lets play y wont my car start...again!

nonschlont · Oct 28, 2009, 11:29 AM

so this morning I remote start the car and nothing, (3rd time its ever happened, and 5+ years old) so I go down stairs to the garage, and the radio is on, but no car... I walk around, to crank the car and nothing, but a high pitch whine... I never heard that before, so I tried it again... nada... I turned the car off, waited a min. tried it again, and all of the electrical went haywire flickering, and the motor was barely cranking over... And I mean barely... Waited anoter few mins. and tried it again, but now the radio isnt working... WTF is going on here???

My thoughts, are either battery, or I fried some fuses, but I definitely need some guidance...

TIA

newbieEVO8 · Oct 28, 2009, 11:32 AM

More than likely its your battery. Take it out and have it tested.

ZFRED10 · Oct 28, 2009, 11:32 AM

Well obviously you are going to have to do some trial an error to find the problem. Did you try to jump it?

Pal215 · Oct 28, 2009, 11:34 AM

Sounds like a dead battery. Try a jump from another car, see if you can get it going. If it starts then its the battery.

nonschlont · Oct 28, 2009, 12:07 PM

I had NO time to diagnose anything this morning... I had to figure out how I was going to get to work. Im now at work, and the car is at home... The first thing on my list is to check the battery, but Ive never seen any kind of flickering like that, and now the radio monitor isnt coming on, nada. The clock is still on. And Ive never heard any of my cars make any kind of noise upon starting it like that... First time it whined, then tried real hard to get it to crank (not turn over, but just to crank) then clicking, then nada! Hope its just a battery issue, but w/ my luck, theres gonna be more to it...

Note: I had the battery completely charged up, (~ 2 months ago)
@ autozone

when I get home, I'll see if I can get it jumped, and go from there I guess...

WRECKLESS96 · Oct 28, 2009, 12:13 PM

definatly battery

nonschlont · Oct 28, 2009, 01:19 PM

so Im looking into a new battery for my IX, and called 3 places. Autozone/Sears/My local mechanic...

Sears has 3 different types: $189 / $104 / $89 I was told that the stock battery has 520 "cold cranking amps", and their battery for $104 is ~ 540.

Autozone has 2 different batteries $79 / $89. The $79 has 500, and the 89 has 640.

my local mechanic has 1 "MP-35" for $90 and it has 520.

Would having more "cold cranking amps" (640, over stock 520) help w/ anything? Longevity? cold starts?

And of course, which 1 would you get / recommend?

TIA

newbieEVO8 · Oct 28, 2009, 01:30 PM

If you are just going to replace with a stock sized battery get a duralast gold from autozone.

Bobster22388 · Oct 28, 2009, 01:32 PM

The more cold cranking amps the better the batter will perform with cold weather starts. It does not apply to the longevity of the battery itself.

NOMIEZVR4 · Oct 28, 2009, 01:39 PM

Having better amps will help if its cold outside but it seems like your in Cali where the weather is suppose to be superb so it prob wont matter for you.

nonschlont · Oct 28, 2009, 02:43 PM

good to know!

So basically, as long as I get a battery w/ 520 CCA's, I should be good to go? Is there anything else I need to concern myself w/ when purchasing a battery?

Believe it or not, I have not needed to replace a battery on any of my previous cars, and w/ the evo, the battery has died twice now... First time, I had the battery charged. Seems like thats just a bandaid, till you can get another battery...

So... duralast gold, from autozone huh?

nonschlont · Oct 28, 2009, 02:49 PM

dp...

srcevo8 · Oct 28, 2009, 05:34 PM

If you're going with a stock sized battery, I've always been partial to the Die Hard models at Sears. Every one that I've put into a car I've never had to replace. And Sears throws some warranty coverage on it as well.

If the car won't crank and just makes a tick noise and then silence then your starter may be on it's way out. But if you can put the key in and turn on your headlights or stereo but they're dim or acting up then it's likely your battery.

Rxracer · Oct 28, 2009, 06:46 PM

Yea if i were you, people please don't hate. but go to walmart and get their everstart max. mine is 900cca and it was like 79 bux plus tax and they install for free. it has like a 4 year free replacement and a 9 year pro rated warranty, kinda hard to beat for under 100...

Rob

heavens turbo · Oct 28, 2009, 11:13 PM

replace your battery and check to see WHY it keeps dying. or it will happen again shortly. check altenator output and all wires, aftermarket and stock. something could be draining your juice.