My car doesn't start, acts like a bad battery but I dont think it is.

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Its done this before, but usually after a little fiddling it fixes itself. Here is the symptoms:

My viper alarm doesnt work, wont unlock doors, siren tries to go off, and just acts plain weird.
Lights are a little dim maybe, not too bad
Headlights and everything turn on and are bright.


Now when I turn the key to start it, it acts exactly like a dead battery. All the lights go out, the starter ticks(but motor doenst turn over), etc.


When I hook jumper cables to it my alarm works perfect, I can arm and un arm it. Lights are bright,etc, but when I turn the key its the same thing, acts like a dead battery but the car will BARELY turn over.

I took a multimeter to the battery and its 12.6 volts, or like 14 with the jumper cables to another car.....so I dont think its the battery. What could this be?

 

[mo_dingo]

If the battery has 12.6V, and jumper cables fix the battery voltage problem but not the starter problem, I would say the engine/main grounds are not connecting well. Re-do all the grounds and even add a new one. That should do it.

I believe that the starter grounds to the chassis, and if the motor ground is not good, current will not get to the battery ground terminal.

Not that I think this is the main problem, but how are the main connections to the battery? Cleaned them lately?
Scott

 

[Bosko5.0]

try cleaning terminals and make sure their tight same thing happened to me and one of my connectors was broken.

 

[HISSIN50]

If the battery has 12.6V, and jumper cables fix the battery voltage problem but not the starter problem, I would say the engine/main grounds are not connecting well. Re-do all the grounds and even add a new one. That should do it.

I believe that the starter grounds to the chassis, and if the motor ground is not good, current will not get to the battery ground terminal.

Not that I think this is the main problem, but how are the main connections to the battery? Cleaned them lately?
Scott

This was going to be my tact too.

You can use a jumper cable from the motor to the chassis as a test ground to see if it helps. Ditto for running a jumper in parallel with existing power cables. When the car acts normal, you know the paralled cable is deficient.

Good luck.

 

[BlueOvalStangGT]

Thanks guys! I cleaned the pos, neg and the two grounds near the battery (I have some sears brand terminal clamp things and the neg one was a little loose) and then it started right up! Also switched the wheels while I was at it! Thanks again!

 

[mo_dingo]

Not a problem. Glad it was a simple solution.
Scott