Intermittent no start - battery cable?

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Nov 28, 2006 | 11:39 AM

Aaron's 87

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Melting Slicks

Joined: May 1999

Posts: 2,037

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From: Sarasota FL

Intermittent no start - battery cable?

Since I swapped my POSITIVE battery cable (due to battery acid damage - thanx ACDelco) I've had an intermittent no start. When I turn the key, I get instant shutdown and no voltage. When this happens, I loosen and tighten the NEGATIVE battery terminal 1/4 turn, and it usually fires back up. The NEGATIVE cable did not get hit with the acid. I cleaned the terminal and grounds. What else could cause this? Could the battery terminal itself be causing this? Ignition switch? Grounds? What can I check next time it happens?

Nov 28, 2006 | 11:47 AM

rick lambert

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 6,130

Likes: 2

From: seattle WA

Sounds to me like you've answered your own question...replace the ground cable.

Nov 28, 2006 | 02:01 PM

Aaron's 87

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 1999

Posts: 2,037

Likes: 0

From: Sarasota FL

Visually, the ground cable is perfect. It also ohms out perfect.

Nov 28, 2006 | 05:53 PM

vinnies87

Le Mans Master

Joined: Aug 2003

Posts: 9,884

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From: Magnolia Mississippi

St. Jude '03-'04-'05-'06-'07

It may LOOK good but may not be internally...I'd go with the rest, replace the NEG cable... clean the post and go from there.

Nov 28, 2006 | 06:22 PM

rick lambert

Le Mans Master

Joined: Oct 2003

Posts: 6,130

Likes: 2

From: seattle WA

try peeling back a little of the insulation...the cable is probably turning green with corrosion.

Nov 29, 2006 | 10:34 AM

Aaron's 87

Thread Starter

Melting Slicks

Joined: May 1999

Posts: 2,037

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From: Sarasota FL

The ends of the Negative cable have no corrosion. The 1/4 turn movement to get things running makes me think the problem is in the terminal connection somehow.

Nov 29, 2006 | 10:41 AM

kalister1

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 1,867

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From: Pasadena Maryland

When mine did that it was the starter.

Nov 29, 2006 | 10:50 AM

ejscarfo

Melting Slicks

Joined: Feb 2005

Posts: 2,057

Likes: 5

From: Bay Shore, NY

Sounds like a bad ground somewhere.

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Nov 29, 2006 | 11:09 AM

kalister1

Drifting

Joined: Sep 2005

Posts: 1,867

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From: Pasadena Maryland

Try to just keep starting the car. When mine did that it would start 4 out of 10 times. I changed the starter and everything worked OK.

Nov 29, 2006 | 11:44 AM

#10

C4boy

Melting Slicks

Joined: Apr 2003

Posts: 3,110

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From: Red Sox Nation! RI

Is it an AC Delco battery?

Nov 29, 2006 | 12:08 PM

#11

jfb

Team Owner

Joined: Mar 2001

Posts: 54,124

Likes: 30

From: Cincinnati, Oh USA

Remove both battery cables (neg first) and clean the cable lugs, bolts, and the battery posts and reconnect the cables (neg last). You have a poor connection to the battery. You always want your battery connections to be like your lover, bright and tight!

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