97 SL2 wont start, even with jump

Discussion in 'Saturn S-series' started by BobRoberts, Sep 13, 2004.

  1. BobRoberts

    BobRoberts Guest

    For the last 2 months or so it's been taking longer and longer for the
    engine to turn over. I have to leave it in park for a little while for the
    engine to idle stedily. If I put it in reverse to soon it will stop. But
    now it wont start even with a jump. But with a jump the stereo plays and
    the fuel gauge works. Otherwise it just clicks. Please help!
    thanks!

    -Oh and I had a new alternator put in a year ago
     
    BobRoberts, Sep 13, 2004
    #1
  2. BobRoberts

    Napalm Heart Guest

    I'd check the battery and all connections (including grounds).
     
    Napalm Heart, Sep 13, 2004
    #2
  3. BobRoberts

    BobRoberts Guest

    cables and battery look good. If I keep the key half turned, wanit a
    minute, then try im it gets closer to starting. Now it just makes a buzz.
    But with a Jump it almost starts. HELP. Thanks!
     
    BobRoberts, Sep 14, 2004
    #3
  4. BobRoberts

    James1549 Guest

    Sounds like a bad shorted battery. Disconnect your car battery and use jumpers
    directly to the cables, eliminating your battery in the system. If it starts,
    do NOT disconnect the jumper until you turn off the engine.

    If it starts, go buy a new battery. If it don't start, look for a bad
    connection or defective starter/solenoid.

    James
     
    James1549, Sep 15, 2004
    #4
  5. BobRoberts

    Matt hotmail Guest

    sounds like a bad battery or alternator.
    if its getting power from a jump there is no bad connection.
    New alternator about $140
    Good luck,
    matt
     
    Matt hotmail, Sep 15, 2004
    #5
  6. When you have an electrical problem it is difficult to troubleshoot without
    a multimeter. With a meter you can start isolating things eliminating one
    thing after the other until you find then cause of the problem. A digital
    meter is very inexpensive these days (about $20) and it could save you
    hundreds of dollars in parts while you play the guessing game. A fully
    charged battery should measures about 12.8volts. So if you are having
    problem starting the car you can use the meter to measure the battery
    voltage before starting the car. If the voltage is lower then 12.8V then it
    could be the battery is too weak to turn the motor over. When the car is
    running the alternator is used to maintain the battery charged for the next
    time it is needed to start the car. You say you installed a new alternator a
    year ago but how do you know it is working today. To do a quick check you
    take your meter again and measure the voltage across the battery posts with
    the motor running and if the alternator is working you should measure
    approximately 13.5 volts or at least more then 12.8volts or what you
    measured in standby. If you measure less then the standby voltage then the
    alternator is not working (usually the regulator inside the alternator
    shorts out). If the battery and the alternator check good the next thing
    you check is the starter. When you turn the ignition switch you provide
    power to the starter relay (that is the little clicking sound you hear). The
    relay provides power to the solenoid which pushes the drive gear towards the
    motor's flywheel to turn the motor and at the same time closes the contacts
    inside the motor which provide power to the starter windings. If you hear
    just a click and the starter does not turn then it is possible the contacts
    are worn out and have to be changed. or the starter has to be replaced. When
    you are having problems in the future then you can be more specific by
    stating the measurements and results that you have made and then people can
    help you better. Right now you are not providing any meaningful information
    for anyone to help you diagnose the problem. Hope this helps.
    Alex
     
    Alex Marcuzzi, Sep 16, 2004
    #6
  7. BobRoberts

    Oppie Guest

    Just to clarify what James wrote -
    A car battery serves to limit temporary surges that can occur when an
    alternator goes from high load to low load. Without the battery in circuit,
    as in a disconnected battery and a jump start from a remote battery, if the
    cables are disconnected while the engine is running, there is no ballasting
    action. In this case the alternator can put out bursts of high voltage
    enough to fry all the vehicle electronics.

    In a similar case, a completely discharged battery has a high internal
    impedance and may not properly ballast the alternator until 5 minutes or so
    of charging. As a precaution, if the dome light is not even a glimmer, I
    leave the jumper cables on for 5 minutes before starting the engine just to
    make sure that the battery impedance has normalized. A battery with any
    decent amount of charge has a low impedance (which is good and allows a high
    current to flow in and out).

    _________________
    | Sounds like a bad shorted battery. Disconnect your car battery and use
    jumpers
    | directly to the cables, eliminating your battery in the system. If it
    starts,
    | do NOT disconnect the jumper until you turn off the engine.
    |
    | If it starts, go buy a new battery. If it don't start, look for a bad
    | connection or defective starter/solenoid.
    |
    | James
     
    Oppie, Sep 17, 2004
    #7
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