My Bonny won't start.

A bit of history. I replaced the starter a few years ago. The brainiac at Autozone didn't know about the PASS key system and the three minute lockout. Oh well. I swapped out a good starter because .....

They finally replaced the battery about six months back, right after the free replacement period ended. I replaced my serpentine belt about the same time, so it'* stretched out a bit.

For the last several months, it would start right off if I started it up every day. If I let it sit over the weekend, no can do come Monday a.m. I got to where I'd hook up the charger over the weekend. No problem.

Tuesday, I got a jump and drove about 20 miles out in the boonies to Scout camp, spent the night and talked with a couple of gearhead dads out there. One guy said he'd bet on my alternator being shot, what with being 13 years and 87K miles old. I thought not. I thought it might be the idler having a weak spring. The voltmeter always reads right at or just over 14V.

I needed a jump to get back into town. While I was waiting for a helpful parent to offer me a jump, I pried a little tension into the idler, and after I got started, it ran like a champ all the way into town, and the needle was well over to the right of the 14V mark. I figured I'd get the battery well charged on that trip.

Noooo. I get the slightest little tick tick tick when I turn the key. So, I put on the charger for a couple of days, so I have a fully charged battery, and the same tick tick tick. I checked and cleaned the ground on the block, so that'* good, checked and cleaned both terminals on the battery, so they're good, the fluid level inside the battery was good. I gave it the old "detach the cable test", and it passed.

Okay, I have a parasitic draw somewhere. I've found a lot of information regarding that problem, and I will work on those issues. Still and all, what is up with this starter?

It was getting dark and I couldn't get under the car to check the connections at the starter, but I'll get to that tomorrow.

You folks have always had good advice in the past, so hopefully you'll have some more good CHEAP advice for me when I log on tomorrow. I can't spend any money on this. I haven't had a paycheck since late May, and this is messing with my work search.
Thanks.

Ready...

Sounds like the alternator is working, sounds like the battery is fine.

How often do you hear the rear leveling compressor kick on? On your year, it will come on whenever it needs to, even without the key being on. It can drain your battery very effiicently over night.

Try pulling the fuse (someone please chime in with the fuse number and location) and see if that doesn't help.

Thanks for the quick answer, Bill.

If the compressor you mention is on the driver'* side, attached to the inner fender well, I disconnected it a long time ago. I never knew it was working, so I pulled the plug one day when I heard it running. Same with the power antenna; some dipstick bent it over and I can't straighten it, so to keep it from running all the time, I just unplugged it.

I need to get out the new rubber mallet-belay that, the OLD rubber mallet- and bang on the solenoid case. If I remember right, there'* supposed to be someone turning the key as I bang on it, so I have to wake one of the kids. Right.

I've got a jack under the frame now, so I'm going to check the connections to the starter while I'm down there.

The rear defroster, the trunk release security wire, and the connections under the driver'* side carpet are other likely culprits I've read about lately, so I'll get to them pretty quickly. I hope.

This stay at home dad stuff is for the birds. I need a job!

Thanks again.

What kind of battery do you have? Some batterys go to crap after they are ran dead just 1 or 2 times. It shoud have started right up after sitting only 20 mins (IMO)

My guess.

I will add more when I get some more coffee

Cheetah-

It'* from Autozone, it'* black and yellow and I think rated for 900CCA. I had a three year old battery; this was an upgrade replacement because they didn't have the exact replacement.

Like I said, I got it about six months ago.

I hate to think it'* gone to crap already, but there'* an Autozone a couple of miles away. When my other half gets home, I'll try taking it down their to have them test it. OR is there a way for me to test it so I'll know if they're trying to bluff me? Yes, I do have a multimeter.

Thanks.

It was the compressor I was thinking of. Sounds like you already eliminated the possible causes. Darn.

Just a thought to test the battery. Full charge it according to the battery charger.

Drop the charger, turn the ignition on and kick the fan up to "hi". Let it sit for 7 mins with the fan on, and see if it will start. Its kinda redneck, but it should give you an idea where your battery sits. It'* putting a sigginificant draw on the battery which is waht you wanna do.

(insert up arrow here)

Whack the startler like you plan...

//NC//

What is running the fan on high going to do? If it doesn't start now, and then after seven minutes of fan on high, it doesn't start, what have I learned to help fix the car?

Thanks, but I'm more confused than I was.