Drain??....problem

[tatback]

I'll try to explain this as best as I can. When I try to start my car sometimes nothing happens, it just clicks. If I do that about ten times in a row it'll start. I know it cant be the battery because its an optima yellow top. When I bought the car the guy said that he replaced the alternator. It looks like he also wired the stero's main positive battery feed in to the wire for the dome lights, but the stero goes off when I open the car door..What could be the problem?? It a 94 automatic

[bah]

Re: Drain??....problem

starter is bad

[tatback]

Re: Drain??....problem

But it starts fine sometimes....

if its still the starter how much can they run you and where can I get one?

[slow6]

Re: Drain??....problem

are you sure about the battery, have you jumped it?

[bah]

Re: Drain??....problem

trust me, you can think its other things all you want, its the starter, when they get a bad spot in the silenoid they do that, starters are about $100 installed usually, i think the starter itself is like $40 from napa or somewhere. and about the stereo going off that is retained accessory power, its supposed to be like that, your windows and stereo will work for up to 10 minutes after you shut your car off and dont open a door

[slow6]

Re: Drain??....problem

when my starter went bad it clicked. BUT, I also got another starter that clicked when it didnt get enough power(other people have told me this too)

[lvemy3100]

Re: Drain??....problem

..... I know it cant be the battery because its an optima yellow top. When I bought the car the guy said that he replaced the alternator......

dont take this the wrong way but just because its an optima doesnt mean jack... same goes for having the new alt...

1. optima batteries a much better than standard batteries... But I have personally seen 3 yellow tops go bad in less than 2 weeks from purchase.. 1 being right off the shelf defective.. like most high end batteries they all had warranties and were promptly replaced

2.the alternator is another thing that can very easily go out even if new.. it can also be off the shelf defective... this isnt to say that it wont work, just that it can be giving out power but not enough or too much... either one of these occurences will put unnesesary strain on the battery if its being underpowered then you can end up with not enough juice to operate engage the starter

3. most commonly when you hear that clicking and everything is known to be good (tested) then yes it is your starter selonoid and if that is bad then your starter will be next. new sarters come with selonoids so just buy the whole thing and not just a selonoid.. as with the battery and alt the atarter can also go out whenever it feels its had enough and can be off the shelf defective...

4. do yourself a favor and make sure to buy only LIFETIME warranty starters and alternator through a nation wide dealer.. and stick witht he optima yellow tops but buy them from a dealer that offers the longest warranty on them and not the cheapest place to buy them (unless they are the same place :) ) by doing these things you are giving yourself lots of insurance against putting yourself in a financial bind if any of these high dollar parts desides its had enough at a time when you and your wallet least expect it..


HTH

-mark

[tatback]

Re: Drain??....problem

I'm not going to take anything the wrong way, Thank you everyone for all your help. I will get that starter looked at asap.

[slow6]

Re: Drain??....problem

if you take it in to any autoparts store, they can put a 12v dc current on it and see if it works.
Most of these newer starters are marked by the manufacturer as "non-serviceable" which means you cant just replace the solenoid,
you have to get a whole new unit