My car wont start

Techun · 08-20-2007, 01:17 AM

So here's the situation-

My 98 sc2 ran fine for a 1600mile road trip and now, a week later, it has no power.

The dome light wont come on, no dash lights etc. The battery is putting out 12-13volts, we just charged it thinking that was the problem.

The battery is brand new, and there's no problem with the connections.

I got it to try to start once tonight. When I went I unplugged the charger. The dome light worked, everything worked. I thought it was the battery. I went to start the car and it tried 5 times then everything shut off. Now there's not even the faintest glow from the dome light.

**Ssicarman** · 08-20-2007, 04:09 AM

Is there still battery voltage when you don't have power? Have you checked the battery cables for corrosion, Ground cables for corrision? have you tired boosting the car with another car?

Techun · 08-20-2007, 04:21 AM

yeah i have 13v and my dome light wont go on

Cables appeared good, battery connections appeared good. The battery is like 5 months old max.

I cant jump the cap yet since there's basically nothing to clip the alligator clips onto..how do i fix that? There's no exposed metal to clip onto, it's like inside of the red surrounding thing of the positive wire. I could barely fit the tiny alligator clips in the to charge it.

nutjob · 08-20-2007, 02:16 PM

Your cables 'appearing' good may be stabbing you in the back if you didn't heed the suggestion to check for corrosion requiring removal of both cables from the side terminal battery. Its a little known fact that some AC-Delco batteries failed cracking the positive side post leaking battery acid out into the cable destroying the wire strands underneath the heavy insulation without any external indication. The old battery may have damaged the cables. Removing the cables off the battery and peeling back the insulation will reveal the extent of damage if this is the case. The other ends are bolted to the starter solenoid terminal and frame ground. For some reason the design of the side terminals leaves much to be desired as there is little surface area for the large amount of current necessary for the starter demands. The hint of poor cable connections is the fact that you know the battery is new, has 13 volts, but almost no dome light. Battery/electrical systems depend on corrosion-free electrical connections and the side terminal cables tend to mask corrosion better than the top post types. Be sure to remove the battery cables, the black/negative cable 1st then the red/positive cable, and peel back or slice open the insulation lengthwise to examine the wires under the insulation. Replace one or both if in doubt.

Joeybagodonuts · 08-20-2007, 09:21 PM

Also my thoughts could be check the ignition switch itself, common part to break on Saturn's everything can work normal, you can have good voltage hit the key and nothing. Also check to see if your getting power to the starter. Keep us posted Mel

Techun · 08-21-2007, 04:39 AM

well i was in the car and my friend was pushing it out of the driveway to get towed, and my stereo came on, so i quick fired it up

ran fine to the garage and started once again when i got there.

It's being inspected, and they're checking it out

Techun · 08-21-2007, 04:40 PM

it was a bad, corroded battery cable

you guys win

There's no chance that, since that's fixed, my speakers will stop this annoying whine when my subs are hooked up?

**Ssicarman** · 08-22-2007, 02:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Techun

it was a bad, corroded battery cable

you guys win

There's no chance that, since that's fixed, my speakers will stop this annoying whine when my subs are hooked up?

Winning every now and then feels nice.

Chances are (more than a good chance) that with your cable fixed if you still have the noise then you need to go digging. Better ground??? Alternator???

97dbsl2 · 08-22-2007, 04:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ssicarman

Winning every now and then feels nice.

Chances are (more than a good chance) that with your cable fixed if you still have the noise then you need to go digging. Better ground??? Alternator???

You will have to get one of these...