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Topic: Won't crank (Read 2042 times) previous topic - next topic

Won't crank

My dad took my car to get gas over a week ago and when he got back in the car, it wouldn't start. It would not even crank so it was towed home. The next morning, I started the car with no problems. The next day I put the key in and nothing. Now I have been trying to start it for a couple days and am still getting nowhere. So here's what it's doing. Open the door and all the lights are bright as normal. Turn the key, the lights go dim or out entirely. When they go dim, I hear a faint continuous clicking sound as I turn the key to the on position. Take the key out close the door. Come back later and the lights are bright as normal, put the key in and get the same results. Battery is good and the terminals are clean. Any ideas? Please help if you can... thanks.

Re: Won't crank

Reply #1 –
Ok, the positive cable/terminal on the battery sizzles any time power is needed such as opening the door to light the interior. If I turn the key, the sizzling gets louder. The battery has a good charge but could it have a screwed up terminal? Could the positive cable be fowled to cause this?

Re: Won't crank

Reply #2 –
Starter solenoid, prolly be your best bet. You can test it by shorting the terminals together with a screw driver and the ignition in the on position. Also listen for the fuel pump to kick in when you turn the key (not all the way). That should be good for a start.
Temporarily Foxless? Ride the Bull...

Re: Won't crank

Reply #3 –
Quote from: 5.0willgo
Ok, the positive cable/terminal on the battery sizzles any time power is needed such as opening the door to light the interior. If I turn the key, the sizzling gets louder. The battery has a good charge but could it have a screwed up terminal? Could the positive cable be fowled to cause this?

Anytime I get sizzling from the terminals, it's from a bad battery-to-cable connection. Same symptoms as yours too.

To test, use a voltmeter and put one lead on the terminal, and the other lead on the battery cable lug. Ideally, you should get close to 0 volts. Anything else shows a poor connection.

Re: Won't crank

Reply #4 –
just clean the battery terminals and everything, even if its not your problem, or they appear to be clean, its a good measure
It's Gumby's fault.

Re: Won't crank

Reply #5 –
Another thing you might want to try is wrapping the battery terminals in aluminum foil and then wedging the cables on top to insure a tight connection. My cougar did the same thing as yours (cable clamps are messed up and don't tighten properly) until I did the foil thing.
1984 Cougar Convertible
1988 Cougar XR-7

Re: Won't crank

Reply #6 –
Thanks for the info. I'll see if I can work at it tonight when I get home.