Car wont start
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: May 2004
Posts: 260
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I walk back out 5 min later to write down all of the dash lights that come on as I move the key to on and when i bump it... this time it turns over... surprised the hell out of me! Gave the car and engine area a look over to make sure nothing was in the way of belts or anything, went back turned the key and car started right up and purred like a champ????
Now I just have to figure out what where and why so I dont get stranded again
Now I just have to figure out what where and why so I dont get stranded again
Last edited by LeddySS98; Jan 7, 2012 at 12:21 AM. Reason: wrong word
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TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 322
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From: Bentonville, AR
Check the wires in the clamp on your side post terminal. Mine did the same thing, starter wire was not making a good connection. I checked everything, swapped relays, etc for about 45 mins in the rain in the middle of a road, then last ditch effort wiggled the pos side wires at the terminal, cranked right up. Blew my mind but glad it was an easy fix.
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 812
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From: NJ
Drove to work this morning... 10 hrs later I get ready to drive home and the my car wont start. The dash lit up fine and it doesn't go dim when you try and crank it so it not loose terminals. Headlight, wipers, fan everything comes on. I pulled the starter fuse and when I turn the key it's getting power so the clutch sensor must be good still. The alarm system locks and unlocks the car *factory alarm* I had some guys push me, and it will not fire... Even if the starter just died out of the blue it should still fire from bump starting it right?
ideas?
ideas?
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 812
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From: NJ
the solenoid is mounted on the starter on gm's. i also believe that your starter is a permanent magnet, thus the old "tap" trick will do nothing more than break the magnet.
if you're getting the single click, you first need to check ALL of your connections. in particular, i've had issues in the past with the positive terminal on the gm sidepost batteries. take it off of the battery, and peel the red cover back. chances are good that you'll find a lot of corrosion in there. this has been the most common thing i find, next to bad starters.
i've rarely found bad grounds on gm's, but strongly recommend you check them anyway. if they're all good, it really sounds like you're looking at a starter.
if you're getting the single click, you first need to check ALL of your connections. in particular, i've had issues in the past with the positive terminal on the gm sidepost batteries. take it off of the battery, and peel the red cover back. chances are good that you'll find a lot of corrosion in there. this has been the most common thing i find, next to bad starters.
i've rarely found bad grounds on gm's, but strongly recommend you check them anyway. if they're all good, it really sounds like you're looking at a starter.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 322
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From: Bentonville, AR
If you are getting the single click, like I said--check your positive wires at the side post terminal! Mine were loose and I had the EXACT frustrating symptoms you are having. Got a good tight connection with a couple new terminals ($10) and my problem has been gone.
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 812
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From: NJ
i like the side terminal idea....but you're right. between corrosion, and them coming loose so easily, they can be a nightmare. especially on setups like cadillacs where they stack multiple terminal ends on the positive side.
TECH Apprentice
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 322
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From: Bentonville, AR
Actually what I did, is the "side post adapters", its like if you cut the post off of a regular top post battery, put a threaded stud in it, and screwed those into my side post terminals on the battery, then converted my -/+ harnesses to top post clamps, and wa-lah! no more issues.
TECH Resident
Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 812
Likes: 0
From: NJ
Actually what I did, is the "side post adapters", its like if you cut the post off of a regular top post battery, put a threaded stud in it, and screwed those into my side post terminals on the battery, then converted my -/+ harnesses to top post clamps, and wa-lah! no more issues.
i used to work doing radio installs for fleets, and we often needed to convert to those.
