'99 Civic not starting

[ClarkB]

I dropped the wife off at work this morning, had to go into her office and grab something and the car didn't start when I get back in it five minutes later. When I switched the key to "ON" or "iii" (whatever it is) everything was going fine, stereo came on, dashboard lit up as usual. When I tried to crank the engine everything seemed to go dead. I assumed a blown fuse. I checked them and nothing seemed to be wrong. I tried starting it again and this time there are more symptoms:

1. Stereo comes on sometimes, maybe once every three times I have the key in the "ON" position.
2. Loud tapping noise from the passenger side dash area. Five to eight louder taps and then it stops.
3. Automatic locks are acting sluggish and not actually locking or unlocking.
4. It seems like the starter gets juice for one "click" and then nothing. The engine won't turn over.

I ruled out dead battery. With all these other (I assume) electrical problems cropping up this is beyond my abilities (checking fuses is about the extent of my electrical knowledge and abilities).

Since we have AAA I called the tow truck, he arrived in record time and he asked about what was wrong. I told him, he tried starting it and suggested we push start it (it's a manual). It started then and he claimed it was the starter.

There were no symptoms of any starter problems beforehand and all these other symptoms have my scratching my head. Car is in the shop and hopefully they will have it done soon.

Any thoughts on what the problem is?

Clark

 

[javacontour]

Dirty or loose connections at the battery.

 

[bepperb]

Or on the wire from the battery to ground where it meets the body...

 

[UNC017]

Battery cable, or possibly the battery died internally. Get out the voltmeter and test- good voltage when you put the test probes on the battery POSTS means that its battery cables.

 

[Jimmy9190]

How dis you rule out a dead battery? Like 440 says you need to test across the positive and negative battery posts to be sure it is OK.

When the battery in my truck died it did the same thing. I drove it to the parts store to check on some part or other and when I went to leave, nothing. No click of the starter or anything but the lights and radio worked. Luckily for me it died at Advance so I was able to get the battery load tested to be sure it was bad, and buy a new battery too.

Batteries are like that, you get a shorted cell all at once and next time you try it, the car won't start. How old is your battery?

 

[Dave Hess]

Sometimes the distributor in these Civics go bad.

 

[StevieC]

My battery [censored] out recently... It still showed 12.3 volts but when a load was applied it would flake out to 9.3.

Sometimes these things happen... Push starting it got the alternator running and thus sustaining the system on it's voltage.

I would check the battery, and then the starter...

 

[PandaBear]

What is the voltage of the battery when the car is off, starting, and idle?

I wouldn't rule out the battery so quickly, but it could also be the starter aging (happened on my corolla once, just a click every time I turn the key and have to try a few times for it to start, the contacts were worn out).

 

[ClarkB]

Well...you're all right!!!

My previous assumption and experience was that batteries tended to die a slow death with plenty of warning...how very wrong.

Thanks for the explanation Jimmy, that explains quite well what happened to my battery.

So they replaced the battery, apparently checked the electrical system and everything is a go.

Clark