Power dies when trying to start car, solutions? - Zilvia.net Forums | Nissan 240SX (Silvia) and Z (Fairlady) Car Forum

svensko · 10-16-2008, 07:59 PM

I just went out to my car and tried to start it and was greeted with a loud click and all the power going out, the dash lights, etc until I removed the key and tried again. I put the key in again, got my dash lights lit up, and tried the windows and such and they seem to work fine. I then tried my headlights. The first click (the sidemarkers?) seem to work, but when I try to turn on the real headlights the power dies down and then barely comes back (very faint dash lights) then I hear a loud clicking/buzzing coming from the left side of the dash. The fact that the windows seem to have no issue going up and down makes me think it's not a dead battery but I have no idea how to diagnosis beyond that. I thought buying a 240SX would result in having a fun reliable car

. It didn't

.

projectRDM · 10-16-2008, 08:13 PM

It's not a dead battery, just a very weak one. Recharge it or jump the car off.

HS13KLS · 10-16-2008, 08:15 PM

wow...dude its a battery, just push start it. and just leave it running for an hour or so. and you should be fine.

svensko · 10-16-2008, 08:26 PM

Didn't realize that a weak battery would still allow other things to work. Thanks for the help!

svensko · 10-17-2008, 11:22 AM

Got it jumped and drove it for 30 mins-45 mins, let it idle around 2.5K for a few minutes, but it still doesn't start back up. While I was driving it I was sure to keep the RPMs above 3000 RPMs in an attempt to charge the battery. I had to turn my headlights on due to it raining.

It also skipped while WOT in second gear. When I turned the headlights on, the speedo and tach skipped for a second, and any gauge lights that were on turned off and on instantly. My battery thingy that tells if it's good or not (the pokeball looking thing) says the battery is good, but I don't believe it's holding charge. Should I go ahead and buy a new battery? Or should I attempt to track down whatever's draining my battery first? Keep in mind that I'm a senior in genetics and have a metric shitton of stuff I need to be doing.

SidewayZ-s14 · 10-17-2008, 11:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HS13KLS

wow...dude its a battery, just push start it. and just leave it running for an hour or so. and you should be fine.

lol this guy is mad.....

Charge it fully, and that should do it for you.

svensko · 10-17-2008, 04:27 PM

Replaced the battery (13.08 V, 35 CCA

) and all is well. Thanks agani for the help guys.

svensko · 10-17-2008, 05:01 PM

One more thing, I'm slightly still worried that it may be the altenator sine I didn't get it checked while I was there. The battery had 13.08V and 35 CCA. Does this tell me anything about the alt.?

Also, I DO hear the whirring of the altenator when revving to ~3K while parked.

10-16-2008, 07:59 PM	#1
svensko Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Power dies when trying to start car, solutions? I just went out to my car and tried to start it and was greeted with a loud click and all the power going out, the dash lights, etc until I removed the key and tried again. I put the key in again, got my dash lights lit up, and tried the windows and such and they seem to work fine. I then tried my headlights. The first click (the sidemarkers?) seem to work, but when I try to turn on the real headlights the power dies down and then barely comes back (very faint dash lights) then I hear a loud clicking/buzzing coming from the left side of the dash. The fact that the windows seem to have no issue going up and down makes me think it's not a dead battery but I have no idea how to diagnosis beyond that. I thought buying a 240SX would result in having a fun reliable car . It didn't . __________________ Respect begets respect.

10-16-2008, 08:13 PM	#2
projectRDM Post Whore! Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Atlanta Age: 51 Posts: 13,812 Trader Rating: (12) Feedback Score: 12 reviews	It's not a dead battery, just a very weak one. Recharge it or jump the car off. __________________ FORMERLY R240NA Learn what's really going on and protect your assets now before they're gone forever: www.paypalsucks.com

10-16-2008, 08:26 PM	#4
svensko Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Didn't realize that a weak battery would still allow other things to work. Thanks for the help! __________________ Respect begets respect.

10-17-2008, 11:22 AM	#5
svensko Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Got it jumped and drove it for 30 mins-45 mins, let it idle around 2.5K for a few minutes, but it still doesn't start back up. While I was driving it I was sure to keep the RPMs above 3000 RPMs in an attempt to charge the battery. I had to turn my headlights on due to it raining. It also skipped while WOT in second gear. When I turned the headlights on, the speedo and tach skipped for a second, and any gauge lights that were on turned off and on instantly. My battery thingy that tells if it's good or not (the pokeball looking thing) says the battery is good, but I don't believe it's holding charge. Should I go ahead and buy a new battery? Or should I attempt to track down whatever's draining my battery first? Keep in mind that I'm a senior in genetics and have a metric shitton of stuff I need to be doing. __________________ Respect begets respect.

10-17-2008, 04:27 PM	#7
svensko Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	Replaced the battery (13.08 V, 35 CCA ) and all is well. Thanks agani for the help guys. __________________ Respect begets respect.

10-16-2008, 08:15 PM	#3
HS13KLS Zilvia FREAK! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Illinois/California Age: 35 Posts: 1,114 Trader Rating: (13) Feedback Score: 13 reviews	wow...dude its a battery, just push start it. and just leave it running for an hour or so. and you should be fine.

10-17-2008, 05:01 PM	#8
svensko Zilvia Junkie Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Raleigh, NC Posts: 444 Trader Rating: (0) Feedback Score: 0 reviews	One more thing, I'm slightly still worried that it may be the altenator sine I didn't get it checked while I was there. The battery had 13.08V and 35 CCA. Does this tell me anything about the alt.? Also, I DO hear the whirring of the altenator when revving to ~3K while parked. __________________ Respect begets respect. Last edited by svensko; 10-17-2008 at 06:22 PM..