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same 03 alero start issues


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rodnbren
User

Jun 28, 2010, 2:40 PM

Post #1 of 11 (1703 views)
same 03 alero start issues Sign In

I have an 03 oldsmobile alero (3400) this issue started today when I go to crank it the starter will click (not all the time like a bad silenoid) it will also reset the factory radio to 12:00 then turn it off then it will turn over just fine and crank. or then it will turn over and not crank til you give it gas. no random pattern for either issue the clicking done it twice so far. any help would greatly be appreciated.

Thanks,
Rodney


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 28, 2010, 2:44 PM

Post #2 of 11 (1696 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

You have a bad connection, most likely right at the battery. Remove all the cables and clean them with a mixture of baking soda and water and then wire brush them before reinstalling them.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



rodnbren
User

Jun 28, 2010, 4:26 PM

Post #3 of 11 (1691 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

it is a side post battery and it has to be another issue with the mutiple problems. with it cranking just fine one time and the next not. but turn over and not crank til I give it gas. it is an efi fuel injection and has not had a tune up with 128,000 miles on it. but like I said I have not had any issue with this til today. although I usually let the fuel pump prime up everytime I start it. it has had a fuel pump put on roughly 6-8 months ago. the fuel filter is on the pump so it shouldnt be a filter issue.


Hammer Time
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Jun 28, 2010, 4:28 PM

Post #4 of 11 (1689 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

OK, let us know when you figure it out.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 28, 2010, 8:38 PM

Post #5 of 11 (1682 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

Rodney! It won't even click and resets radio/clock in your first post. This has nothing to do with whether it's fuel injected or not. Hammer's first suggestion is about a 90% chance right there of the whole issue,

T



rodnbren
User

Jun 29, 2010, 4:11 PM

Post #6 of 11 (1669 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

T when you go to crank it will click (twice so far). not all the time and when it does the radio will go to 12:00 on its on not me doing it. it has only did it twice doing that. sometimes it would turn over not cranking til I pat the gas. the other times it cranks just fine. today it has started just fine with no problems. I dunno I always thought being a side post battery it really shouldnt have corrosion problems thats the reason for them. the three different problem not at the same time and alero having all the problems people has posted about them I didnt know if this maybe another flaw. I am a true diehard GM fan. but I have to admit I havent seen a lot of good reviews on them.

Thanks,
Rodney


Hammer Time
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 29, 2010, 4:36 PM

Post #7 of 11 (1667 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

All your problems are being caused by loss of current at a main supply. Side post batteries corrode just as much as top post batteries. They are just harder to clean. You can listen to people that do this for a living or you can go pay a shop $100 to find the same problem. It is possible to be happening further down the line than the battery but you have to start there. They also have problems at the main power connection of the power distribution box.
If you want to confirm this, have someone else hold the key in "start" position and you go tug on all the battery cables. If the starter suddenly engages, my point is proven.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

We offer help in answering questions, clarifying things or giving advice but we are not a substitute for an on-site inspection by a professional.



Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jun 30, 2010, 12:17 AM

Post #8 of 11 (1662 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

Rodney - Listen to what Hammer is saying. Side posts corrode as much as any but worse you can't see the problem so easily. When you jump direct to the little bolt of a side post you get the battery - NOT the connection to the car which makes it more confusing. There's an eyelet end inside the rubber end at the battery. If removed you may find it near gone.

Some of these GMs are so tight they use a pigtail to a remote for positive cable because you can't get at the battery itself so easily without about taking it out. Even that is a project in some so they get neglected.

Takes a hunt but if a problem is found right there, there are high quality cable end splices or best a whole new quality cable. Stress QUALITY not just the temporary dollar junk. Once good - I suggest grease (silicone grease my choice) or any OR they made anti-corrosive rings that can help. This is a service area if you don't pay attention to them with some regularity. It will reset things throughout the car especially with the sudden jolt of needed power for the starter, by far the #1 consumer of amps - normally but for just the short time it takes to crank if all else is well.

If things are good at the battery keep going along path of the cables as this is about as clear as it gets that power is essentially disconnected by the force/hunger of the starter.

Note: Nothing totally wrong with GM cars at all. Every car I've ever known had something brilliant and something stupid in the same car. None are without some flaws somewhere,

T



rodnbren
User

Jun 30, 2010, 4:57 AM

Post #9 of 11 (1652 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

Well I will definatly look at the post then. I would rather it be something as simple as that than mutiple problems. but all my years of fooling with cars just dont seem like that could be the problem but I am really more used to the older cars though. I appreciate all of your help.

Thanks,
Rodney


rodnbren
User

Jul 1, 2010, 4:57 AM

Post #10 of 11 (1641 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

well guys I have to eat crow when I went to the store last night I found out the hard way it was the end I never thought the fuel pump could act this way from that thank you all for your help and i feel so stupid though lol but I do appreciate it!


Tom Greenleaf
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Jul 1, 2010, 5:43 AM

Post #11 of 11 (1637 views)
Re: same 03 alero start issues Sign In

Hey - Don't feel stupid. You came here for advice and got it so that alone was smart. It's nice to be able to have experienced techs give you their suggestions based on the experience they/we've had. There can be exceptions to anything but that is a common issue with many and then you see some that are perfect and never touched.

Thanks for posting the fix,

T







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