Starting issue

1996 BUICK REGAL
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MERINAR10
  • MEMBER
  • 1 POST
my car has been starting every day fine. it has been fair weather here but this morning it was really cold out with a low wind chill factor. turned the switch on to start car and the dash lights just flashed on and off about every second with a clicking sound at the same time. it is suppose to warm back up to 40 degrees tomorrow ( it is now 17 degrees plus i don't know the wind chill factor but have a lot of wind and is cold. ) the car may start tomorrow when it warms up/ i don't know.



what do you think the problem is and how to repair this problem ?

thank you

don merinar
Feb 11, 2008 at 5:21 AM
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KASEKENNY
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 18,907 POSTS
This sounds like a drained battery. So, we need to start with this guide and find out if that is the case.

Here are a couple guides that will help with this:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

We should check the alternator at the same time so this will help with that:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

Lastly, we need to check this guide and find out if we have any issues here:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

I am attaching the wiring diagram for the starter as this will help with the last step if none of this works out which is checking the voltage at the starter.

However, a no start during cold weather and a clicking noise is normally always a battery issue.

Please let us know what you find, and we can go from there.

Thanks
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Mar 13, 2022 at 12:33 AM
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