Battery, starter or ???

[greensho]

I had a strange thing happen to my '93 ATX couple of weeks ago I can't quite understand.

All of a sudden I couldn't get my car started. It acted like if the battery was almost dead. When I tried to jump it the first time, it would hardly crank but still wouldn't start. When I tried with a different jump car, it started right up.

Now, I haven't had time to take it into the shop but since that time, I've had no problems. It's like if it never happened. This tells me that it probably isn't the battery or charging system. The starter is less than 6 months old so what can it be? I just don't want to get stuck somewhere again.

 

[fricker66]

Best advice I can give you is to stop by a local auto parts store (Autozone, PepBoys) and have them test your car for any problems. Typically no charge for them to test your battery and alternator. From my experience, when the starter goes out, it goes out and you'll know it...

If you don't want to get stranded, get some tests done on your car. If nothing comes out of the tests, it sounds like an electrical connection problem to me. Be sure to check all of the battery connections.

<small>[ October 07, 2002, 03:24 PM: Message edited by: fricker66 ]</small>

 

[smcallis]

To elaborate on Ficker66's loose connection statement...Loose (or bad) connections will give you bizarre start/no start problems. It took me a long time to find a loose battery terminal connection that was giving me intermittant troubles. The connection at the starter is also notorious. Your problem sounds very suspicious of being a loose connection.

Some cars can't jump others. My wife's mazda 323 didn't put out enough umph to jump my sho. If your connections are all ok then I'd get it tested as Fricker66 recommends.

 

[ACOK]

Do a self-test of your code and see if CID is OK, and/or open it to see if the cam seal there leaking oil and malfunction the CID. I had that same problem plus hard start when stopped hot and tried to start again. And all because of CID failure of much engine oil there.

 

[projectSHO89]

CID sensor won't cause a cranking problem. No spark, maybe or hard to fire, yes.

Definately a problem with the battery, cables, or starter.

My bet would be the cables or connections between the battery and the block or the starter. Check for corroded cable bodies, too.

Steve