Hey I need some help with my car, I need to go out of town in a week or two and this car started acting up as soon as I try to tune it up a little. I've been driving with my check engine light on for about two weeks. I went and got the code pulled and came back as catalytic converter or something. The guy at autozone said maybe my cat is "backed up" and to take it to a muffler shop. Well I went and washed out the engine yesterday (only misting it). Everything was fine until I went to work that night. I noticed that when I was braking that my brake light and battery light were coming on at the same time. I thought maybe it was a fuse or bulb going out, because I didnt notice any changes in the way my car was driving.

Then I got out of work the next morning I gave my friend a ride home, and the brake and battery light were still on, but the car started up fine. As we are driving I put my signal light on and the radio dies out, and starts again. So i'm like ****, maybe there is a cut in a wire somewhere. I get out and look under my hood thinking maybe a wire is loose. And I restart the car and nothing, just clicking of the starter. So I get a jump and drive home, I charge the battery and same thing, it will turn on, only once and then just clicking. I took the alternator to two different places and they said its perfectly fine, and I also switched batteries.

does anyone have any suggestions as to why It wont hold a charge or turn on. everything was fine until, i decided to wash my engine. Thanks

 

Its and 2002 oz lancer with 108,000 miles

 

First off, I do not rec. washing or steaming a motor.
It will almost defiantly mess stuff up, at least for a few days until it dries out.

As for your car not running right.
Check and see if your fuse on your battery terminal is good or blown.

If it's good;

1: Check your voltage with the car off, should be around 12.2 DC.
2: Check your voltage with the car running, should be 14.7 DC.
Let us know what you find.

My guess is though, you have a blown fuse at the battery on your positive cable.

 

^ do that and the terminals on your battery cables also sand them or buy a battery cleaning kit from autozone to get them down to the metal and have a better contact. but what he said will probably work.

 

haha thanks mci you were right. Funny thing is that, I also noticed that about the fuse the other day, but I didn't think that would be it cuz the car was still starting and my dad almost had me convinced to buy a alternator, because he thought it wasn't charging also. Good thing we both waited on that decision.

 

Good to hear.
That fuse is what protects your battery from your starter putting to many amps to it.

If you're having any trouble figuring out how to go about fixing it;
I'd either go to a car audio store and buy a 100amp fuse/holder and a foot of 6 gauge wire and a good battery terminal and cut the old fuse/terminal out and install the new or order the stuff off ebay if you have time.

But your car will not charge the battery, as you know, with this fuse being blown.

And your dad is right that sometimes alternators and starters can bench test good but not be.
I've seen a few in my days.

Let us know if you've got anymore troubles or questions.