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loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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Shadetree mech
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Mar 5, 2007, 1:03 AM
Post #1 of 6
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loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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Would a loose spark plug lead me to believe that i have a Battery, alternator or starter problem?
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DanD
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Mar 5, 2007, 7:02 AM
Post #2 of 6
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Re: loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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Loose spark plugs will cause high resistance to current flow in the secondary ignition system; which will in turn require higher voltages for the spark to jump the air gap of the spark plug.
As for loose spark plugs affecting the battery, alternator or starter not directly but they will have to work harder. As in longer cranking for the starter, which will lower battery voltage and then cause the alternator to work harder to recharge the battery.
What are the vehicle’s symptoms?
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Shadetree mech
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Mar 5, 2007, 9:14 AM
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Re: loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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While driving all of a suuden I lost power coming to a stop. I started the car and hit the gas and got about another mile before it totally woundn't start anymore. All the warning lights came on. While waiting for a ride I of course tries it every few minutes..nothing. I was not there when the tow truck showed and they told me it started right up. While waiting I should mention that I did but a new battery for the vehicle at a nearby Napa. Still nothing.
I picked the vehicle up and drove it approx 20 miles to home and put it in the garage. Since then every time I tried it ...about once every two weeks, it started. I then moved about 3 miles away and the car drove to the new house fine. I parked it and havent been able to start it since. that was 5 months ago and it was in the garage at the apartment for about 6 months.
The reason I mentioned spark plugs is last night I noticed one a bit loose. I happened to put a charged battery in it form another car last night and it started right up. of course the battery in it was brand new and may have lost "juice" since it sat for so long.
Where should I start? I'm pretty inclined to change the alternator but the prospect of changing the starter makes me nervous.
Thanks for getting back to me so quick.
(This post was edited by Shadetree mech on Mar 5, 2007, 9:47 AM)
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DanD
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Mar 5, 2007, 1:46 PM
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Re: loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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Is the battery going dead while driving?
When the car won’t start; will it, if you boost, charge or replace the battery?
I guess what I’m asking is the times it won’t start is the engine cranking but not starting or is it not cranking?
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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Shadetree mech
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Mar 5, 2007, 1:55 PM
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Re: loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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It cranks hesitantly then starts. about 4 secs or so when it used to just start. With the new battery that is.
I switched batteries with another vehicle so that maybe the other vehicle will charge the battery.
Then I jumped the "bad" battery. Now as far as I can tell both batteries have life.
How long would it take for me to tell if the alternator is not giving the battery its return charge? If that is the problem.
Also, how do you know if the starter is on it's last leg.
forgive me for jumping all over the place, I'm just trying to sound somewhat intelligent about this
Sorry, to answer your question, yes, I guess the battery is going dead while driving. At least more than 3 or 4 miles. And no, the battery would not charge enough to start on its own while in the Mirage.
Also, when "bad" battery was in the Mirage it would do nothing when I tried starting it. Sometimes I got a faint light on the dash and most times nothing. No windshield or headlights.
(This post was edited by Shadetree mech on Mar 5, 2007, 2:00 PM)
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DanD
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Mar 5, 2007, 3:56 PM
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Re: loose plugs, engine sometimes starts 98 mirage
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Before anything, make sure that the battery is fully charged and load tested; that’s to determine whether the battery could accept and retain a charge. Most any repair facility can do this for you with their chargers and test equipment.
Then install the battery in the car; connect a voltmeter to the battery before you start the engine and take a reading; a fully charged battery should read anywhere from 12.5 to 13 plus volts.
Then start the engine making sure all accessories are off; raising the rpm of the engine to approximately 1500-rpm. Take another voltmeter reading. If the charging system is working the voltage should be somewhere between 13.5 and 15 volts but never above 15.5 volts.
You should always see an increase in voltage after the engine is running.
Why not above 15.5 volts, over charging a battery is just as bad as it not being charged is, both can and will damage a battery.
As for the starter circuit you can’t or I should say shouldn’t test a starter unless you have a good, fully charged battery.
Dan.
Canadian "EH"
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