93 ATX Won't start

[air12290]

New Battery, and new alternator.. when I turn the key, the entire car goes dead. If I take the positive cable off the battery, and wait 20 seconds.. and put it back on, I get all of the lights and buzzers back.. until I turn the key again.

I have checked all of the fuses under the dash and in the engine compartment by the drivers side firewall. Am I missing something? or do you suspect their is something in the steering column. The key cylinder is pretty loose..
thanks, Dave

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

Have you tried jumping the car?

I am not 100% sure this is your problem...but here goes a similar case.

My '93 ATX has done the exact same thing (alternator tests fine, new battery) get inside lights and everything...hit the key...lights go off and nothing happens. I wait 15 min or so...open the door again..lights are back..and car acts likes nothing is wrong...

Finally, when it did this to me, I hooked up the jumper cables from my truck and thought..you want to act like you got no juice, thats fine...revved the truck to about 3 grand (had g/f do it) jumped in the SHO...barely hit the key...VROOOOOOOOOM! Sucker kicked over liked it was just waiting to run.

After reading all that, I believed I have narrowed down the problem on mine. Its the starter. Once in a while it hits a bad tooth/spot and does that and when I hook up the jumper cables it gives the starter enough juice to over come whatever is holding it up. Other times it will start fine...

Another idea, the next time it does it...get a hammer/tire iron and tap the starter...then see if the car starts...this also worked for me...

 

[air12290]

thanks.. I will try jumping it.. even though the battery is brand new.. I mean 3 days old..

I am suspecting starter.. or ICM

 

[JTSHO]

do you mean when you turn the key to the "start" position or just to accessory pos.? if its when you turn the key to start position i would say youve either got a faulty battery due to when you hit start position youre draining whats left of good charge or could very possibly be a short in the starter wire grounding out and killing everything. i think i would try jumping it off as ninetyfosho said after i made sure you werent grounding your starter wire out.

 

[NoLimit]

My '93 did this, I found out it was the battery cable. Make sure you scrape the inside of the end of the cable so it gets a good connection to the battery terminal.

 

[air12290]

I finally warmed up enough for me to try the jump.. and it worked..

Where is the starter?

can you tell I have not had much experience with auto repair? I am
learning quickly though.. I bought the Chilton.. but unclear where it is..

thanks
Dave

 

[JTSHO]

i would say you got a bad battery and or altenator from what your saying...drive it to the nearest auto parts store and have them check both. i wouldnt call the starter the culprit yet...

 

[HighSpeed]

I finally warmed up enough for me to try the jump.. and it worked..

Where is the starter?

can you tell I have not had much experience with auto repair? I am
learning quickly though.. I bought the Chilton.. but unclear where it is..

thanks
Dave

Its behind the oil filter. You can also follow the battery cables that goes under the engine. Good Luck!

 

[air12290]

thanks to all..

I jumped it.. and it started.. shut it off.. had to jump it again..

but now.. it is starting normal..

 

[NiNeTy Fo SHO]

i would say you got a bad battery and or altenator from what your saying...drive it to the nearest auto parts store and have them check both. i wouldnt call the starter the culprit yet...

Yes I would make sure you do this first...as I posted above, I had the alternator tested and a new battery and it was still not starting sometimes.

*update* Just replaced the starter 2 days ago...and now it starts everytime without a hitch...cost for me...$0