2000 dodge neon power issue

Good day, ladies and gents,

my fiance' has a 2000 dodge neon and has given us quite a unique
problem today. I took her car to work and after my day was done, I
hopped in and the car wouldn't start. Thankfully, a guy who works in my
building suggested we jumper cable the car battery and that got the car
started and I made it back home. However, after about 3 hours of
non-use, I tried starting the car again and it kinda struggled to
start. It also _almost_ didn't start is what I should say.

What happened the first time:
When I got in the car, I could here the starter ticking, but the car
didn't start at all. I thought it might have been the battery, so I
turned on my headlights to check if they were dimming and they did not.

If I have to check the battery, is there a universal method of checking
something like the water level?

If it's the alternator, would the starter still be trying to click
over?

Thank you all for any help with me on this!

If the terminals are clean and tight and there is nothing left on inside
the vehicle and this is possibly the original battery replace it.

If you had a charging problem you would have mentioned the check engine
lite that would have been on.

You load tested the battery by turning on the lites and they were dim

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech

"damnnickname" > wrote

> You load tested the battery by turning on the lites and they were dim
>
> Glenn Beasley

OOps! You misread that bit! <g> Here it is, again:

>> I thought it might have been the battery, so I
>> turned on my headlights to check if they were dimming and they did not.

I have seen a battery check OK with that quick load test, and still be bad.

Original starter?? If so, it may be time for a new one. First, is cable
from battery to the starter OK ? Also, try tapping on the starter while
someone is turning the key.

Did it sound really good, when it was jumped off, or was the cranking speed
still kind of slow?

I guess if it was me, and an original battery, I would still be having
someone (auto parts store?) check it first, before I got the starter.
--
Jim in NC

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Good day, ladies and gents,
>
> my fiance' has a 2000 dodge neon and has given us quite a unique
> problem today. I took her car to work and after my day was done, I
> hopped in and the car wouldn't start. Thankfully, a guy who works in my
> building suggested we jumper cable the car battery and that got the car
> started and I made it back home. However, after about 3 hours of
> non-use, I tried starting the car again and it kinda struggled to
> start. It also _almost_ didn't start is what I should say.
>
> What happened the first time:
> When I got in the car, I could here the starter ticking, but the car
> didn't start at all. I thought it might have been the battery, so I
> turned on my headlights to check if they were dimming and they did not.

Ok when you say they didnt dim, I could take that as they never came on or
they were on and didnt loose any brightness.

If the Lites stayed bright while you were cranking you would have to check
the starter solonoid and battery feed to the starter.

If the lites did loose brightness when cranking start with checking the
cables to battery for a good connection
>
> If I have to check the battery, is there a universal method of checking
> something like the water level?
>
> If it's the alternator, would the starter still be trying to click
> over?

If it is an alternator or charging problem the check engine lite would have
turned on and set a code
>
> Thank you all for any help with me on this!
>

wrote:
> I thought it might have been the battery, so I
> turned on my headlights to check if they were dimming and they did not.

Did you have someone try to start the car while you watched the
headlights. Usually they would dim while trying to start if the battery
were low.

Use a volt meter to test the charging system. Measure the battery with
engine not running. Should measure 12vdc. Start the engine (jump if
you have to) then measure again. Should read about 14vdc. If it still
reads 12 or lower then the charge system is not doing its job.

> wrote >
> Thank you all for the responses.
>
> Yes, the light was bright and when it started with a jumper, it didn't
> even struggle at all, it started right up. Sounded really good, as if
> nothing was wrong.
>
> Well, tonight, I borrowed a car (chrylser concord) and tried to jump
> the neon because it hasn't started all day. Now, when I hook it up to
> the concord, the car doesn't even light up the LCD's or anything, it's
> as if it's completely dead.

I don't remember if you ever said how old the battery is. Well?

Take the battery out, and take it to an auto parts place, if you can not get
the car running. They can check to see if it will take a charge, and test
how well it will pull a large load. My money is on a shorted battery, due
to age.

If the car can get to the auto parts place, most can tell you if the
charging system is working correctly. Auto Zone is usually a good one.
--
Jim in NC

> wrote in message
oups.com...
> Good day, ladies and gents,
>
> my fiance' has a 2000 dodge neon and has given us quite a unique
> problem today. I took her car to work and after my day was done, I
> hopped in and the car wouldn't start. Thankfully, a guy who works in my
> building suggested we jumper cable the car battery and that got the car
> started and I made it back home. However, after about 3 hours of
> non-use, I tried starting the car again and it kinda struggled to
> start. It also _almost_ didn't start is what I should say.
>
> What happened the first time:
> When I got in the car, I could here the starter ticking, but the car
> didn't start at all. I thought it might have been the battery, so I
> turned on my headlights to check if they were dimming and they did not.
>
> If I have to check the battery, is there a universal method of checking
> something like the water level?
>
> If it's the alternator, would the starter still be trying to click
> over?
>
> Thank you all for any help with me on this!
>

you keep going on and on about what is going on but not one time have you
taken the terminals off the battery to clean them.
That's where you need to start.

Glenn Beasley
Chrysler Tech