[SOLVED] 98 hyundai Starting problem

Eremon1 · 05-26-2009, 05:46 PM

Hi all, I've posted here a bunch of times and now I've got a problem with an import. Its a 98 hyundai accent 5spd manual 1.5L. It's my gf's sister's car and the trouble is it won't start with out a boost but the battery was at 11.95v the first time i tested and after I boosted it, drove around the block then shut it off and tested it was 12.65v but still won't start on her own. Just the dead battery click sounds even though the battery seems to read ok. I did have to clead off significant battery corrosion from the terminals and the cable connectors aren't in the best shape but they are connecting now with same reading as it is direct from battery.

If I test it again while running, what reading on my VOM should I expect to see if the alternator is good? I want to say around 14v is a normal charge reading but I really can't seem to remember.

**manic** · 05-27-2009, 12:32 AM

Yes around 14volts. May be a bad alternator, or just a bad battery.
If the alt is putting out the proper volts, I would take that battery in
and have it load tested, most chain parts stores will do it for free.

Eremon1 · 05-27-2009, 05:09 PM

Ok I reboosted the car and tested while running by first placing the VOM leads on the battery terminals, battery read as 12.65v and then tested by placing the VOM leads on the battery cable connectors(not battery terminals) and got a reading of 14.56v no change if I reved the engine or with high beams on.

I had the battery load tested at NAPA and they said it was in need of a charge but wasn't bad.

So I'm confused, does this sound like an alternator problem? Any other testing ideas/procedures? I really don't want to replace anything if it doesn't need it.

russellclan · 05-27-2009, 10:44 PM

i would try a hammer test on the starter . its as it sounds . tap the starter with hammer,bar while trying to crank the engin. is there an alt light on dash ? is it on while car is running ? does car run with battery disconnected after its started ( risky test ) but it should let u know if the alternator is putting out . its been my exsperiance in general the alternator has not much to do with starting . but alot to do with running . may be wiggle test the wires at starter . sounds like bad starter or bad connetion to me. if the hammer test on starter works i would recomened new starter. good luck

Eremon1 · 05-27-2009, 10:46 PM

@ russellclan
What makes you think it's a starter when it starts just fine when being boosted?

russellclan · 05-27-2009, 11:42 PM

its amps u need to start ..not volts good luck

russellclan · 05-27-2009, 11:47 PM

a bad starter will draw alot more amps than that of a normal working starter , sometimes to the tune of 200 -300 more amps. a bad starter and week battery is a bad combination.

Eremon1 · 05-28-2009, 12:25 AM

but why would it start normal with a quick boost? would that be from the donor battery's amps from boosting car that assist it to start normally?

pat mcgroin · 05-28-2009, 08:30 AM

Im a bit confused by this line.
"Ok I reboosted the car and tested while running by first placing the VOM leads on the battery terminals, battery read as 12.65v and then tested by placing the VOM leads on the battery cable connectors(not battery terminals) and got a reading of 14.56v no change if I reved the engine or with high beams on"

With the car running and getting 14.56v at the cable connectors you should be getting the same at the terminals unless they are dirty.
You said that you had the battery out so I would think reconnecting it would have cleaned them somewhat but those 2 readings should be the same.
Try to clean and tighten the connections and see if that helps.

Eremon1 · 05-28-2009, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pat mcgroin

Im a bit confused by this line.
"Ok I reboosted the car and tested while running by first placing the VOM leads on the battery terminals, battery read as 12.65v and then tested by placing the VOM leads on the battery cable connectors(not battery terminals) and got a reading of 14.56v no change if I reved the engine or with high beams on"

With the car running and getting 14.56v at the cable connectors you should be getting the same at the terminals unless they are dirty.
You said that you had the battery out so I would think reconnecting it would have cleaned them somewhat but those 2 readings should be the same.
Try to clean and tighten the connections and see if that helps.

Oh, really? They were really corroded since the car was left to sit all winter with the battery connected. The positive lead is in ok shape, but the negative looks in rough shape. I did sand the battery terminals and the insides of the connectors on the cable clamps. I will see if I can replace the cable clamps and see if that helps. I'll get back to you all when I've tried that.

Eremon1 · 06-02-2009, 11:30 AM

Okay, the car is up and running again. pat was right about the readings. i should have been getting the same reading from both the cables and battery terminals and now I do. It was the negative cable clamp. I replaced it and let it run for a bit and now she starts on her again. Thanks pat mcgroin and everybody else that took the time to try and help!

PROBLEM SOLVED!!

05-26-2009, 05:46 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	[SOLVED] 98 hyundai Starting problem Hi all, I've posted here a bunch of times and now I've got a problem with an import. Its a 98 hyundai accent 5spd manual 1.5L. It's my gf's sister's car and the trouble is it won't start with out a boost but the battery was at 11.95v the first time i tested and after I boosted it, drove around the block then shut it off and tested it was 12.65v but still won't start on her own. Just the dead battery click sounds even though the battery seems to read ok. I did have to clead off significant battery corrosion from the terminals and the cable connectors aren't in the best shape but they are connecting now with same reading as it is direct from battery. If I test it again while running, what reading on my VOM should I expect to see if the alternator is good? I want to say around 14v is a normal charge reading but I really can't seem to remember. Last edited by Eremon1; 05-26-2009 at 05:55 PM.

05-27-2009, 12:32 AM	#2 (permalink)
manic Mod Hardware Team Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Florida Posts: 5,205 OS: xp	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem Yes around 14volts. May be a bad alternator, or just a bad battery. If the alt is putting out the proper volts, I would take that battery in and have it load tested, most chain parts stores will do it for free. __________________

05-27-2009, 05:09 PM	#3 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem Ok I reboosted the car and tested while running by first placing the VOM leads on the battery terminals, battery read as 12.65v and then tested by placing the VOM leads on the battery cable connectors(not battery terminals) and got a reading of 14.56v no change if I reved the engine or with high beams on. I had the battery load tested at NAPA and they said it was in need of a charge but wasn't bad. So I'm confused, does this sound like an alternator problem? Any other testing ideas/procedures? I really don't want to replace anything if it doesn't need it.

05-27-2009, 10:44 PM	#4 (permalink)
russellclan Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11 OS: windows xp	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem i would try a hammer test on the starter . its as it sounds . tap the starter with hammer,bar while trying to crank the engin. is there an alt light on dash ? is it on while car is running ? does car run with battery disconnected after its started ( risky test ) but it should let u know if the alternator is putting out . its been my exsperiance in general the alternator has not much to do with starting . but alot to do with running . may be wiggle test the wires at starter . sounds like bad starter or bad connetion to me. if the hammer test on starter works i would recomened new starter. good luck

05-27-2009, 10:46 PM	#5 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem @ russellclan What makes you think it's a starter when it starts just fine when being boosted?

05-27-2009, 11:42 PM	#6 (permalink)
russellclan Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11 OS: windows xp	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem its amps u need to start ..not volts good luck

05-27-2009, 11:47 PM	#7 (permalink)
russellclan Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Posts: 11 OS: windows xp	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem a bad starter will draw alot more amps than that of a normal working starter , sometimes to the tune of 200 -300 more amps. a bad starter and week battery is a bad combination.

05-28-2009, 12:25 AM	#8 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem but why would it start normal with a quick boost? would that be from the donor battery's amps from boosting car that assist it to start normally?

05-28-2009, 08:30 AM	#9 (permalink)
pat mcgroin Registered User Join Date: May 2009 Location: Toledo Oh. Posts: 495 OS: XP Professional SP2 Vista Ultimate SP2	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem Im a bit confused by this line. "Ok I reboosted the car and tested while running by first placing the VOM leads on the battery terminals, battery read as 12.65v and then tested by placing the VOM leads on the battery cable connectors(not battery terminals) and got a reading of 14.56v no change if I reved the engine or with high beams on" With the car running and getting 14.56v at the cable connectors you should be getting the same at the terminals unless they are dirty. You said that you had the battery out so I would think reconnecting it would have cleaned them somewhat but those 2 readings should be the same. Try to clean and tighten the connections and see if that helps.

06-02-2009, 11:30 AM	#11 (permalink)
Eremon1 Registered User Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Canada Posts: 188 OS: Windows XP Pro SP3, Windows 7 Build 6.1.7000 My System	Re: 98 hyundai Starting problem Okay, the car is up and running again. pat was right about the readings. i should have been getting the same reading from both the cables and battery terminals and now I do. It was the negative cable clamp. I replaced it and let it run for a bit and now she starts on her again. Thanks pat mcgroin and everybody else that took the time to try and help! PROBLEM SOLVED!!