new battey = car won't crank

[Drew99GT]

My Dad's 1999 Olds 88 needed a new battery. It was cranking very slow and tested bad at Advance Auto. The parts guy and I put the new one in and the lights/electrical work but the starter won't crank. We tested the new battery, cleaned the cables, put the old battery in, and the car simply won't crank now.

Anyone have a clue what might be the problem? I've read about problems with GMs anti-theft/passlock system.

Thanks

 

[santov]

Can you crank the engine with a wrench or is it seized up?

AA should test the starter for you.

 

[simple_gifts]

I would give the starter a rap with a brass hammer as a diagnostic. Cranking slower and slower doesn't seem promising as something related to theft deterrent system IMHO.

 

[The_Jeff]

Usually the anti theft things will let the car crank but find another way to torture you, flashing a "security" light the whole while.

It'll either let the motor fire then kill it in two seconds, or let it crank but not go.

The "cure" for some GM passlock/passkey systems is to just leave the key turned on for 10+ minutes, time a thief would not have.

I also think it's a dragging starter motor. Does the dome light dim a lot when you're trying to go?

 

[sciphi]

Try tightening the battery terminals more, and make sure the positive cables are stacked correctly on top of each other. After that, replace the battery terminal bolts. The terminals on those GM side-post batteries are VERY sensitive to tightness. A little looseness, especially on the positive cable, can lead to the electricals working, but the car not firing. I've ran into that problem twice on my Buick, which uses the same chassis as your Dad's Olds 88. Less than a quarter turn got me back in business both times.

 

[The_Eric]

Originally Posted By: eljefino
Usually the anti theft things will let the car crank but find another way to torture you, flashing a "security" light the whole while.

It'll either let the motor fire then kill it in two seconds, or let it crank but not go.

The "cure" for some GM passlock/passkey systems is to just leave the key turned on for 10+ minutes, time a thief would not have.

I also think it's a dragging starter motor. Does the dome light dim a lot when you're trying to go?



My suggestion...

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: eljefino


I also think it's a dragging starter motor. Does the dome light dim a lot when you're trying to go?



The dome light/all lights stay the same. It acts like the starter/solenoid is not even getting any power.

This has got me stumped. I'll try the ignition on for 10 minutes trick and see if that works. There's no security light on the dash.

Thanks for the suggestions fellas.

 

[Drew99GT]

Originally Posted By: sciphi
Try tightening the battery terminals more, and make sure the positive cables are stacked correctly on top of each other.


Is there a washer or something that keeps the two positive cables connected? Maybe that fell out when we were working on it.

The 2 positive wires seemed weird to me!

 

[sciphi]

There's no washer, since it's integrated into the top + cable. The washer and all the surfaces need to be clean, otherwise you'll get interior lights, but no power to the starter.

Another test you can do is slit the battery cables near the battery ends to check for corrosion. The positive battery cable is especially susceptible to corrode over time.

 

[andyd]

quick and dirty battery test. short the terminals together. There should be an audible snap and a blue spark.

 

[The_Eric]

If there's two cables stacked together, then there should be a lead spacer between them. If that's in place and cables are tight, then I'd guess that it's the pass lock system and you'll need to do a key learn on it (see above posts).

 

[FL_Rob]

Check all of your grounds ,at the starter, at the block and at the body to batt.With bad grounds, the circuit cannot be completed.
edit: by checking ,I mean loosen/re-tighten preferably with electrical contact cleaner ,dielectric grease or even just some common spray lube.

 

[Carbon]

Try starting in neutral as well as park.

 

[Drew99GT]

Had it towed to a shop and they said the starter is bad. I dunno about that one. I can understand the bad starter wearing out the battery (the battery was 5 years old), but then putting a new battery in gives the starter the final death toll? Is that even plausible?

 

[The_Jeff]

Maybe your old battery wasn't shot, but the symptoms lead you to replace it.

 

[mechtech2]

You did not clean BOTH ends of the all cables, and where they seat.
So do this, as everything depends on it.
It may not fix the problem, but is the next step.