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1992 Mercury Capri won't start
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ashown
New User
Dec 6, 2009, 10:54 AM
Post #1 of 2
(3319 views)
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1992 Mercury Capri won't start
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Hello everyone,
I have a 1992 Mercury Capri 4 cylinder that has around 90,000 miles. I purchased the car in 2007 (78,000 miles) from a family that had used the car for 15 years (single female user) with real great care. I never had huge issues with the car, besides one alternator belt and a few wheel related issues, but all minor issues.
Yesterday, I was trying to start my car and it wouldn't start, showing 'battery indicator' at low (usually, when I insert my key in the ignition, battery indicator goes to medium/high). Sometimes, I forget to turn off the head lights and drains the entire battery, which is usually followed by a successful jump start. So as usual, I decided to jump start the car. While doing that, Battery indicator went to 'High', but as soon as I tried to start the car, it made the cranking noise (which I have never experienced before, even with a jump start). My car never started! I checked the alternator belt and the starter, and they looked good. Since, I don't know when the old battery was purchased, I decided to check the battery first. I took it to Walmart and their free diagnostic was a 'faulty battery'. So, I purchased a new battery and installed it in my car. With a new battery, my car started on a first attempt; however, after stopping and trying to restart the car, my battery was low and wouldn't start it. There was approximately 5 mins of gap between first 'successful' and second 'failed' attempt. Now, what would cause a new battery to drain in 5 mins? Alternator probably? OK, but at this time there is some juice left in the battery (5 mins since the installation).
So, I called few mechanics and collected their insights about the issue. Most of them asked me to bring the car to their shops, but also suggested to try to jump start the car. While jump starting, same old story, battery indicator shows a high charge on the indicator, but as soon as I try to start the car, same cranking noise. Although after 6-7 attempts, I was able to jump start the car and ran it for 10 mins, hoping it would charge a battery. Then I stopped my car and tried to restart it, battery was completely dead. The battery indicator was at extreme low. This time gap between two start attempt was barely a second/mili-second. Again, what would cause a new battery to drain in a fraction of a second? This time battery has no juice left, absolutely nothing.
Neither 'Check Engine' nor red battery light was on while car was running. At each cam rotation, if the spark plug ignites for the fuel combustion and uses a power from the battery, then while I was running my car for 10 mins, engine, spark-plug and thus battery was working. What might have caused during stopping and restarting the car, which led to the complete battery discharge? If alternator is malfunctioning, wouldn't it take more than a second to discharge the battery?
Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks in advance for your kind cooperation.
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steve01832
Veteran
Dec 6, 2009, 11:03 AM
Post #2 of 2
(3315 views)
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Re: 1992 Mercury Capri won't start
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First of all, if the battery has a low charge, any load test will instruct to replace battery. Instead of trying to jump start, put a battery charger on it, 10 amp charge for about an hour. Then, start the vehicle, remove the charger and put a voltmeter across the positive and negative terminals. The battery voltage should be around 14.2 volts at idle. Turn on the blower motor to high, rear defog if equipped, high beams, windshield wipers, and recheck the reading. If the battery voltage drops off, increase the rpm to 2000. The battery voltage should be no lower than 14.4 volts and no higher than 14.8 volts. Perform this test and please post back the results.
Steve
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