stupid im sure, but please answer-- Battery and Starting question

[teh_mugen18]

My car has a supposedly dead/weak battery. Now what i was wondering is, if you have even a weak battery, when you turn the key to the ON position the dash lights (cel, and oil psi...) should at least glow a little bit right? Well, what makes this weird is the fact that on the other side of the dash, my seatbelt light, door light, and parking brake light show normally.

I just rebuilt my engine, should i be concerned at all about this lack of lights?:thinking:

[Init2winit]

I would look at the battery cables, and check all of your connections. Make sure all of your grounds are attached, and have a good surface to connect to.

[Sammich]

grounds...when u turn the key...do u get just a click?

[teh_mugen18]

grounds...when u turn the key...do u get just a click?

yeah.

[Init2winit]

grounds...when u turn the key...do u get just a click?Yeah, you can. A lot of times if you have corrosion or a bad connection, you'll have power untill you try to start the car. The amperage draw is minimal when the key is on the on position. The starter draws a lot of current, and with a bad connection, that current can't flow.

[teh_mugen18]

btw, where are the "groundS" located? Lol ive been all through the harness, and havent seen any

EDIT: i know about the main one off the neg. battery terminal, and i know about the one thats supposed to be on the motor valve cover....any others i should know about to check?

[Init2winit]

I still think you may have a ground off, or maybe a power wire going to something loose, or not attached.

[Sammich]

thats your ground man..make sure u have a good ground from teh engine to the body and the ground on your battery is good too...

also check your terminals...just get some new ones..only like $3-4/piece i believe

this is a common problem on hondas esp when an engine is swapped..

[Init2winit]

When did all of this start happening?

[teh_mugen18]

well, i didnt drive the car for several days since i was rebuilding the motor....then, i finally finished it last night, and went to turn the key to run the fuel pump and check for leaks, but i got nothing at all from the pump, all i got was the seatbelts moving back/forth and the thing beeping, and showing me my park brake was on..i got no lights from the oil lamp or the CEL... i think its my battery though.

[Sammich]

like i said redo all your grounds and battery terminals...jump the car and let it run..and i'm more than sure you will be fine

[teh_mugen18]

Now let me just make sure..

ALL grounds consists of..:

~main battery neg. terminal
~valve cover ground

correct? oh, and i dont want it to run yet either, because i havent checked the fuel system for leaks. i dont want it spraying gas all over when i start it...

[Sammich]

from my knowledge yes...the ground that was screwed up w/ my car was the one from the valve cover to the body...but i've had issues w/ the battery terminals..alot in my truck..so thats why i say...battery terminals...replace/tighten em both (i recommend new terminals period)

do u have a battery u can use temporarily?

[teh_mugen18]

nope, i wish i did have another battery.

But my car also, doesnt even have the ground from the VC at all. Came that way, and never had much problems before until the last month or so, and then i got a new starter as well cuz that went out completely just recently...

[Sammich]

get that ground..i'm 99.9% sure that will eliminate your problem..get a 8gauge wire and some nice copper ends

[teh_mugen18]

wow. lol, i never would've thought that would actually be "important" for the engine running. ill get right on that and keep yall posted:goodjob:

[Sammich]

yea...that was my issue. i got a nice size speaker wire and some nice ends and made sure i wouldnt have to worry about it no more

[teh_mugen18]

lol thanks a lot, i would rep u again but not sure if i can

EDIT: nope, sorry dood. must spread it around.:cheers:

[Sammich]

thats ok i already have aids lol

[scttydb411]

there's also a thermostat ground and a frame to transmission ground in addition to the 2 you've already mentioned.

have you checked the voltage of the battery with a volt meter to see if it's charged?

[teh_mugen18]

no, i know the batt is weak but i just found out for 100% sure it was the VC ground i was missing.

[Sammich]

DID U JUMP IT? OR REPLACE THE BATTERY..SOMETIMES JUST JUMPING THE BATTERY AND LETTING IT RUN ITLL BUILD BACK UP IN STRENGTH

[teh_mugen18]

just jumped it lol and put that VC ground on it too