Guest dukeofo Posted March 11, 2003 Share Posted March 11, 2003 90 Reatta with 31K miles. Suddenly, car won't turn over. I switched batteries and thought that resolved it, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO I installed a heavily charged battery (checked out OK), dash etc came on when I opened door, but as soon as I turned key to start, all power went off. I'm not a mechanic nor electrical type, but ..... sounds like a ground or ?? Ideas on where/how I should start search for problem. If I can't resolve it then I have to pay to have it towed to the local buick dealer. thanks, Dennis O' Nevada MO <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
padgett Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 If everything goes off when you turn the key, it is usually a bad wiring connection. Since you just installed the battery, I would look there first. Corrosion can build up between the connectors so even if screwed tight will not make a good connection. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest dukeofo Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 thanks I'll try that tomorrow after it warms UP?? trying to be an optimist. You may be correct because I don't hear the usual click when I connect the ground cable.thanksDennis O' <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlackMoon Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 I'll bet it's a bad ground or hot wire (yes! I did mean the positive wire)somewhere! I don't really know how to explain it, but maybe one of these guys can figure something from this:When my isolator was hooked up backwards (for lack of a better term) car would start for a while, but was hard starting. Battery was checked and was being charged properly and could find no drain, except when the door was open. One night, about 3 or 4 days later, she did the same thing... Fully charged battery, car started, heard a "click" (as if a fuse blew) when I turned the key and then nothing! <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Not a light, no starter clicking, nothing! It was as if a fusible link blew from the positive side of the battery to everything else!<span style="font-weight: bold">Checked the ground in several places along the car and it was GOOD!</span> Hot went no where! Not even to the relays in the relay center! Next day, removed the isolator and connected everything back up. Car started without a prob and ran fine. That was a month ago. The Battery was replaced Monday. Suddenly couldn't hold enough charge to keep the lights on for more than three minutes with the car off.Padgett? Barney? Guys? Any clue? <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheBlackMoon Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 What I'm saying by the above post is to be sure to check your ground's continuity from the battery to different parts of the car. May be just a simple ground problem.If that doesn't show any probs, check continuity from the battery's positive terminal to several "hot points" along the car (cigarette lighter, alternator's "bat" terminal, Relay Center). If either produces a short (infinite resistance) let us know and we'll try to help you trace out what we can.Good luck and I hope it's just a fuse. (Don't forget to check the fuse box in the console). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 I Spent today fixing a similair problem. But the weather was nice. I discovered that the side terminal bolts, the surface that contact lead on the battery as well as the inside were the bolt goes is just a mass of corrosion.It was really ugly Cleaned the inside with a dental tool and a small wire brush and the out side with a wire brush. Washed it twice water. Replaced the Bolts $3 and a new Delco Battery $78 Put a little grease on both sides of the bolt. Life is good. The Red Beast starts so much better I can hardly beleive it GM REATTA TIME AND MONEY SAVER TIP #32 When is started this project I could not get the bolts out. The head was stripped . I thought I would just get a Positive cable, but they are over $150 If you heat the head of the bolt with your welding torch it will loosen the corrosion and you can get the bolt out with a pair of Vise Grips. It may ruin the battery but will save the terminal. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
2seater Posted March 12, 2003 Share Posted March 12, 2003 I'm glad the heat worked for you but an open flame around a battery is asking for trouble. Depending on the state of charge, and how sealed the battery is, hydrogen gas could be in the area. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Greg Ross Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 I agree Hal,I've seen a battery explode from a distance, very messy business.This happened in a military car club where I was doing a bit of work on Father-in-laws' Buick. In the Bay opposite us they'd just finished installing an engine, were in the process of hooking up the battery as I recall and..Ka-Boooosh. <img src="http://www.aaca.org/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" /> Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Shelby Posted March 13, 2003 Share Posted March 13, 2003 OK I forgot the part about flooding the battery with water before and during this operation.SCAREFACE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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