sorted.

MR.CLIFFORD · 08-27-2002, 01:13 PM

Did it fix your windows?