WTH? Car wont crank sometimes?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 756
Likes: 0
From: Grayson Georgia
WTH? Car wont crank sometimes?
Now this was an intermittent problem like 1.5 years ago and I think it may be starting again...
Basically when I try to crank my car all electronics turn on fine, but the car wont crank. So I wait 5 or so mins and all of a sudden it always cranks fine. This has happened to me twice in the past 3 weeks now, and around 1.5 yrs ago would happen every 3-4 days or so for a good 2 months straight and just stopped...
Any ideas? I have a Yellow Top Optima battery.
Basically when I try to crank my car all electronics turn on fine, but the car wont crank. So I wait 5 or so mins and all of a sudden it always cranks fine. This has happened to me twice in the past 3 weeks now, and around 1.5 yrs ago would happen every 3-4 days or so for a good 2 months straight and just stopped...
Any ideas? I have a Yellow Top Optima battery.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 3,799
Likes: 1
From: Northern Virginia
St. Jude Donor '08
It's probably not the battery if the other electronics work.
There are a lot of possibilities. Might want to look at faulty ignition switch or problem with starter or starter wiring.
There are a lot of possibilities. Might want to look at faulty ignition switch or problem with starter or starter wiring.
Race Director
Joined: Apr 2004
Posts: 16,135
Likes: 5
From: Newberry FL
Cruise-In VIII Veteran
St. Jude Donor '07
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 11,651
Likes: 9
From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
I had the same thing and my gremlin was inside the key cylinder... the sensor for my resistor stopped working... 
They replaced the whole cylinder and fixed the problem.
But I would also look at the resistor in the key and make sure it's not damaged or corroded.
They replaced the whole cylinder and fixed the problem.But I would also look at the resistor in the key and make sure it's not damaged or corroded.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 5,490
Likes: 2
Similar to a problem I've had. Sounds nuts but did you shut off your car, leave the door unlocked, and try to start it again? I have been making sure to the lock the door after I shut the car off, even if the roof is off and I am in a safe place for a short time. Then I unlock it before starting again I thought it had something to do with the security system. Whatever it was 
this method has not failed me and I've been using it for months.
I thought it had something to do with the security system. Whatever it was this method has not failed me and I've been using it for months.
