Sometimes car hard to start

[88LTDCV351]

So this weekend I took a two hour drive to take the Kennedy Mine Tour near Jackson Rancheria casino. After the tour, the car wouldn't start. All the usual things happened but did not hear the fuel pump and then got nothing when turning the key all the way. Now I know, this has happened before to me but usually I clean the battery posts and terminals a couple of times and then the car will start. Battery is only maybe 6 months old.

But this time I kept turning the key and sometimes my door locks would go crazy. So anyway, cleaned the battery terminals like 5 times and I had someone there give me a jump. Didn't seem to help or maybe we didn't wait long enough. Called triple A and they just used a battery booster and the car started right up.

Voltmeter doesn't seem to indicate anything wrong. Showed 14 today. Yesterday was at 13 when in park. When I turn everything on in my driveway (brake light, A/C, lights, turn signal, radio, etc.), might drop down to 11 or 10.5.

Or could it just be I had too many things drawing from the battery? During the two hour drive, we did have the A/C on, the radio, and plugged into the cagarette ligther was my Garmin and my brother had his portable Blue Ray Player plugged in to the power point. Traffic was light that early on Sunday so it wasn't stop and go traffic mostly.

[fastblackmerc]

So this weekend I took a two hour drive to take the Kennedy Mine Tour near Jackson Rancheria casino. After the tour, the car wouldn't start. All the usual things happened but did not hear the fuel pump and then got nothing when turning the key all the way. Now I know, this has happened before to me but usually I clean the battery posts and terminals a couple of times and then the car will start. Battery is only maybe 6 months old.

But this time I kept turning the key and sometimes my door locks would go crazy. So anyway, cleaned the battery terminals like 5 times and I had someone there give me a jump. Didn't seem to help or maybe we didn't wait long enough. Called triple A and they just used a battery booster and the car started right up.

Voltmeter doesn't seem to indicate anything wrong. Showed 14 today. Yesterday was at 13 when in park. When I turn everything on in my driveway (brake light, A/C, lights, turn signal, radio, etc.), might drop down to 11 or 10.5.

Or could it just be I had too many things drawing from the battery? During the two hour drive, we did have the A/C on, the radio, and plugged into the cagarette ligther was my Garmin and my brother had his portable Blue Ray Player plugged in to the power point. Traffic was light that early on Sunday so it wasn't stop and go traffic mostly.

Take it to a FLAPS for a free battery test. Could be the battery, + & - connections at the battery, alternator, starter and all the grounds. Do you have a real voltage gauge? That would tell you accurately how the alternator is doing.

The locks doing crazy things is one of the signs of a low battery charge. The AAA jump worked because he has good quality cables.

[RF Overlord]

When I turn everything on in my driveway (brake light, A/C, lights, turn signal, radio, etc.), might drop down to 11 or 10.5.

That's too low with the engine running. Have the battery and alternator tested.

[88LTDCV351]

Do you have a real voltage gauge?

At this point, I'm only referring to the stock volt gauge.

The AAA jump worked because he has good quality cables.

Yeah, I wished I had looked at what brand booster pack he was using. I'd like to get the best one out there. I've bought battery boosters before and found them to be hit or miss in the past so not always sure they were worth the money. Had a big one from Costco for many years but eventually after each six months it would no longer keep a charge when trying to recharge it.

[justbob]

Sounds like a bad battery cell.


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[Donald]

Awhile back my Fusion gave me a warning light about the gas cap. Bought a new one and after a few run the light went off. Then my airbag light came on. Drove a few days and sometimes it would go off. Then I noticed the car just did not sound right when starting cold.

Went to my battery place. Charging system good. Check fluid in a cell and it was a bit low. Battery was in month 63 of a 65 month warranty. Decided on new battery.

Car cranks great. Airbag light has not come on again. I probably did not really need a gas cap.

I think all the Electronics need a good strong voltage at ignition on and if start is hit too soon they don't get what they need to operate properly. Especially the sensors.

[88LTDCV351]

I'll have the alternator and battery tested at the FLAPs this weekend. If it ends up being the alternator, I still have a new BD Electrical in the garage somewhere. But what do I need to do with this extra cable that goes from the alternator to the battery? Shrink wrap or something? What is that?

[justbob]

What extra cable??


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[Fastbob]

What extra cable??


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+1 on that....

[88LTDCV351]

The one that comes with the DB Electrical alternators. Here: https://www.dbelectrical.com/product...t-4-gauge.html

[1Marauder]

I would bet it is simply the battery. All sorts of Gremlins creep in with a faulty battery (cell), causing a bunch of different issues.

Costco!

[88LTDCV351]

I took it to the FLAPs. The guy at Autozone said the battery tested good.

When I started the car, I rolled down the window. He said the device said bad voltage regulator. But I figured that might be because I was rolling down the window while getting outside the car (didn't want to get locked out of the car if the door locks suddenly engaged). So I told him to test it again. He did, but it came back everything was ok this time.

He said to rev the engine to 2000 RPM and I did. Then he said definately alternator bad because he could hear the bearings or noises.

But when I got home, I have the fiance rev up the car while I was under the hood and I didn't hear anything abnormal. What am i listening for?

[GetMeMyStogie]

The one that comes with the DB Electrical alternators. Here: https://www.dbelectrical.com/product...t-4-gauge.html

Did you read the captions in those photos? What's not clear?

[robertmee]

But when I got home, I have the fiance rev up the car while I was under the hood and I didn't hear anything abnormal. What am i listening for?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyZWhz7uvDE

[88LTDCV351]

Did you read the captions in those photos? What's not clear?

Well, I'm sure I'm not the only one, but I'm not that good at these things. And maybe I don't understand how to heat shrink this wire properly. The wire is quite thick so not sure I have something to cut a wire that thick after measuring it other than my regular wire cutter which is for normal size wires and too small. I suppose I could find youtube videos on how to crimp properly and how to heat shrink. I guess I could try that.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyZWhz7uvDE

Thanks, this is interesting. I'll give this a try.