Need help with starter/ignition

ivan12 · Jul 7, 2010

A couple of days ago I noticed that my stang was a little sluggish when I tried to turn it over. A couple of times I would crank it and it would take a second or two to turn over or it would click and turn over. Yesterday morning I tried turning it on and all I got were clicks, I swapped out the battery and it clicked a couple of times and then turned over. I checked all my grounds on top of the engine and power wires, everything looks clean and is tight. Last night I went for a drive and noticed that my battery gauge all of a sudden dropped to a little bit more than 1/3 of the way. And then all of a sudden went back up to around half. This morning I tried turning it on and all I got were multiple clicks but it never turned over. I was already late for work so I left it alone and left. I'm thinking maybe my starter went out but that doesn't explain the power drop. I would think maybe my battery but it's weird that it clicked the same way with the new battery. What do you guys think?

ttocs · Jul 7, 2010

your starter will not effect the voltage gauge. Sounds like your alt is going out, go have it checked out, free at autozone.

CanaryGT · Jul 7, 2010

ivan12 · Jul 8, 2010

Even if the alternator was bad, why would it keep my car from starting?

ivan12 · Jul 8, 2010

I replaced my starter and it still does the same thing. I had to push start it, and now that it's warm it starts fine. What could cause it to not start when cold?

ttocs · Jul 8, 2010

because your battery is not completely charging, and now may also be on the brink of being bad. Like I said a bad starter is not going to effect the voltage while the engine is running, the only two parts to that equation are the bat and the alt. Do not throw any more parts at the car and go get the alt checked, if it tests ok then drop the batt off and have it checked. I do not care if they are only 4 months old I have replaced 4 month old batteries before...

CC'S95GT · Jul 8, 2010

you say the battery cables looked good but did you ck the resistance of the cables.
I've had corrosion inside the insulation causing the car not to start.

ivan12 · Jul 8, 2010

Just got back from Autozone and alt is good. I'm dropping the car off at the shop tomorrow morning.

ttocs · Jul 8, 2010

also check the factory wiring and ground. Mine had been striped out when the body shop had it and it developed corrosion behind it and made for a bad conection that led to all kinds of electrical gremlins.... The alarm hasn't been acting up has it?