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Car won't start, new starter and alternator....

Old 12-07-2006, 07:13 PM
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Default Car won't start, new starter and alternator....

Yo,

I drive a '92 Bonneville (non supercharged). It was pretty janky, but it ran fine for about a year. Last month the car crapped out, but I replaced the starter and it worked like a champ. Driving home last night, my CD player started to shut off and on. Few minutes later all the dash lights came on and started to dim. Eventually the car sputtered and died. Got it home, gave it a jump, and a few seconds later it died. Figured that it was the alternator seeing as I had gotten some new subs the week before. Replaced the alternator this evening, and the car still won't start. The battery was tested and works fine. What other options should I look for?

Thanks in advance. This place seems to be the only place online who knows anything about these cars
Old 12-07-2006, 07:20 PM
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Clean the battery connections, at both ends of the cables.
Old 12-07-2006, 07:22 PM
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Would that help? The car doesn't use its battery while driving. If it died when it was running why would the battery be bad?
Old 12-07-2006, 07:27 PM
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You said the car doesn't start.... Meaning the starter doesn't engage, The lights don't come on. Nothing. This is often, and cheaply, fixed by cleaning the battery connections.


If that'* not the state of the car, What is?
Old 12-07-2006, 07:30 PM
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The car won't start NOW, but it originally died while running. All the lights are working, as well as the CD player and all the stereo equiptment.

I guess I should probablly try that as well though. Maybe the alternator was the original problem, and now since it has been sitting a week (in the shitty weather), maybe that would be the fix. Ill try that

Any other possible explinations?
Old 12-07-2006, 07:32 PM
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What does it do when you try to start it? Crank? Fire?
Old 12-07-2006, 07:49 PM
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In total agreement with Damemorder - check those cables & we need to know if the starter is turning over the engine.

Also check all your fuses - don't forget the fuses under the dash on the passenger side.
How was the battery checked?
Old 12-07-2006, 07:51 PM
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it'll click (even after the new alternator), but doesn't turn over or fire at all. Lights flicker when its trying to go. The alternator looks like its trying to go, but its not getting any umph. The battery had 12V and was running at about 84% when I had it tested earlier today. Im really at a loss
Old 12-07-2006, 07:52 PM
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Originally Posted by Technical Ted
In total agreement with Damemorder - check those cables & we need to know if the starter is turning over the engine.

Also check all your fuses - don't forget the fuses under the dash on the passenger side.
How was the battery checked?
All the fuses were replaced after the subs/amp was installed (work at a car stereo shop, and decided to swap them all out after I installed them). Battery was checked with our voltmeter here at the shop
Old 12-07-2006, 08:04 PM
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Originally Posted by lachrymotion
it'll click (even after the new alternator), but doesn't turn over or fire at all. Lights flicker when its trying to go. The alternator looks like its trying to go, but its not getting any umph. The battery had 12V and was running at about 84% when I had it tested earlier today. Im really at a loss
Obvious signs of low amperage. Clean the connections and try charging the battery.

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