Starting/batery

1997 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS
134,000 MILES • 3.1L • 6 CYL • FWD • AUTOMATIC
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DAKOTA43
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  • 1 POST
My car wont turn over at times it just clicks and loses power. If I jerk the batery it gains power and starts. What could cause this? Bad conection with starter? Bater termanails are on tight. Should I replace batery cables?
Jul 26, 2017 at 4:55 PM
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CARADIODOC
  • ✓ASE Certified Mechanic
  • 34,321 POSTS
  • ASE Certified Mechanic
You've already narrowed down the cause to the battery cables. The connections could be corroded. Simply being tight doesn't say anything about the electrical connections underneath the bolt heads.

Also observe there's a smaller wire coming off the positive battery cable. Follow that wire to the under-hood fuse box and be sure that connection is clean and tight. Follow the smaller negative wire to the body and be sure that one is not loose or rusty.
Jul 26, 2017 at 5:15 PM
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