This will be a llitle long, but I would basically like some ideas of what to check.

I went to the store tonight, came out and tried to start the car. I got nothing. Sounded like a very weak click. I figured the starter is shot since I have plenty of power to run the headlights, stereo windows. I went and tried to push start the car and it got wierd. When I dropped the clutch the car would start, run for maybe 2 seconds and stall right out. Any ideas?

 

Probably the distributer...mine was doing the same thing. It would start, then die. Then wouldnt start at all. Check for spark. if there isnt any, then thats most likelt your problem

 

Thanks for the reply.

If the opti was dead, would the motor at least crank when I tried to start it?

It's not cranking at all just giving a click.

 

A few other thoughts:

If the alternator had died and drained the battery to a point where it would not start the car, would all the accessories still work?

Second, I noticed the security light flashes when i try to start the car. Cant remember if that is normal or not.

 

Check your battery cables, they might be corroded.

 

Checked the cables. They seemed ok, but I cleaned them any way. Still won't start. Any other ideas?

 

How many miles on the car?

There is a chance the ignition switch on the back of the column is bad. It's hard to tell from here but I've had it go out before.

I would get power and everything and I would turn the key and it would start but when I let off the key it would die. If you hold the key in the start position when you push start it and it dies as soon as you let off the key that might be the problem.

If the part of the switch that transfers power to run the engine is bad then it will start and die right out.

Anyway I've dealt with many a no-start situation and they just take a little patience and a lot of electrical testing plus some little wires to bypass relays, and systems that might be faulty. Good luck.

Ross

 

unplug a wire, put a spark plug in the wire, crank the car, while holding the end of the plug to a ground look for a spark. My car would crank, but would not fire. All my accesories worked. I had all my power. 9 tmes out of 10 its the opti.