1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme Won't Start

OLDSMOBILE
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97OLDS
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  • 1 POST
I HAVE A 97 OLDS CUTLASS SUPREME V6 3.1
I WAS DRIVING TO WORK WHEN MY CAR DIED, LIGHTS WERE STILL ON AS I COASTED INTO A PARKING LOT I TURNED THE IGNITION OFF AND TRIED TO START AGAIN, IT STARTED THEN ABOUT 2 BLOCKS LATER IT DIED AGAIN THIS TIME NOT STARTING, ALL IT DID WAS MAKING A CLICKING SOUND, SO I TOOK THE STARTER OFF AND HAD IT REPLACE BUT IT STILL JUST MAKED A CLICKING SOUND, SO I THEN TOOK THE BATTERY TO HAVE TEST AND IT WAS BAD, SO I BOUGHT I A NEW AND THOUGHT I HAD SOLVED THE PROBLEM BUT WHEN I TRIED TO START ALL IT DID WAS MAKE THE CLICKING SOUND. BY THE WAY I HAD MY OLD STARTER CHECKED AND WAS TOLD IT WAS STILL GOOD, SO IM CLUELESS IN WHAT IT MAYBE I STILL REPLACED THE STARTER AND HAD IT CHECKED ALSO. ANY IDEAS
Mar 30, 2006 at 7:46 PM
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LOSONE
  • ✓Experienced Mechanic
  • 1,616 POSTS
It sounds like either a bad ground from the battery to the engine or a bad starter solonoid unless your car has a chip in the ignition key and then it is a horse of a different color. Good luck
Mar 31, 2006 at 12:55 AM

Suggested Repair

Check the battery-to-engine ground cable and connections, and test the starter solenoid. If the car has a chipped ignition key or immobilizer, have that system checked as well.

Conversation Summary

A 1997 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme 3.1 V6 died while driving with the lights still on, restarted briefly, then would only click and not start. The battery tested bad and was replaced, and the starter was replaced even though the original tested good, but the clicking continued. The expert suggested a bad battery-to-engine ground or a faulty starter solenoid, or an ignition-key chip issue if the car is equipped with one.

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