Need help, not sure what to think... Options

[Overkill]

Ok, so here is the situation. I drove to a meeting today. 45 minute drive. I was a tad bit early, so I pulled into a gas station to let some time pass. I let the car run while I waited. I was there for maybe.... 8minutes. I backed out of the parking space, and drove to the meeting. After the meeting, I went back to the same gas station... and got a coke. I turned the engine off while I went inside. I came out, started the car, and moved over to the air pump while I was waiting on someone. I waited for maybe 10minutes while the car was not running. As the person I was waiting for passed, I tried to start the car and all I heard was tick, tick, tick, tick. I thought it could be the battery had died, so I popped the hood. I checked all the wires. No corrosion on the terminals. All the negatives were connected. No loose connections, and the alternator and spark plug wires look good. I waited about another 10 minutes, and decided to try to start the car again... and it started. I felt okay about the situation thinking that nothing major was going on. HOWEVER... as I was driving home on the freeway... my car died. I coasted past a state trooper, pulled over, and put her into park. I turned the key, she started right up. I drove home, backed into the drive way, turned her off, and restarted her.

The spark plugs & wires, cap, rotor, and oil are all new and installed correctly more than 3 months ago. There is nothing wrong with the battery it seems, and the starter would not make the car die while driving. I did recently have a loose alternator belt, but have since tightened it and she has been running fine. I am seriously confused, but would appreciate any help or advice you guys may have.

[Roadrash]

I think i would make good and sure it isn't something stupid like a faulty connection. shave your battery terminals and connectors. trace the lines back make sure there are no burns or splits in the sheath , corrosion, bent or broken wires. Then I would take my alternator in to a parts store and have them throw it on a tester. Make sure your belt isn't slipping on the alternator at all. If none of that helps , start the hunt for an ecu... preferably a buddy that will let you just use one for a few minutes to see if it fixes it?

Also, if you can get the car to be in "no start mode" pop the plug wire off your coil and make sure its sparking with a test light, and then again off the spark plug posts on the distributor. coil may be going bad?

[Jeebus]

I think i would make good and sure it isn't something stupid like a faulty connection. shave your battery terminals and connectors.

This was my problem when my engine wouldn't turn, and it just clicked (rapid 'click click click click click click') until I let go of the key. I thought the battery was bad, and the alternator, but it was just the connection. This occurred when my car was still uninsured a month ago, and I was constantly connecting/disconnecting my battery while I was installing my DRL. I was doing so because my battery was dying quite a bit since it was just sitting in my garage, me unable to drive it, and testing the lights constantly. I spent $8 on a terminal cleaner, and it worked again until my battery died, Haha. But at least I didn't have to spend the extra cash replacing an alternator that works fine.

Also, my battery terminals blew a little smoke when the engine didn't turn and when the terminals were dirty.



This post has been edited by Jeebus: Jan 19, 2014 - 4:59 AM