Diagnose this problem...

[GhostWKD]

Car has power. Wont start on the starter just clicks, will start if bump started, but as it runs it runs down the power.

Mate has bought a alt for it but i think its the starter (hence not starting) and somehow the starter is also draining battery?

 

[Renegade_8]

Sounds like the alt. What does the voltage measure when the car is running should be 14.5. Is the alt warn light on? One test would be to trickle charge the battery overnight and see if starts OK.

 

[jug]

alternator or battery.

 

[GhostWKD]

new battery. starter still wont start the car

 

[Mal126]

Bad engine earth

 

[GhostWKD]

hmm will check earths. Also it does light up the alternator warning light, more so when revved iirc, occasionally lights up fully (flicker) also - usually on dim or slightly dim etc

 

[luvduvs]

Car has power. Wont start on the starter just clicks, will start if bump started, but as it runs it runs down the power.

My money is on the battery.

 

[Renegade_8]

Its the alternator, there are lots of rubbish recon ones out there so be prepared for the first one not to fix the problem. Did you measure the voltage?

 

[GhostWKD]

Mate has bought a new alt for it though wouldnt explain why on a new battery the starter wouldnt start the car

 

[Renegade_8]

Thats a a good point, unless the battery had discharged while in stock it should have started the car. The charge light on indictes that the alternator output voltage is below battery voltage, or there is a diode problem so changing it is a good idea.

 

[Mal126]

LUVDUVS How Much , my money is on bad earth on engine / dash, could be good this , depending on renegade i could (or you ) could earn a fortune, any bets anyone ?

 

[sludgeguts]

I had a similar problem many moons ago. Turned out to be the insulation in the starter motor had broken down.
As soon as you tried to turn the engine, the lack of insulation meant the battery wash discharging directly to earth/negative.
Bump starting was OK but the alternator was simply feeding all its power to earth via the dodgy starter (basically, all power from the alternator & battery was being used to warm the starter motor (as coils tend to get hot when a current runs through them).