Need help with car electrical work

[Envitro99]

My MR-2 is now dead, but it's an electrical problem of some kind.

I need an experienced and knowledgable car electrical specialist to help me out.

Does anyone know of someone? please help!

[n1zm0]

how about try and post the problems as detailed as possible and what systems have hte problem, or is your car completely out of power, theres always a point A and B for electrical systems, just a matter of going down the line to see where the open cct happened or which component is unserviceable.

[Envitro99]

I have a sneaking suspicion that it's my Compustar alarm/starter that has gone haywire. Now it won't even let me start the car.

What was happening:
- car batteries kept dying, as in not be able to recharge at all when it does. I put it on three different chargers and it wouldn't recharge.
Took it in to get tested = Dead.

Got replacement batteries 3 times.

I disconnected all auxilliary electronics now, so no GPS, no touchscreen or computer, or amp. Only the alarm/starter is now hooked up.

So I hook up the brand new battery, disarm the alarm system, go to start my MR-2 and when I turned the key it's almost like it tried to turn over but it seems like it was the anti-theft circuit on the alarm cut the engine.

So after that, the alarm wouldn't respond to the remote control commands at all.

That's where I sit now, dead in the water.

Any ideas would be great. Thanks.

[sjaswal]

starter problem?, seized something on the drive belt?
take off drive belt (fanbelt) and try to start.

loose connection, check where the cables go from the battery.

most likely the only thing the alarm will do is break the starter solenoid wire, so if the motor crank (turns or trys to turn), the alarm isn't the issue.

measure battery voltage, maybe there's a huge short somewhere (starter)

[revelations]

when you have no idea, start with easiest

- CHECK FUSES and FUSIBLE LINKS FIRST

[Envitro99]

Yup, all fuses have been checked already, and so have the connections. All that is fine.

And to be clear, the engine never actually tried to turn over, I just heard a click when I turn the key like it was going to go but something stopped it, so that is why I suspect this issue to be with the alarm system.

Anyway, if someone has an electrical guy, that'd be great.
I have a few other issues that I'd need him to look at too so if you know of anyone it'd be appreciated.
Thanks.

[thinmyster]

check all your grounds

[n1zm0]

Originally posted by Envitro99
And to be clear, the engine never actually tried to turn over, I just heard a click when I turn the key like it was going to go but something stopped it, so that is why I suspect this issue to be with the alarm system.

or there isnt enough current to turn the bendix gear, just enough to make the solenoid pop out, have you tried to see if boosting the car works? if it does start then it you know it's a power supply problem. check the condition of the cable from pos terminal to starter to see if there are any nicks/cut insulation. then after that as said above check for corrosion/condition of grounding points for the systems in question.

if your alarm system seems to be the issue, can't you just eliminate its access to power and let the car's electrical system run as it would from factory? or does this have some sort of starter kill put in series?

[Envitro99]

Not sure n1zmo.

I haven't tried boosting it due to it's inaccesibility in my garage, but I can try that at some point.

I haven't tried to bypass the alarm since I don't know much about how it was wired in and what kind of starter kill it has. I believe it does have one though.

That's what I need help with.

[97luder]

it could be something in your "alarm " if you have a vehicle immobilizer system in it , it could allow the car to turn over but not start, not saying this is your problem but i do you know that the VIS will allow it to turn over but not start

[sillysod]

I would strongly recommend taking it to Alberta Auto Electric.

It looks like a total dump, but Sam - the owner - is absolutely amazing.

Guaranteed easy fix for him. He will probably find the problem in under 5 minutes.

[Sil80_D]

Originally posted by thinmyster
check all your grounds

DO THIS.

I had the same sort of problem last season and i overlooked my grounds and did a lot of useless shit trying to get my car to start where all that would happen is a click when i turn the ignition.

I finally went back to check my grounding cable and it was loose and not grounded properly. attached it to the chassis and boom, fired right up.