Just bought this car last week and am having problem number 2. The car won't start. It sat out for a year and a half without being driven, I'm hoping it's just a dead battery.

Symptoms: Seat belt indicator light (there is no ding/bell that goes off, nor is there a ding when the key is in the ignition and the door is open) started to flicker on and off two days ago. Then last night the radio (after market JVC CD player installed by previous owner) would cut off briefly, and the heater blower slowed down considerably.

I'm hoping the above three issues indicate not enough power being received and that the problem is due to a dead battery.

The starter is brand new along with the crank sensor. No idea if the fuel pump/relay, alternator or other wiring is bad. I'm going to buy a voltage meter and test the battery before buying a new one and ruling that out first. Engine/clutch are three years old so I'm pretty sure that's not the problem.

Really hoping it's just the battery. Otherwise the car has been fun to drive (save for a loud exhaust that will have to get replaced sooner than later.

Will report back!

 

Charge the battery, check your OBD codes and...while you have your volt meter out, be certain to check the voltage output of the alternator. These cars have certain quirks, as do all cars. One is that the alternators will fail to excite and produce electricity. If you have an automatic and no volt gauge, you can drive around during the day for a week or two before the battery craps out. If the battery is old, and it has set up that long, it's probably sulfated and not much good. I doubt it's anything too serious.

 

No volt gauge and this car is a manual trans. As for OBD codes, the engine was replaced 3 years ago, do I still have a code finder I wonder. Will check later! Thank you!

 

Apparently I left my parking lights on, not sure how though as the dial was all the way to the right, not in the middle. I thought if the dial was all the way over to the right then the all the lights would turn off when I took the key out.


Anyway I'm having some belts replaced including the alternator, a/c and a couple of others. Should have Besse back today, glad the alternator and battery and good!

 

Quote:

Originally Posted by Calyopi

As for OBD codes, the engine was replaced 3 years ago, do I still have a code finder I wonder. Will check later! Thank you!

No need for a code finder; you have onboard diagnostics. Check this out:
Engine and OBD Diagnostic Codes

 

Thank you!