MX-3.com

Okay, so my old battery was dead, the car hasn't been turned on in about 2 months and I didn't buy a new battery until today. I put it in the car and she won't crank up. When I put the key in the ACC position, headlights, interior lights, radio, etc. seems to be working, like normal. When I put the key in the ON position, everything gets dim and the usual beeping noise is slow and faint. When I actually crank it, it won't turn over. But I'm able to jump start her, no problem. Has anyone seen this before? Does anybody know what I would have to replace?

I think the alternator is the culprit, It starts squeeling when I turn certain things on, (i.e. Rear Defroster).

The alternator belt could be loose.. and that could effect how well the battery charges. But.. it wont have anything to do with initial start up. Check your battery cables and make sure they are tight and corrosion free. Maybe run a new ground cable from the battery negative terminal to one of the starter bolts that hold the starter to the engine block (I had to do this in my car to get a good ground). Check the positive cable from the fuse block to the starter.. mine had lots of corrosion and needed to be replaced.

Tunes67

Just checked it, Like most people who have MX-3's, mine is second hand. One of the previous owners of my car put a separate ground wire, which I forgot to reconnect to the negative battery terminal. Thnx for the suggestion, or I wouldn't have thought about that.

This is pretty obvious...but you don't seem to mention if you are letting the battery charge once you get it started. Especially in cold weather, it can take at least a few minutes of the car running (with an alternator in good condition) for the battery to get a decent charge.

Also, you can disconnect your battery once the car is running to see if the alternator keeps it going.

ya with a new battery and it barely cranks your dropping alot of voltage somewhere to your starter. most likely its your battery cables like tunes said. gotta get that juice to the starter haha. you can do tests on your bat cables if you have a DVOM(digital volt ohm meter) or just a voltmeter. check your voltage drops across if your mechanically inclined. good luck lots of smart people on this site.