1995 Oldsmobile Cutlass wouldn't start

BRIANMILLER82

MEMBER
1995 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
6 CYL
2WD
MANUAL
199,600 MILES

Car worked fine, stopped for 10 minutes. Turned the key to start again, wouldn't start, had power, turned the key click click click. Lights, radio etc worked fine. Tried to jump still didn't start. Sat for a few hours then started right up last night and this morning too. Any ideas?

5 Replies

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

When you say it has trouble what kind? Clicking? Or nothing at all? If you hear a click, then either the battery is weak, or the starter, possibly bad battery cable connections, check and clean both ends of BOTH cables! Dissconnect negative(-) first, and put it on last! If no click the starter relay is no good!

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Saturday, July 19th, 2008 AT 9:37 AM

BRIANMILLER82

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3 POSTS

It would go click click click, then automatically unlock the doors twice, have never had a starter issue, car did sit for 5 months, since about a month go so hopefully its not the starter? I'll try cleaning the cable leads, any other quick little fixes you'd reccomend?

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Saturday, July 19th, 2008 AT 9:42 AM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

It's either the cables or the battery, charge it if you can. Clean the connections at both ends, remove the negative cable first and put it back on last!

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Saturday, July 19th, 2008 AT 9:48 AM

BRIANMILLER82

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3 POSTS

Hopefully that'll fix all, the lights, headlights, radio and everything were working fine and seems pretty bright when the car wouldn't start, I suppose the starter takes quite a bit of power then the other electrical devices when starting huh?

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Saturday, July 19th, 2008 AT 9:51 AM

MERLIN2021

MECHANIC
17,250 POSTS

Battery has a cold crank amp rating, as it ages it gets weaker, or if it's in a stae of partial discharge! If you have a voltmeter, hook it to the battery and crank it, if the gauge drops below 10 volts the battery is weak.