Ok so for about 2 months I have been having a problem where the car would just die sometimes when I put it in neutral then about 2 weeks ago I got a CEL 67 (bad o2 sensor or cat?) and I started having to pop start my car (96 vtec) because it wouldn't start. I took it to oriellys and they tested the battery and alternator. They said that the battery was fine but that the alternator was probably bad (only putting about 50 amps). SO I replaced the alternator. Same exact problems. Car still wont start, dies in neutral (sometimes) and has a low and inconsistent idle. I am starting to think that I may also have a bad battery... any opinions or advice about how to go about handling this?

bumpity bump.. any thoughts?

doesnt sound like the battery because if the lights and everything work and it starts right up then that rules that out..simple with the battery put a volt meter on it

it doesn't start. I have to pop start it. I had the new alternator tested and they said that it was good. I'm going to take the battery to oriellys this morning and have it tested. I am fairly certain that it is bad because a lot of times when an alternator dies, it brings the battery with it.

If it's not starting then it is the battery. The alternator wouldn't matter in a situation where the car isn't starting The battery is losing juice when it's not being constantly charged by the alternator. I say dead cell in the battery. Then again, I'm pretty noob and could be 100% wrong

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sounds like u need to clean your throttle body, take off your intake and check your butterfly and the area around it, there should probably be carbon buildup. get some carb cleaner, spray it on a rag/cloth and just scrub it off. try that first, if not you probably got a vacuum leak somewhere.

well I took the battery to get it tested today. It tested good twice. so i charged it and then put it back in the car. STILL wont start. wtf this is really starting to annoy the **** out of me. could there be something wrong with ignition? The CEL I am getting couldn't possibly have anything to do with it not starting.... right? I mean how could a bad o2 sensor or a bad cat have anything to do with that? sigh................

could it be the starter? or the clutch start switch?

clutch start switch.... hmm I was unaware of that until now. where exactly is that on the car? yeah i guess it could be the starter too

you can try to tap the starter, that sometimes work for starters that are going out. that clutch switch should prolly be somewhere on your clutch pedal...all the way on the top under your dash, look for a little switch and see if you can push it while trying to start your car.

ok thanks everyone close thread. I realized it would "click" one time when I tried to start it. The starter was bad. I replaced it and it starts perfect, but by replacing the alternator I did eliminate most of the inconsistent idle, although, it idles at 600rpm (normal im pretty sure) but its kinda rough, like you can feel the engine vibrating kinda when your in the car. i wonder what that is? bad IACV? anyway i'll ask that question when I get to it or if I need to. thanks all.