Starting / Battery Questions (1999)
quickk
08-04-2006, 04:21 PM
Buick Century 1999
Having problems every so often starting the car, it will go kinda crazy when you try to start the car, you hear a loud "CLICK" and then all the dash lights flicker on/off and you hear some clicks and stuff.
Recently changed the starter, which made the problem go away for a few months. But now its back. Seems to happen more on a cold start then warm or hot.
Battery on this thing is old, had it since i bought the car in 2002/2003 was not new when i got it either. Some "Continental Brand". I have tested it with a voltage meter, gives me always good numbers like 12.40V when the car is off, and like 14V when running. Have got other places like Autozone to test is a few times as well and tell me its fine. Still, though I think it might be the problem.
Couple of days ago took me a couple of times to start it and so cheked the battery contacts to clean them, the negative one was so corroded i cleaded it off along with ground with some sand paper and stuff.
Couldn't get it to start this morning, took me a while, and once i got it started it died right away, tried again this time giving it lots of gas it stayed on till it hit idle and started to almost die again and then eventually stayed running without any problems.
I just spent a hour or so cleaning all the terminals again.
But if it was a fuel system problem why was it dying and power flickering and the starter not even turning. I would imagine if it was a fuel problem i should at least hear the starter going and the engine just not turning over. I have replaced the fuel pump on this car about 2 years ago. Fuel filter was changed then so its been a few years.
Anyone have some suggestions?
Having problems every so often starting the car, it will go kinda crazy when you try to start the car, you hear a loud "CLICK" and then all the dash lights flicker on/off and you hear some clicks and stuff.
Recently changed the starter, which made the problem go away for a few months. But now its back. Seems to happen more on a cold start then warm or hot.
Battery on this thing is old, had it since i bought the car in 2002/2003 was not new when i got it either. Some "Continental Brand". I have tested it with a voltage meter, gives me always good numbers like 12.40V when the car is off, and like 14V when running. Have got other places like Autozone to test is a few times as well and tell me its fine. Still, though I think it might be the problem.
Couple of days ago took me a couple of times to start it and so cheked the battery contacts to clean them, the negative one was so corroded i cleaded it off along with ground with some sand paper and stuff.
Couldn't get it to start this morning, took me a while, and once i got it started it died right away, tried again this time giving it lots of gas it stayed on till it hit idle and started to almost die again and then eventually stayed running without any problems.
I just spent a hour or so cleaning all the terminals again.
But if it was a fuel system problem why was it dying and power flickering and the starter not even turning. I would imagine if it was a fuel problem i should at least hear the starter going and the engine just not turning over. I have replaced the fuel pump on this car about 2 years ago. Fuel filter was changed then so its been a few years.
Anyone have some suggestions?
BNaylor
08-05-2006, 01:08 AM
Your symptoms sure sounds like a battery to me.
How does the battery read after sitting overnight? I had a battery test fine at AZ and it still turned out to be the problem.
How does the battery read after sitting overnight? I had a battery test fine at AZ and it still turned out to be the problem.
quickk
08-05-2006, 08:38 AM
Thanks for the reply,
Just went and tested the battery and it gave me 12.5 V, go figure....
I really just need to replace the battery anyway to eliminate it as the problem. Will update once i do that.
Just went and tested the battery and it gave me 12.5 V, go figure....
I really just need to replace the battery anyway to eliminate it as the problem. Will update once i do that.
quickk
08-05-2006, 12:26 PM
Ok put a new batttery in, but the problem isn't there right now so time will tell i guess if that was the problem.
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