Tagan

Hey there,

So I tried searching around for a similar problem and could not seem to find anything. Forgive me if I missed something though..

So on Thursday, I could tell something was probably wrong with my battery as it started taking longer to crank to start. Friday morning, car wouldn't start. There was a machine gun sound happening when I would turn the key, but it would not crank or anything. I jumped it to start it, and all seemed okay. I backed out of the driveway, and started to accelerate, and the machine gun sound happened again, and some white smoke came from the front of the car (Smelled a bit different than exhaust. Couldn't really tell you what it would be). So i backed into the driveway and turned it off.

I went to start it about 30 minutes later, and it started fine (with a bit of a delay when cranking). No machine gun sound, no smoke. I took it to Honda to replace the battery, thinking that was the only problem. They said battery failed test, so they replaced it and said the charging system checked out okay.

Two days later, battery was completely dead. No electronics or anything. Jumped it, and checked with a multimeter, and was at about 13.8V, so figurdd I just got a bad battery. I let the car sit a few minutes, then shut it off to see if I could crank it on without a jump. It took a couple seconds but cranked and started. I revved the engine to about 2500 RPM to try to charge it a bit, then the machine gun sound and white smoke started again. Backed off, it revved real low and did the machine gun thing for another second. So i turned it off.

Any idea what could be causing this? I'm worried to even drive it to an Acura dealership at this point.

Thanks for the help in advance.

Tagan

Sorry, 2006 TL, automatic, about 92K miles. Forgot to put that in post.

invalidalias

check all wires from under hood fuse box to battery then to starter. Starter is under battery attached to transmission. there is a little boot covering the bolt. Make sure there is no corrosion on any wires. Chances are something became loose. Also you may want to have you bluetooth check and or pull fuse or unplug it. Its in the overhead console where you put you sunglasses. Let me know what you find

Tagan

Thanks. I will check that. Any idea why it would do the machine gun sound and smoke a bit? Only happens after I have to jump the car since it won't start. Wasn't doing it at all the first or second day of battery replacement.

Bearcat94

White smoke usually means coolant.

invalidalias

There might be a fluid leak such as coolant, and coincidently both problems started at the same time. You may have a draw on the battery since the new one died after sitting a while. The machine gun sound may be the relay clicking cuz there is low amp/voltage.

Tagan

Little update: Removed the HFL and it still died overnight. The machine gun and white smoke is the belt slipping. Saw it last night. Smoke was coming from passenger side towards bottom of engine. Just going to have it towed to a local mechanical and have him check it out. Im not very car savvy and don't wanna drive it around and have it get f'ed up even more.

Thanks for the help!

Bearcat94

Fixed.

d5civic

iTrader: (2)

Let us know what they say

Tagan

They said alternator was bad (Thanks Honda for saying it was fine). Couldn't get it to smoke, but did say the machine gun sound was probably from starter solenoid opening and closing rapidly. If that happened while the car was already running, would that cause light smoking? Would an alternator going bad cause that? LIke i said, this problem only happened when I was having problems starting car and keeping battery charged overnight.

invalidalias

it all seems to make pretty good sense. Hope they replace the alternator, and belt

jisleyjr

The alternator could be getting bogged down (harder to turn) causing the belt to slip, and with too much slipping you get heat and a smoking belt. Usually you get a squeal though.

I am not sure how to describe the smell of a burning belt, maybe a burning tire?

With a dead battery and a fresh jump start the alternator is working it's butt off to charge the battery, which might have over worked it and killed it off.
This happened on my Lumina back in the day.