Car problems! Please help! My car won't start!?

Question

I have a 1993 Plymouth Acclaim. It won't start for me, or even turnover. It just makes a click noise once and that's it. I don't believe it's the battery because my dome light and radio still work. I have had this happen before and even though I was sure it wasn't the battery, I could jump it to make it start. Any help would be great! Is it possibly the starter or just the spark plugs? I have no idea :(

Answer 1

It could be that your terminals are loose. Try wiggling the bater in a different direction and then start it. If that happens you might need to tighten your terminals or you need new wires that connect to your battery

Answer 2

put the car in gear and rock the car forward back then try starting it on some older cars this turns the starting motor slightly if it works you need a new starter 0£ to try

Answer 3

1 click?? then it's either the starter or the batterys connection to the starter. Take the battery cables off and clean them with a brush and make sure they are not corroding. Then apply the cables all the way on the poles and secure them tightly.

Answer 4

My first guess is the ignition module.  Could also be the alternator or battery, but not if your electric stuff keeps working.

Answer 5

I have the best answer, it is your battery terminals. If not it must be your starter.

Answer 6

Sounds like a starter. If your hearing only one click, your probably hearing the two pins touch, but no spark.

Answer 7

if you can jump it and it starts you have a weak battery and need to charge/replace it

if it wont jump i would guess its a starter  

Answer 8

Your radio and dome light don't use any battery power compared to your starter, so just because they work, doesn't mean anything.

Make sure the battery is completely charged, if it is, start at the starter relay, then the starter. Or, try jump starting it again.

Answer 9

Turn your headlights on and have someone attempt to start the car with you looking at the headlights. If they drop to off or very dim while attempting to start you have a battery problem. If only you had an inexpensive hand held volt meter to check the battery voltage. Set the meter @ 20 volts. Push the wire probes into the red wire to positive terminal and black to the negative post. If fully charged the battery should read 12.85 volts. With the motor running this reading taken right off the battery terminals should read 13.5 - 14.2 volts. This reading tell you if the alternator is charging properly.

Unusually just a click means you have a Bendix and or solenoid problem. In which case it'll pay dividends to replace the starter with one which has the best warranty you can afford.

As others have said clean tight cables are a must. Make sure the ground cable connection is clean dry and tight. The positive connection to the solenoid must also be clean dry and tight. The battery terminals are easy to clean and should be tight also.

Answer 10

check the battery cable ends to make sure they are clean and tight. also it might be the starter solenoid not kicking the starter in, try tapping on the starter, they stick sometimes.

Answer 11

Most likely it's "bad battery cable connections".      A dirty or loose battery cable will allow a small current to pass.  Enough to allow lights, horns, etc to run.

But a starter requires a lot of amps to turn the car over.  The click is the starter solenoid opening to put current to the starter.   Then the heavy draw is called for and Oops no amps available due to loose cable.

Remove the cables one at a time,  take a wire brush to the inside of the cables and the posts.    Replace tighten and try again.   If the battery is too far run down it may need a jump start but should be good to go from then on.

Try and Autozone to check your battery also.  It's free........

RoyG

KC

Answer 12

it takes a lot less power to light a light and run the radio then it does to start your car. and since it starts when you jump it i believe its time for a new battery.  

Answer 13

Starter or alternator, my old 92 escort did the same things and i needed a new starter.

Answer 14

It's your alternator and it will soon be the battery also. Your alternator isn't generating enough electricityy to start your engine. As long as your battery isn't completely dead you may still get your lights to come on.