Any car gurus out there?

[SpiderX]

So I went ahead and got remote car starter for my GF for xmas. It was installed Friday night. Everything was fine until yesterday when it appeared the battery had died. We boosted it, and got power back. But when we tried to start the car it just clicked and wouldn't turn over.

Before the install we had zero problems with the car. I'm on the phone now trying to talk to a tech, but just wanted to see if anyone else had any answers.

 

[Mermaidman]

If the battery is old, you may have to replace it.

edit: Does the car start normally when you use the key? It's not clear in your OP

 

[apex32]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
If the battery is old, you may have to replace it.

edit: Does the car start normally when you use the key? It's not clear in your OP

both of these would be helpful to know. Also who installed it?

 

[SpiderX]

I'm not sure the age of the battery, although it was fine before the remote install. No problems whatsoever.

And no, with the key inserted, it just clicks, doesn't turn over at all.

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: apex32

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
If the battery is old, you may have to replace it.

edit: Does the car start normally when you use the key? It's not clear in your OP

both of these would be helpful to know. Also who installed it?

Had it installed at Visions Electronics. A Western Canadian store.

 

[Mermaidman]

I suspect the battery is borked, but the question is why. It could be due to age, but you don't want to get a new one just to have the underlying cause ruin the new battery. (Sorry, me not car guru)

What year car? The battery can't be older than the car

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: SpiderX

Originally posted by: apex32

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
If the battery is old, you may have to replace it.

edit: Does the car start normally when you use the key? It's not clear in your OP

both of these would be helpful to know. Also who installed it?

Had it installed at Visions Electronics. A Western Canadian store.

What did they say when you called and complained? Because you did that before asking here, right?

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
I suspect the battery is borked, but the question is why. It could be due to age, but you don't want to get a new one just to have the underlying cause ruin the new battery. (Sorry, me not car guru)

What year car? The battery can't be older than the car

Damn batteries. haha I'm resisting getting a new one though. With a boost, the car lights and dash kick in, it just won't turn over.

It's a 2002 Honda Civic

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: SpiderX

Originally posted by: apex32

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
If the battery is old, you may have to replace it.

edit: Does the car start normally when you use the key? It's not clear in your OP

both of these would be helpful to know. Also who installed it?

Had it installed at Visions Electronics. A Western Canadian store.

What did they say when you called and complained? Because you did that before asking here, right?

On the phone with them at the moment. Trying to get a hold of a install tech.

 

[M2008S]

the remote start must have eaten the battery for some reason, i never liked those things as one we had did the same thing.

try to chg the battery like you did for a few hours.. see if it starts. if it just clicks then it doesnt have enough power. also, if you cant get it going with the battery charger.. put jumpers on it from another car and rev the running car up to about 2000 rpm, then try to start it after about 30 seconds of this. obvoiusly it was a bad install as it drained your battery. what brand of battery is it? if its still under its warranty go get one for free.. if its older than it says it should last (ex 2 year replacement warranty) i would go get another one. theyd probably run about $50-60 USD so maybe a little more in canadian $. if you get the car started, get back to that store and tell them to fix it.

by the way when jumping it or charging it, make sure everything is OFF. door is shut, all lights are off, radio, AC/heater. everything. dont even push the brake pedal down (unless its stick LOL!!!)

anddd if it is stick, try popping the clutch as a last resort. turn the key into the on position... get it rolling about 10mph, put the shift in second gear and let out the clutch quickly, then push it in. it should start. if its clicking then it should have enough power to start that way. dont do it in traffic

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: SpiderX

Originally posted by: SoulAssassin

Originally posted by: SpiderX

Originally posted by: apex32

Originally posted by: Mermaidman
If the battery is old, you may have to replace it.

edit: Does the car start normally when you use the key? It's not clear in your OP

both of these would be helpful to know. Also who installed it?

Had it installed at Visions Electronics. A Western Canadian store.

What did they say when you called and complained? Because you did that before asking here, right?

On the phone with them at the moment. Trying to get a hold of a install tech.

Just got off the phone with the tech. He's pretty sure that it's the battery. I'm going to go out and double check the terminals to make sure they are tight. But otherwise I guess it looks like we need a new battery.

I asked if the remote starter could have drained the battery, he thought it was unlikely.
I just think it's odd that the battery would go a few days after getting this installed when we have had zero problems with it.

 

[AbsolutDealage]

Originally posted by: M2008S
if it is stick, try push starting as a last resort. turn the key into the on position... get it rolling about 3 mph, put the shift in first gear and let out the clutch quickly. it should start.

Fixed.

 

[hito]

If anything, did you try to clean the terminals of the battery? If it's dirty, the jump might not work. Just take a metal brush and clean it up to get the best contact possible. Also, you are leaving the jumper connection from the jumper car to your car while you're starting your vehicle right? Also, if your battery is around 4-5yrs old, i'd just change it to a new one anyhow, as it's about time.

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: hito
If anything, did you try to clean the terminals of the battery? If it's dirty, the jump might not work. Just take a metal brush and clean it up to get the best contact possible. Also, you are leaving the jumper connection from the jumper car to your car while you're starting your vehicle right? Also, if your battery is around 4-5yrs old, i'd just change it to a new one anyhow, as it's about time.

I just checked the terminals, they aren't that bad. Unfortunately I don't have a wire brush, will an SOS pad work?

I've jumped many a car..I've left the lights on too many times to count. Fortunately it was the GF driving and she swears the lights weren't on. (it was during the day) So I do know to leave them connected. She bought the car last year, so we're not sure of the battery age. It could be the original battery, so it would be time for a new one.

 

[Heisenberg]

Originally posted by: SpiderX
Just got off the phone with the tech. He's pretty sure that it's the battery. I'm going to go out and double check the terminals to make sure they are tight. But otherwise I guess it looks like we need a new battery.

I asked if the remote starter could have drained the battery, he thought it was unlikely.
I just think it's odd that the battery would go a few days after getting this installed when we have had zero problems with it.

Well of course he's going to say it's the battery. Before you buy a new one, have it load tested. Just about any auto parts store can do this, and it will tell you definitively if the battery is bad. There's just as much of a chance the installed messed something up as there is the battery just died.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Sounds like the battery was dying and held just enough charge to start the car after driving. No doubt, after the remote install and testing, and you guys testing the new remote start, the old battery couldn't handle the draw.

 

[SpiderX]

Originally posted by: Heisenberg

Originally posted by: SpiderX
Just got off the phone with the tech. He's pretty sure that it's the battery. I'm going to go out and double check the terminals to make sure they are tight. But otherwise I guess it looks like we need a new battery.

I asked if the remote starter could have drained the battery, he thought it was unlikely.
I just think it's odd that the battery would go a few days after getting this installed when we have had zero problems with it.

Well of course he's going to say it's the battery. Before you buy a new one, have it load tested. Just about any auto parts store can do this, and it will tell you definitively if the battery is bad. There's just as much of a chance the installed messed something up as there is the battery just died.

Well true, I guess I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt. hehe

 

[SoulAssassin]

I would try to jump it car->car again. The odds of it dying immediately after the install is questionable...imho it's more likely that they miswired something that's been slowly draining the battery. Happened to me years ago when getting an amp put it, they "forgot" to run the remote wire and the amp stayed on the whole time. Didn't drive for a couple days and it killed the battery.

 

[SoulAssassin]

Originally posted by: SpiderX
Well true, I guess I just like to give people the benefit of the doubt. hehe

Here in America we're much less trusting and more cynical.

 

[BoomerD]

SOMETIMES, coincidences really are just coincidental...but I'd be very suspicious of this one. Gotta wonder if they have accidentally grounded something that shouldn't have been, or dislodged something that SHOULD have been grounded. Way too many possiblile causes to troubleshoot over the intarweb...you need to get it back to their shop, and make them fix it...IF it really is a bad battery, then fine, a 4 yr. old battery COULD indeed be the culprit, but make sure before you drop $70 or so into a new one.

Edit...BTW, IF you use an SOS pad to clean the terminals, be sure to rinse all the soap out of it before you start. Not condusive to a good electrical connection. Personally, I always coat my battery terminals with a good quality electrical siliconecompound to enhance electrical connectivity, and reduce/eliminate any corrosion at the terminals.

 

[M2008S]

Originally posted by: AbsolutDealage

Originally posted by: M2008S
if it is stick, try push starting as a last resort. turn the key into the on position... get it rolling about 3 mph, put the shift in first gear and let out the clutch quickly. it should start.

Fixed.

ok ok ok yeah 3mph maybeee... but the reason why i said second gear is because its less slammy yerky.. and from my experiences with my dads car is wont shoot off when its started :/

 

[SpiderX]

[/quote]

SOMETIMES, coincidences really are just coincidental...but I'd be very suspicious of this one. Gotta wonder if they have accidentally grounded something that shouldn't have been, or dislodged something that SHOULD have been grounded. Way too many possiblile causes to troubleshoot over the intarweb...you need to get it back to their shop, and make them fix it...IF it really is a bad battery, then fine, a 4 yr. old battery COULD indeed be the culprit, but make sure before you drop $70 or so into a new one.

Edit...BTW, IF you use an SOS pad to clean the terminals, be sure to rinse all the soap out of it before you start. Not condusive to a good electrical connection. Personally, I always coat my battery terminals with a good quality electrical siliconecompound to enhance electrical connectivity, and reduce/eliminate any corrosion at the terminals.

[/quote]


I'm thinking that a new battery isn't a bad investment.

My only qualm is that I'll have to get it towed back to their shop. Which is probably a good chunk of change in this city. I just hope that the company will take on the tow charges if that happens, because I really don't feel like fighting them over it.

 

[GuitarDaddy]

Why do you need a tow to get a new battery?

1. Remove old battery
2. Catch a ride to autoparts store (get new battery)
3. Install new battery

 

[Paperdoc]

Three things ocur to me:

1. In one post you said that, with an external booster battery hooked up, the lights and dash come up but the starter still will not turn over the engine! Is that true? That would say there is a lousy connection somewhere, OR the booster battery itself is just about as bad as the one in the car! Or, less likely but still possible: the car battery is so bad it actually is shorting out inside and killing power even from the external booster. Test for this by disconnecting the car's battery and using ONLY the external one for a try.

2. I have seen a remote starter "cause" a dead battery in an odd way. You push the button and the car tries to start, but fails. So it tries again, fails again. And again .....
Eventually after all these tries the battery is drained and it is STILL trying! Of course, you're in the house and don't even know this is happening. All you know is, you get to the car and it is not running and won't turn over. The original problem here is hard-to-start engine, not battery.

3. Since you're in Western Canada, try this. In our city, Canadian Tire shops will charge and test a battery for you FREE if you bring it into the parts counter. A few times I have taken in the dead battery, asked them to charge for 6-10 hours, then gone back to have it tested (it cannot be tested when dead - must be charged first, anyway). In each case I was lucky and the battery was OK. I took it home, re-installed and no more trouble. Talk about the price is right!