My car won't start. I have limited funds so i'm trying to figure out what is wrong with it myself?

Question

*I have a 91 Madza.

*it was working just fine when i started it this morning three times

* It makes a clicking noise when i try to start it

* The lights , windshield wipers, etc. turns on

*I tried to charge it, that did nothing

* My battery connections are corroded. How do i clean those off? How can i take them off to clean it? I know that cola apparantly works.

*I don't think its the starter or the alternator, but you never know.

*this has happened before and I had to call someone to come and clean off the connections and pieces....i just can't afford it this time around...so i want to do it myself

PLEASE HELP!!!!!

Answer 1

Surely you must personally know someone mechanically inclined enough to help a bit. Maybe even ask a High School Auto Mechanics class to take a look at it. You'll both get something out of the deal. They learn, you get your problem identified. Don't be shy. Call them.

Answer 2

Instead of all these complicated ideas --- Go to auto supply and get a battery brush and clean the battery terminals and posts till they shine. Problem solved

Answer 3

Use a wrench or pliers to loosen the terminals gently.  You don't want to crack them.

use a wire brush to scrape off all the corrosion you can see and then wipe every thing down with baking soda and water mixed to bubbly.

Then when it is dry grease the terminals and the connectors with petroleum jelly to prevent the corrosion from returning this year.

Make sure that the other ends of your cables are cleaned and greased also.

This will ensure a good connection.

Now if it does not turn over you will have to get some jumper cables and someone else with a car battery to get it started.

If after starting the charging light does not go out or ite gauge does not peak, then you will have to get your alternator and battery checked.  This is not expensive but just replacing the battery without checking the system will be if you are wrong.  

This is how I started a long time ago and I learned a lot over the years and I stll do some work but I get the complicated stuff doe right so I don't have to fret.

the lights , horn, and wipers don't require as much juice to start as the motor does that is why they work when the battery is too low to start the car.

Answer 4

pour some coke on it and rise with water. use some rags or wire brushes. Sounds like you may have a starter going out on you. You can also check the starter connection (small wire) to see if it's securely connected. Also if you have a weak battery, it may power all your other components, but sometimes it's not enough to turn the engine over hence the clicking noise.

Answer 5

Good for you.  Anybody can do it.  I hope you weren't charged too much for it last time.  Of course, any service call is expensive.

Please don't use Coke.  A spoon or two of baking soda in a cup of water is the proper way, and is very cheap and available.  In a pinch, just remove and scrape the terminals clean where they touch, and put them back on.

Normally, when you start a car, you turn the key, you hear a little whirr, whirr, whirr, and then the engine fires up and runs.

What happens when you turn the key? If it grinds and whines and sounds a little like a siren, or else doesn't do ANYTHING or just clicks a few times, THEN FINALLY STARTS OK, and over time needs more and more tries with the key, the starter is going out. You'll want to get it replaced before it strands you. If it does nothing but click, or nothing, and doesn't start after turning the key multiple times, it's usually a dead battery or just corrosion on the battery connections. A dead battery caused usually by the leaving the lights or radio on overnight. You can check them, the switches will still be on. If your battery has top posts, you can loosen the corroded one with the appropriate wrench  (you don't have to completely take it apart, just loosen it a little and it will wriggle right off), pull the cable connection off.  It is basically a band that fits around the battery post on top.  Be sure they are shiny inside and out, where they touch each other, scraping them with a key, a screwdriver, knife, or the correct tool, a $3.50 battery terminal double brush from WalMart or the parts store (ask the clerk to show you how to use it, it's easy), reconnect them, spray the connections all around with corrosion inhibitor if you can to keep it from happening again so fast (from the auto parts store, follow the directions on the can), and get a jump start (leaving the cars connected for about 5 minutes after the car starts, to help recharge the battery) and try again. Also, a dead battery can be caused by a worn-out alternator failing to charge it, but this would have been signalled by the "Battery" or "Alternator", etc., warning light staying on on the dash all the time while the car was running, and surely you would have noticed that. If the electrical charging system warning light wasn't staying on all the time while the engine was running, and the TOP battery and cable connections (side posts don't corrode much) have been cleaned, and you jump-started it, ran it for 5-10 minutes and it STILL was dead the next time, the problem is probably a bad battery.

You can get brief, concise, step-by-step steps to diagnose any engine's failure to start in the front of any Haynes auto repair manual under "Troubleshooting", available at most auto parts stores for about $16, or online by searching on Yahoo under "auto repair manuals".  It really helps to read over the manual, even if you don't completely understand it, so you won't feel and be so "in the dark."

Best regards,

Mike

Answer 6

I had a 92 MX-6. Its on its last let. Go to Auto Zone or Advanced Auto and they will come out with a machine and check either or both free of charge. That eliminates that. Then clean the cables. They sell battery cleaner in the can. Its not expensive at all maybe 5.00.(walmart, any autostore, kmart etcc). You take those off with a wrench and unscrew the bolts on the sides. I have cleaned them without taking them off. The battery cleaner in the can dissolves the corrosion. That works great to clean off corrosion. You can do that yourself instead of paying for that. The battery is working. The starter sounds bad. Then again I am not a professional, I have just been there.  If there is a click and no "fire" chances are its the starter. If you get a starter at advance auto parts or autozone or oreilys auto parts,,, youll pay maybe 100-130 to get it. Thats after you check the atlernator and everything else to rule out other things... I seriously doubt its the alternator and your battery obviously works. If you need a new starter, you'll just have to get someone to put it on or put in on yourself. Underneath the hood of a mazda, the parts are pretty crammed in there. I have one. You are better off to get someone (friend, someone that knows how to put one on etc). They charge CRAZY for labor at dealerships.