I just had the most bizarre experience jumpstarting my car today.
I have an aftermarket alarm installed and last night, for some reason, it turned my parking lights, tail lights, and instrument cluster lights on, no matter what i did with the light switch. This happens periodically and usually goes out after a while, so I thought nothing of it.
Lo and behold, in the morning, the battery is dead, kaput (1st time this has happened). No problem, I get my roommate to give me a jump. As soon as I made the last connection, alarm goes off as expected. I shut off alarm, put the key in the ignition, all lights come on, but then, when I try to start the car, nothing, everything goes dark. I try unhooking jumper cables and doing it again. Nothing. I check all the fuses and then just give up.
3 hours later, a friend comes by and I decide to try again. Alarm comes back on, lights come on, i crank... and hear rapid clicking noises but engine doesn't turn or catch. Smoke rises from the starter. burning smell rises from engine compartment. uh oh, smells expensive. I'm terrified and pissed that I nuked the starter somehow. I try a few more times for good measure, out of sheer peevishness. no luck. (maybe car needs some more rest)
In a fit of inspiration, I take out the battery and replace it with the one in my other car ('85 BMW 535). It starts right up. Words cannot describe the relief I feel. So I put the NSX battery in my Bimmer and drive it around to charge it up and then swap back.
I have no idea why I couldn't jumpstart the car, but I read a post about a similar problem to mine a few weeks ago, so I thought i'd share my experience.
I have an aftermarket alarm installed and last night, for some reason, it turned my parking lights, tail lights, and instrument cluster lights on, no matter what i did with the light switch. This happens periodically and usually goes out after a while, so I thought nothing of it.
Lo and behold, in the morning, the battery is dead, kaput (1st time this has happened). No problem, I get my roommate to give me a jump. As soon as I made the last connection, alarm goes off as expected. I shut off alarm, put the key in the ignition, all lights come on, but then, when I try to start the car, nothing, everything goes dark. I try unhooking jumper cables and doing it again. Nothing. I check all the fuses and then just give up.
3 hours later, a friend comes by and I decide to try again. Alarm comes back on, lights come on, i crank... and hear rapid clicking noises but engine doesn't turn or catch. Smoke rises from the starter. burning smell rises from engine compartment. uh oh, smells expensive. I'm terrified and pissed that I nuked the starter somehow. I try a few more times for good measure, out of sheer peevishness. no luck. (maybe car needs some more rest)
In a fit of inspiration, I take out the battery and replace it with the one in my other car ('85 BMW 535). It starts right up. Words cannot describe the relief I feel. So I put the NSX battery in my Bimmer and drive it around to charge it up and then swap back.
I have no idea why I couldn't jumpstart the car, but I read a post about a similar problem to mine a few weeks ago, so I thought i'd share my experience.
