Car will not turn on

1999 BUICK REGAL
120,000 MILES • 3.8L • V6 • 2WD • AUTOMATIC
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PCULQUI
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
car was idling when turning ignition cranked the car and 5 minutes later it turned on. Headlamps and all turned on. so it looked like maybe the starter or even the crankshaft solenoid. But the car finally turned on and it was the battery but why did headlamps, dashboard and all other lights turn on then.
Sep 14, 2019 at 10:39 PM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 110,248 POSTS
Welcome to 2CarPros.

Chances are the battery was too weak to crank the engine. That places a huge draw on it. Smaller things such as lights may still work.

Let me know if that answers the question.

Joe
Sep 15, 2019 at 10:56 AM
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PCULQUI
  • MEMBER
  • 354 POSTS
So my battery needs replacing.
Sep 16, 2019 at 12:49 AM
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JACOBANDNICKOLAS
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 110,248 POSTS
Welcome back:

It could be a battery, a bad connection and so on. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked


Let me know what you find.

Joe
Sep 16, 2019 at 10:37 AM
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