Bad Ground - Battery Terminal
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 174
Likes: 0
From: OH/FL
Bad Ground - Battery Terminal
It's a great feeling when a problem has been fixed...
I was having problems with starting my '95...after replacing the starter the new one sounded really weak, and sometimes it would crank and crank and crank before lazily firing up. On top of that, I developed a really bad alternator whine through my radio when it was on. Add to that the voltmeter would wiggle like the alternator regulator was bad.
The problems persisted on and off for a few months. I thought the starting problem might be the Delteq system, and the alternator may be bad causing the radio noise and charging system problems. I figured I would start at the wiring connections to see if anything was loose. Granted, I am used to just replacing things first without really diagnosing a problem.
Loostened the negative battery terminal almost BY HAND. It turns out at some point that I cross-threaded the side terminal battery cable. IMO, the small "button" side terminal connections are a stupid design, but whatever. I went to the auto store and bought a package of 2 new battery bolts and put the new bolt in the ground wire to the battery terminal.
WOW, what a difference. The starter sounded really strong, and the car fired right up. Checked the stereo...no radio interference. No voltmeter/charging problems. Man, I can't believe the small things that can go wrong with a car that can have such a major effect on multiple systems. Needless to say I'm very happy that a $4 part fixed so many electrical problems on my car.
I was having problems with starting my '95...after replacing the starter the new one sounded really weak, and sometimes it would crank and crank and crank before lazily firing up. On top of that, I developed a really bad alternator whine through my radio when it was on. Add to that the voltmeter would wiggle like the alternator regulator was bad.
The problems persisted on and off for a few months. I thought the starting problem might be the Delteq system, and the alternator may be bad causing the radio noise and charging system problems. I figured I would start at the wiring connections to see if anything was loose. Granted, I am used to just replacing things first without really diagnosing a problem.
Loostened the negative battery terminal almost BY HAND. It turns out at some point that I cross-threaded the side terminal battery cable. IMO, the small "button" side terminal connections are a stupid design, but whatever. I went to the auto store and bought a package of 2 new battery bolts and put the new bolt in the ground wire to the battery terminal.
WOW, what a difference. The starter sounded really strong, and the car fired right up. Checked the stereo...no radio interference. No voltmeter/charging problems. Man, I can't believe the small things that can go wrong with a car that can have such a major effect on multiple systems. Needless to say I'm very happy that a $4 part fixed so many electrical problems on my car.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 1,157
Likes: 3
From: Encino CA
Congratulations--it's satisfying when you find a simple fix that really solves the problem. It's too bad that you replaced the starter but at least now you have a new starter.
Funny thing is that about a month ago I posted here about getting a whine through the radio and a very knowledgeable person on this board pointed out that it could be battery connections. I tightened up the connections and the whine went away. This forum is usually a great place for help.
Doug
Funny thing is that about a month ago I posted here about getting a whine through the radio and a very knowledgeable person on this board pointed out that it could be battery connections. I tightened up the connections and the whine went away. This forum is usually a great place for help.
Doug
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 1,791
Likes: 3
From: Maine
That's what my car is doing, whining in the radio when accelerating (which I had forgotten all about), voltage meter swings between 11 and 15 volts. Car sometimes stalls. I already replaced the alternator with no luck in solving the problem. I'm going to recharge the battery and check all the battery connections. You may have solved my problem, thank you for sharing.
