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I have a 1998 Honda Accord 2.3L. Was working great. My brother sold me a battery for my 05 sentra. When i went to go pick it up i put the “new” battery i just bought, in the honda. On a multimeter battery was at 9.61. Honda didn’t start. My brother jumped it with battery to battery no negative on body. Car started. I drove about 40 miles home mostly frwy. Got home and left “new” battery in honda. I cranked it again about 5 min later and no problems. Checked voltage and 13.4 engine off, probably settling down. Less than an hour later went to start again and nothing. Battery, 12.4,headlight,interior lights, windows strong but when key turned to start, dash lights come on, key blinks and goes off. No check engine but battery maintenance, battery, oil, brake light stay on until key is out. Key light flashes about 4x tgen goes of. Stereo beeps light normal. Close doors and alarm sets in about a minute. Hit the starter, checked all basic fuses, except stuff i don’t know how to test. After all said and done, car is in garage, battery at 12.4 light and everthing else stront. Crank, click arount battery area and a second click around engine fuse area about a 1/2 second from each other. I say area cause haven’t pin pointed yet. I would appriciate any help. Thanks.
Hi, Does it crank (actually turn over) or just click? Bit confused when you say crank, click in second paragraph. If it just clicks, the click is the solenoid in the starter motor operating, but there most probably is not enough charge in the battery to turn the starter motor over. Was it a ’new’ new battery or just a different used one? The only true way to check a battery’s condition is to read the specific gravity (SG) of the electrolyte using a Hygrometer. The voltage reading might indicate that it is charged but it is the depth of the charge that you need. (If only ‘shallow’ charged the battery voltage might fall a lot if the battery is required to supply a high current discharge like when it has to start a car). Can you start the car using jump leads? If it starts OK, remove the jump leads and then check the voltage reading across the battery with the engine running. It should be between 13.8V -14.2VDC. Be extra careful when you do this, The engine is RUNNING. Watch where you place things, hands, fingers, face, tools etc! If it is less than 13.8V the battery will not charge properly. It will slowly start to discharge even if you are driving. If it is more than 14.8V you run the risk of overcharging the battery and ‘boiling’ it dry and making it eventually fail With either reading, below or above there most probably is a fault with the regulator or the alternator (regulator is in the alternator anyway)
@acrenteria ,Anthony , Try boosting again, if car starts with boost, battery connections bad/corroded/loose/damaged, check both neg. and pos. at battery and opposite ends for this, or battery has bad cell and is failing/bad. If all connections good and battery is indeed good, have the starter tested. Some of the auto parts suppliers offer free testing of battery, starter,alternator, like Pepboys, Nappa, Advanced auto parts,etc and some of the guys are very knowledgeable and may have seen the issue often and put you on the right track. Good luck. I hope this helped you out, if so let me know by pressing the helpful button.
