Strange starting problem

Hello all,

I own a 95 Saturn SC2 and I've recently noticed a problem. When I
start the car it will sometimes appear that the battery is dead and
the starter will turn over very slowly. Usually, if i let it crank
very slowly for a few seconds it will eventually start. Other times it
will start up just fine; no noticeable problems.

It's obvious that the battery has no charge (and I did have to jump it
once) during the slow starting cycles. I can't find a pattern to it.
For instance.. It will have problems starting in the morning when I
leave for work and start fine that afternoon when I leave the office
to head home. Sometimes it's just the opposite.

I've cleaned the battery contacts, made sure everything seemed tight,
etc. The alternator is less than 3 years old (the previous alternator
died of bad bearings) and the Saturn dealership replaced the battery
with a new AC Delco battery at the same time. Once the car is running
I don't notice a problem with dim lights or anything else suspicious.

I don't want to buy a new battery if there's no need to and I don't
see how it could be a bad battery if it's only happening every third
or fourth start. I also don't want to dump tons of money into finding
out what is wrong with the electrical system. Any suggestions or
experience in similar problems would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Geoffeg

 

I had a 93 SL1, and I had a very similar problem, the car would have a hard
time starting sometimes, but other times there was no problem at all. It
was the battery ground, where it connects to the body. Since I work at a
shop that sells car audio, I just ran a new piece of 8 gauge ground cable to
a another bolt on the body, and never had the problem after that.

Hope it helps!

 

Check the battery cable connectors. Remove them and use a wire brush to
clean them up also cleaning up the battery post as well. While you are
looking at the connector, make sure the wire itself is not corroded inside
the insulation where it connects to the connector. If all connections look
good at the battery, check the terminals at the starter and on the engine
ground. They also may need to be removed and wire brushed to make good
contact.

Once you have validated all connections are clean and make good contact,
then you can eliminate this as being the source of your problem (10:1 this
is the reason you are having trouble).

Good luck.

Bob

 

Bob,
Where does one find the starter terminals? Under the hood or under the car?

Frank
1997 SC2 123k KM

 

I'm not exactly sure on your vehicle. Follow the thick cable from the
battery to alternator to starter. There will be another cable for the
solenoid as well. Make sure you disconnect the battery before you try to
remove these cables so you don't cause a high amperage short.

Good luck!

Bob