Starting my 96 SE
 

Okay so every since I got my 96 SE I have noticed that when I turn the key it is not starting as quickly as it should. I have had the starter checked they say it is fine I have had the battery checked as well thinking maybe the side posts where messed up. Also the other night I came to a stop light everything went black I pushed the car and my 8month old son out of traffic and grabbed the power cable on the battery and the lights came back on and started back up. This has happened numerous times do you thing it would be a good idea to to replace the power and ground cables and battery (what are the cranking requirements four my car?) Another problem that I have experienced is when it rains I will sometimes not start and when it does it drives like it is missing. Any help would be nice.

Thanks

Take a close look at your positive battery cable. Look inside the rubber boot. There is probably a lot of corrosion in there. You can clean it up as best you can but you probably need to replace the cable. You could start with cleaning up both battery cables on both ends but you might save yourself some time by replacing the bad cable. If you had the battery checked I wouldn't suspect that to be the problem especially since it started when you moved the positive cable. When you say power cabe are you talking about the positive? Anyway, I would start with whichever one you moved and regained power.

yea it was the positive battery cable also what causes battery cables to carode like that and its a lot I clean them reg. and I have never had to do that on any other car

I can't say for sure. Maybe the design of the cables. We have several cables joining together and they are not insulated from air, humidity, etc. at that juncture. You should clean all electrical connections and grounds and apply a small amount of dielectric grease. That will keep you from having to clean them so often. You can get both electrical contact cleaner and dielectric grease at your local parts store, Radio Shack, or almost any place that sells electronics.

I like to cut off the rubber from the end of the cable. Then I take a bolt and a nut. I forget the thread size off hand. You replace the original fastener with the bolt. Turn the bolt into the battery as far as it will go, then tighten the cable with the nut. I do this on my cars and ALLWAYS on my diesel trucks. Very few connection problems this way.