Let me start by saying that I know next to nothing about my car other than that its a 94 integra 4 door. Lately I have been having a problem starting the car. Whenever I try, I get a loud clicking noise. I replaced the battery, and it worked for a while and then stopped. My dad thought it was the starter at that point and replaced it. I started charging the battery and it would work. Now, it has ceased to start and will only make a loud single clicking noise whenever I try to start it. My dad says that it is "very hot", and that he thinks thats "why the sonofabitch" wont start. I dont know. Can any of you experienced car guys give me some help?

 

Sounds like a dead alternator to me. If the alternator won't charge the battery, the battery will die. A dead battery can't start a car. That's probably why it works when you charge it.

A near dead battery will engage the starter gear, that's what that loud click is... but won't turn over the engine.

Try turning on the lights with the car off. Are they reall dim? Probably.

 

this morning after charging the battery all night it would not start. My mom spoke to a mechanic on the phone and he said that he thought it was the key switch. Currently my car is at that mechanic. Does this sound right?

 

No, it doesn't sound like the key switch to me.

It is probably the alternator.

Given the age of the car, the alternator is probably dead.
Without a functioning alternator, the battery will run down and die.
A dead battery cannot start the engine.

Solution: Test the alternator and if it fails, replace it.

 

totally sounds like alternator to me.

Reason why I dont think its the key switch is because after you got a new battery it worked fine or awhile. So its not the key switch, it has to do with the battery and battery componants.

 

If it was ONLY the alternator, then why didn't it start after he charged the battery overnight? That suggests the battery doesn't hold a charge, or some connections are loose.

Loose big-cable connections can possibly cause all the troubles. This is true at both ends of all the big cables. Including the big ground from tranny to body. Or a bad alternator damaged the battery, and now has damaged the new battery too.

Charge the battery overnight, then turn on the headlights for 20 seconds to remove surface charge. Measure across the battery posts themselves with a meter, should be above 12v. Then turn on all the lights, fans, & stuff you can, don't start the engine. If it's still above 12v then your battery is OK.

If you can start it with jumper cables, measure the battery voltage with the engine running. It should be above 14v. If not your alternator isn't working. It should remain above 14v when you turn on all your lights & stuff.

 

Sorry to bug you guys, but this is really starting to piss me off. The mechanic at the garage is telling my mom that the starter is bad, and that we have to buy a new one to the tune of 250 - 300 dollars. I dont have that kind of money at the moment and I kind of get the feeling that the mechanic is just trying to rip me off, since the starter has already been replaced and the car is doing the same thing now that it was with the old starter. Could this mechanic be right, or is he just trying to make a quick buck off of a naive kid?

 

Tell us where you are and hopefully a nearby HAN member can help you out. Sounds like the mechanic is trying to rip you off with a new starter, then have you come back for a new alternator.

 

If you want to second-guess him, you need a voltmeter & do the checks I said. (Not that I can guarantee he'll listen to you...) You can also see if the battery voltage goes way down overnight when you DON'T charge it. If the battery is dying on you, that's not likely the starter's fault.

If you have the car back home, try this next time. When it doesn't start, rap on the starter with a broom handle or something. If that makes it work, then it's the starter. If that doesn't make it work it really doesn't prove it either way. (Did your dad get a new starter or a junkyard starter?)

 

junkyard starter, which i admit doesnt help my case much. and im in savannah, ga.