Key turns...swishing sound from console
 

Wife tried to start my 00 se this morning and she told me it tried to start but it did not turn over. when she tried again a swishing sound came from the console. I believe its a dead battery. But we had a heavy snow and temps are very low. It ran fine Sunday, voltage 14. Any answers to my problem? Thx.:mad::mad:

Fairly common problem. Clean your battery cables. When this happens you can still get full voltage but can't get enough amps to turn over the starter.

https://www.gmforum.com/t278927/

Danthurs, my battery is under my rear seat also it connected to a "side box". This is where you jump the car from. Also, remember my post about a possessed car...she's back. I went out to disconnect the posy cable to prevent damage and the "side box" was swishing and gently grinding, clicking. I don't know any thing about this nor how to fix it...she was doing it on her own. I did disconnect it. My father in law is coming over to clean the terminals. Wish me luck, and do you have any other suggestions.

You may need to clean where the cable connects to the starter and where the ground connects to the block. It is more likely the problem is at the battery. After cleaning put some Vaseline or dielectric grease on. this will help keep them clean. You may need to clean these 1 or 2 times a year.

My father-in-law came over and he is a farmer. We checked all the terminals and no corrosion. He is going to get his jumping set along with the battery tester. Where is the started located at on a 00. I know you have a late 90's Bonnie but do you know the location of the starter. It seems to be in self test mode. Also the snow we got last night was a damp snow and temps are in the 20's.

Your starter should be in the same place as mine. I don't have a picture of the starter, but I did find this. It's in front under the exhaust manifold. In this picture you can just see the cable going to it next to my hand. The exhaust manifold is removed in this picture.
Attachment 30231

I'll see if I can find a diagram showing it.

I did research this problem on the internet and it is a common problem... However, you are right about corrosion. It know for a fact that it can happen overnight. I disconnected the cables going to the fuse box and reconnected them. Would jumping the car be bright idea?

I should not be a problem. Just make sure you hook it up right. If it starts right up, then the problem is at the battery. Either corroded terminals, or a bad battery.

My father-in-law studied the manual and hooked it up correctly. We had lights and radio, but it would not turn over. His dio was a corroded starter. They use a spray down here as well as a bio green salt. I wander if letting this sit for two days caused it. Hmmmm..... Thanks Dan. I'm going to call my mechanic to see if he can assist me with a closer look... Thx a bunch, I as well believe its corrosion. My father-in-law checked the battery light-OK, checked the terminals that we could see-OK, and we tried to jump it- not ok. Did not turn over, but dome lights came on and the console went crazy. I got nervous and told him to disconnect and the car went back to the same thing over again... I'm thoughtless at the moment and a little pissed, Mom and I are dirt poor right now. She is laid off and pregnant. I just started a new job, after be laid off as well. Can't afford to fix it if its a big fix. I hope its the terminals. Wish me luck.

Once again the problem is the car won't turn over and the swishing sound comes from the console as well as the fuse box, located next to the vented battery.

Light on battery is good, termnals around battery and the posy jump terminal under the hood id good as well.

While it drove, the voltage ran up to 14.5 - 15, in cpu on mode the gauge ran 12 straight.

I think that if it was a terminal it would be the ground. I know because when I installed my last radio. If you took of the ground the radio did wacky things

If the jump didn't work then that leave the connection at the starter, and the starter. If you hooked the ground clamp on your car to the engine that eliminates the ground connection, leaving only the starter.