Car Starting Weird And Sometimes Doesn't Options

[ResidentEvil1987]

Hi, my car started starting weird the other day where when I turned the key to start it I would have to hold the key for like 15 seconds because the engine would turn over 2 - 6 times very slowly and finally starts up the car. I noticed that my positive cables were really corroded and I put on a new battery terminal connection on there and connected all the cords and it wouldn't start so I cleaned the positive cord connectors that connect to the battery terminal connector if that makes since... Then it started up no problem...


Now its starting to start weird again and sometimes not at all so I have to go clean the connectors again... Is it hard to completely change out the whole positive cords?




Sorry this message is really confusing just don't know how to word everything.

[piggylover1985]

shouldn't be that hard to change the positive cable just follow the positive cable and see how much wire do you need, make sure that you disconnect the battery when you doing it, don't want big sparky, make sure you don't have the core of the positive cable touching any metal or body part, bad idea.

[ResidentEvil1987]

Is there anything else that can be making this problem happen? When I turn the car on the rpms jump up and down from 0 to 4k and then when it finally turns on completely they drop down to regular... I heard it may be the starter but then again I don't see why I messed with the battery cables it would start...

Thanks for you help.

[ResidentEvil1987]

I took it up to autozone and the lady told me my battery was really low so I charged it and had them test my battery and alternator and both were good. Now the car is doing the same thing again because the battery is getting drained some how... Any Ideas?

[thomcasey]

I took it up to autozone and the lady told me my battery was really low so I charged it and had them test my battery and alternator and both were good. Now the car is doing the same thing again because the battery is getting drained some how... Any Ideas?

Any aftermarket electronics? (amp, stereo, cap, etc...) If so, disconnect them and see how the battery holds charge.

[ResidentEvil1987]

Installed an amp and sub but I charged the battery and kept them completely turned off to see if it would drain the battery without them on and it still does..

[thomcasey]

Installed an amp and sub but I charged the battery and kept them completely turned off to see if it would drain the battery without them on and it still does..

Did you disconnect the power/fuse to the amp? Just being off does not mean it will not draw current if it has a short in the case.

[ResidentEvil1987]

No I didn't disconnect it. With the cd player off the amp doesn't turn on at all when it comes on it lights blue so I would know if it were on...

[piggylover1985]

if you drive short trip all the time, the alternator won't have enough time to recharge your battery either

[ResidentEvil1987]

Yeah most of the time I drive its within 2 - 10 miles... Maybe it just doesn't have enough to charge the battery? Maybe the bettery is holding a charge just not enough?

[thomcasey]

No I didn't disconnect it. With the cd player off the amp doesn't turn on at all when it comes on it lights blue so I would know if it were on...

True, but that does not mean it isn't drawing juice. If you are cranking the system on short trips, then the alternator may not recharge the battery enough

[Az3g]

this problem it due to corossion. just cleaning the terminals will help, but if it has spread into the cable the problem will persist. it sounds like there was a lot, so the cable needs changed.

[ResidentEvil1987]

Today I took the car out picked up friend from work and dropped her off home and on the way back it felt like the car jerked like 2 or 3 times got over to friends house and turned it off then tried to turn it back on like 2 mins later and wouldn't start pushed started it and it ran fine... Tried to start it after the push start and it wouldn't then had it jump started and it ran fine again.

Took the battery in and its 100% charged and pushing 12.8 volts. Alternator is fine.


So something isn't draining the battery it just doesn't want to start....

[jonbonazza]

Today I took the car out picked up friend from work and dropped her off home and on the way back it felt like the car jerked like 2 or 3 times got over to friends house and turned it off then tried to turn it back on like 2 mins later and wouldn't start pushed started it and it ran fine... Tried to start it after the push start and it wouldn't then had it jump started and it ran fine again.

Took the battery in and its 100% charged and pushing 12.8 volts. Alternator is fine.


So something isn't draining the battery it just doesn't want to start....

Sounds like your not getting spark.

Check your CAS, your coil packs (You have two), plugs, wires, etc... Might also be fuel related, but check spark first.

[ResidentEvil1987]

Im really not thinking its spark.... spark plugs and wires are fairly new.... Fuel pump is brand new... Because after I cleaned the terminals... had a little corrosion on it and it started right up... So im thinking the wires are corroded and when I cleaned the terminal and connector it gave it that much more juice...


I called autozone to see how much coils are and they said non maintenance part...

[thomcasey]

Im really not thinking its spark.... spark plugs and wires are fairly new.... Fuel pump is brand new... Because after I cleaned the terminals... had a little corrosion on it and it started right up... So im thinking the wires are corroded and when I cleaned the terminal and connector it gave it that much more juice...


I called autozone to see how much coils are and they said non maintenance part...

They are replaceable though. He you checked the grounds? If you have an iffy ground, you could have issues getting the high current you need for the coils. Also, the heat from the motor could cause issues with the coils if they are starting to fail.

[ResidentEvil1987]

The coils are in the distributor and I replaced my distributor so its not the coils... Now car wont start at all unless I push start it.... Any ideas... This is really pissing me off. Fix one thing and another thing goes out...


Any Ideas? Terminals are clean from corrosion and the connectors are...

[Clessy]

The coils are in the distributor and I replaced my distributor so its not the coils... Now car wont start at all unless I push start it.... Any ideas... This is really pissing me off. Fix one thing and another thing goes out...


Any Ideas? Terminals are clean from corrosion and the connectors are...

My friend has a neon and I know they're not the same car by any means.

He was having the same issue and eventually it got down to having to be push started everywhere.

2 things he needed to check fix where his clutch start button. It hasnt creating a proper connection. That shouldnt be your problem though if you're getting any cranking at all. If you're not getting anything this would be something to check.

Also something about his clutch pedal alignment was off. Wtf ever that means.

[Az3g]

If the problem is not the battery and the cables are good, you are having a mechanical issue with the starter. In the starter there are "brushes" that aid in the creation of electromagnetic energy (to start the car basicaly) if they are worn, the correct ammount of amperage cannot be deliverd through the starter. thus a slow/ weak crank. One the flip sid of that, the brushes could be fine and the bushing on the back of the circular moving "conductor itself" could be rubbing against the case of the starter, this would cause a higher amperage out put as it takes more to start the engine. Over time the extream pressure and heat from this could have compleatly fried parts in the starter, I dont know enough to be specific, but Id say you need a new starter and solenoid. theres something else common that it could be but you did not mention a slipping feeling... maybe a worn pinion in the starter or missing teeth on the flywheel...

[ResidentEvil1987]

Well it has to be the wires.. Because it wouldn't start at all today and then me and my friend redid the negative cables into the clamp on the battery terminal connector and cleaned the posts of the battery with the wire brush and started right up... So im gonna replace both the negative and positive wires.