Hmm..Need help with an electrical problem here... - NJFBOA - Home of New Jersey's Camaros and Firebirds

madness410 · 05-13-2008, 04:39 PM

bad luck for me again..

go outside this morning to find out that the camaro doesnt even crank when i turn the key...which is wierd because it started right up yesterday with no problems at all. there is power in the car, the electric fuel pump does make a whine, so i know its on...but the thing is it only sounds like its going at half the power. same with the electrical fans when the switch is flipped. i turned the headlights on and they are on, but dimmed, same with the tails. i made the dumb mistake of opening the hatch, so the hatch is automatic and it came halfway up, and wont go back down now. my headunit doesnt go on when the ignition is turned.

basically everything that is electrical in the car is on at half, if not less, power.

really not quite sure what this could be. at first it didnt crank at all, i gave it a jump start and it didnt start. i have a new optima battery in there so i didnt think it would be that...basically when i try to start it now all i hear is *click click click*..which is the distributor i believe.

i was wondering if anybody on here has had a similar problem? if so what was the problem? if not, i know everyone here is excellent at diagnosing problems so lets hear some suggestions what it could be if you have any. thanks for all the help in advance.

jon

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2008, 04:43 PM

the click click click would be the starter trying to turn the motor. your battery doesn't have enough voltage. hook up some jumper cables from another car and let it charge up a little bit. got a volt meter? check the battery voltage, should be in the 12's fully charged. you may have a bad alternator or a draw. first get her running!

madness410 · 05-13-2008, 05:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

the click click click would be the starter trying to turn the motor. your battery doesn't have enough voltage. hook up some jumper cables from another car and let it charge up a little bit. got a volt meter? check the battery voltage, should be in the 12's fully charged. you may have a bad alternator or a draw. first get her running!

hey man i just got back in..and it charged it for a bit with my other car...started up just fine, i let both cars sit for about 2 or 3 minutes. took the cables off...started up the camaro and it started up by itself, so im like...ok problem solved.

i go back out after i get something from the house and 5 minutes later i try to start it up again and the same problem in the first place...

i think the battery cant hold a charge

Tru2Chevy · 05-13-2008, 06:13 PM

How long did you let the car run after you started it? You need to run it for a while to get the charge in the battery back up to where it should be.

Or, as stated above, you could have a draw somewhere that is pulling power from the battery at all times.

- Justin

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2008, 06:16 PM

the alternator may be bad. you would have to get the charging system checked. a volt meter would be handy to check if it is charging. i would say a draw but 5 minutes is real fast to drain a battery. bring the battery back where you bought it and it should be warrantied. that or charge yours to a full charge. once you have a fully charged battery, bring the car to a shop to check the alternator. make sure your terminal ends are tight!

Tru2Chevy · 05-13-2008, 06:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

i would say a draw but 5 minutes is real fast to drain a battery.

We don't know if the battery was at a full charge or not though....

- Justin

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2008, 06:23 PM

yeah i wrote that while you posted. i assumed he left the jumpers on for a good amount of time. never safe to assume though. people should invest in volt meters. they are so handy

98tadriver · 05-13-2008, 07:36 PM

check your connections, check your battery with a voltmeter before you start it up, and check it while the vehicle is running.

madness410 · 05-13-2008, 07:57 PM

my friend said i flooded the engine...i dont know if that could be it

Tru2Chevy · 05-13-2008, 07:59 PM

No, none of the symptoms you described sound like a flooded engine.

- Justin

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2008, 08:11 PM

BIG NO on the flooded engine! its either your battery, alternator, or a draw in the electronics.

madness410 · 05-13-2008, 09:02 PM

well when i DID start it up that the 2 or 3 times it actually did start it left a big cloud of white smoke from the exhaust...

but i will charge the battery tomorrow and see how it goes. its very wierd because the car has a brand new optima battery...the alternator is new also...and it started up perfectly fine yesterday. i dont know..kind caught me way off guard haha

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2008, 09:12 PM

well ensure your cables are connected properly. if you had a dead battery, you need to let the car run to charge the battery back up. i'd let it idle for like a half hour then go drive it. just make sure you don't overheat. is it a serpentine belt or v-belt? maybe the belt is loose?

madness410 · 05-13-2008, 09:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

well ensure your cables are connected properly. if you had a dead battery, you need to let the car run to charge the battery back up. i'd let it idle for like a half hour then go drive it. just make sure you don't overheat. is it a serpentine belt or v-belt? maybe the belt is loose?

yeah the cables are on ok...ill definately charge it more tomorrow. it is a serpentine belt. not sure if it could be the belt thats loose, unless they get loose over time? because the past 2 months it hasnt given me problems. im not sure how to explain that smoke that comes out of the exhaust when i started it..

sweetbmxrider · 05-13-2008, 10:23 PM

nah if its a serp then just ignore that. i thought it might have vbelts. probably something leaking in the engine. maybe intake? or oil passing the rings on the pistons? i think thats usually light grey/blue. someone else might know better.

have the battery fully charged, then have the alternator and battery load tested. post up what happens!

Slo86Bird · 05-13-2008, 10:27 PM

my car, you have to push the shifter forward like 1/8th inch sometimes or everything will turn on but no cranking.

(watch me crank that soulja boy and super man that hoe)

crank just reminded me of that song......maybe call soulja boy?!?!?!?!?!

madness410 · 05-13-2008, 10:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Slo86Bird

my car, you have to push the shifter forward like 1/8th inch sometimes or everything will turn on but no cranking.

(watch me crank that soulja boy and super man that hoe)

crank just reminded me of that song......maybe call soulja boy?!?!?!?!?!

lol

Slo86Bird · 05-14-2008, 07:18 AM

but seriously. try pushing yer shifter forward...may not be it but worth a shot.

madness410 · 05-14-2008, 05:47 PM

i think it was just the battery, i charged it for like 10 mins today as opposed to 2 the other day...for some reason it couldnt hold a charge yesterday. as for the automatic hatch lock in the back...when my friend took that panel off he screwed the screw in so it thing wouldnt go all the way up...lol

for some reason whenever i have a problem with cars its always something stupid

sweetbmxrider · 05-14-2008, 08:18 PM

maybe the hatch was drawing too? since it couldn't return to the up position? killed the battery i bet. like just drained it, battery should be fine!

madness410 · 05-14-2008, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

maybe the hatch was drawing too? since it couldn't return to the up position? killed the battery i bet. like just drained it, battery should be fine!

yeah that might have been it. hey thanks for all your help dude i owe you one

sweetbmxrider · 05-14-2008, 09:14 PM

i do it everyday so i'm used to it. i'd take a beer though

madness410 · 05-14-2008, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sweetbmxrider

i do it everyday so i'm used to it. i'd take a beer though

hah when in 21 and can legally buy one ill get you one haha