Will not cold start

DOMINIQUE1016

MEMBER
2005 BUICK TERRAZA
V6
4WD
AUTOMATIC
21,600 MILES

I bought the van with 216,000 miles on it in December and three weeks later had to have the transmission rebuilt. The problem started then while in the shop, they called and told me they were going to replace the battery and then ended up not doing it because when checked the battery it was good. I was advised to take it to AutoZone and have them hook it up to a diagnostic tool.
I did that and my van shut off their computer, three times. He was able to tell me that the battery was good. I just continued to have someone jump start it for me in the morning. The day before yesterday it shut off at family dollar with the kids. I got a jump and then yesterday morning it started. I turned it off and ran inside to get the kids, when we came back out it appeared to be not working. Something out of the ordinary happened though. All of the sudden the headlights came on as well as the radio and dashboard light a message came on saying something about ignition switch disabled? I cannot remember the exact message but something like that. Also, it always says service ABS and traction systems. I tried jump starting it after that and could not. I am not sure if I did not have a good connection or what the problem was, I am waiting for my best friend's husband to come try to jump it for me. A lot of times when I try to start it it makes a clicking noise. The past two days it is doing thing it never has. Also, DVD player, automatic doors and alarm do not work. I have just replaced thermostat, water pump and serpentine belt. I am a single mother and do not know anything about cars but my friends husband can fix almost anything as long as we know what to fix! Any advice will be so appreciated! Thank you.

3 Replies

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,452 POSTS

From the description I would check the battery cables on the engine end. It sounds like a bad ground or power connection.
As a test of the ground side, take one side of your jumper cables and connect both clamps to good grounds on the engine. Now take one of the other clamps and find a bare spot on the body under the hood and connect it here. Now take the last clamp and connect it to the negative battery terminal. This will give you a ground from the battery to the engine and from the engine to the body. Try starting it now.
GM battery cables like to corrode internally, they can look good but be junk. This will somewhat bypass the OEM grounds and let you test if the cables are the problem. Then you just replace the bad cable or clean the connection point.

If doing this on the ground side does not seem to make a difference, you can remove the cables, then hook the red cable to the battery terminal on the starter itself, then up to the positive battery post to test that side.

Both of those cables would have been disconnected on the engine end to get the transmission out. It is very possible that one is bad and just not noticed, or that it was connected up but isn't a good connection.