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Post by stevensolds on Sept 19, 2004 10:00:23 GMT -6
just tried to start my aurora today, it clicks but no start. DAMNIT. it started and ran fine all along and tonight was the first cold night. would that have anything to do with it?
also i did drive very slowly through a bit of standing water yesterday, could something have gotten wet?
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Post by Isnibs on Sept 19, 2004 10:14:41 GMT -6
If it is not a fuse I would check the wire connection for corrosion at the starter motor first. and maybe the starter solenoid.
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Post by kobalt on Sept 19, 2004 10:48:52 GMT -6
Does the engine turn-over? Does the security light stay on? Have you tried your spare key? Tell us more!
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 19, 2004 10:54:02 GMT -6
it doesnt even attempt to turn over, it just clicks. the security light stays on yes it is all good. DIC reads 12.6 volts. i dont get it...
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 12:29:31 GMT -6
Dead cell in the battery? Corroded terminal? If all that is good then check the starter.
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 19, 2004 14:08:39 GMT -6
i dont know how to check all that? how do you check?
im gonna just have it towed then. this is almost embarrasing ive only had the car 2 months and ive put almost $4,000 into it.
i dont understand though, its ran fine all this week up until this morning after the first cold night. and i drove through a pretty big puddle of standing water.
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 15:06:37 GMT -6
put an ohmmeter between the positive and negative terminals of the battery and read the voltage. Make sure its set of DC or else you will get a funny reading. I am thinking is just maybe time for a new battery. My previous car did the same thing at time. Turned out to be a batch of bad batteries. It happened mutiple times. Good thing for Triple A. Free tows (and jump starts when they work) are a good thing. Stay away from Die Hard batteries. They do Die Hard and usually withen 6 months. -------------- *edit* battery is under the back seat in your car. Just pull up on the seat cushin and it will come right up. ------------ * 2nd edit* The first thing I would do if I were in your shoes is to try and jump it and see if it starts. Something tells me that it will. Good Luck Steven.
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 19, 2004 16:01:01 GMT -6
thanks for your response, but one second. the lights and everything work, so i dont think the battery is dead. also the DIC reads 12.5 volts of power. could the battery still be the culprit do you think or is it the starter motor? it doesnt even attempt to start, it just clicks and the gages and the dash lights restart. its weird
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Post by Isnibs on Sept 19, 2004 17:53:33 GMT -6
Thats weird cos when I insert my key and turn it to run the security light goes out then I turn the key further to start up.
Did you try your spare key ?
I'm informed that my starter motor is on top front of the engine under the intake manifold??
If you can find yours, remove the wires, clean and replace them also attached to the starter is the solenoid, give it a tap gently with a wrench in case the electro-magnet is jammed.
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 18:00:16 GMT -6
I would still suspect the battery. The reason being is that the lights and radio take about 12 volts and about 1 amp to power, the car however, would take an initial burst that is alot higher (approximately 5-6 amps). The amperage is only a guess, but I know its alot higher. You can read this and it will tell you more along the same lines. I hope this helps. Good luck in finding it. P.S. You can get a voltmeter at Radioshack (bad place, I used to work there so I can tell you scary things about people).
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 18:06:32 GMT -6
are you svtmustang over at automotiveforums?
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Post by Isnibs on Sept 19, 2004 18:25:38 GMT -6
I think he is and you are treeboy38? Elan your last post changed my opinion to Steven's best chance is to try a jump start as per the owners manual.
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 19:02:54 GMT -6
Yes I am. Much has changed since I started venturing to forums like this. Forums like this are a good thing because they give mechanically challenged people like me the courage that is needed to attempt repairs themselves. God only knows that I would have never even attempted a repair to this or any of my cars before these forums. Automotiveforums started my learning experience (it had me very scared when I saw the problems everyone had with this car) then Oldsmobileforums and now the great ACNA have helped ease my fears and actually attempt to fix (notice the hesitation there?) my car. Good Luck everyone ;D
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 19, 2004 19:42:32 GMT -6
yes i am mustang over there. i registered there before i had my aurora.
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Post by Isnibs on Sept 19, 2004 20:17:12 GMT -6
All five of us could have a party
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 19, 2004 20:17:28 GMT -6
hey wait, usually my car when its running is at 13.5 volts. what is everyone elses at? also when the car isnt started, just in run position its always at 12.5. is this normal or should it be 16 or 17.
because i opened the hood and you can see the engine move when you try to start it and you hear a noise. maybe it is the battery. i wonder if it might be the original battery, jeez. that would be great if it was just the batt cause they are only about 50 bucks
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Post by omegaic on Sept 19, 2004 20:20:12 GMT -6
12.5 volts is fine when the car isn't running. 16-17 is dangerous as the battery may eventually explode. When cruising warm my dic usually reads between 13.5 and 15 volts.
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 20:29:04 GMT -6
Remember, voltage and amperage are two very different things.
The click you hear is probably the starter trying to turn over. It takes a good bit of juice to get your starter to turn over.
Just don't make it click to many times as you may cause starter damage (ie: don't use it for background music on karaoke night). And the starter will cost a pretty penny (ie: much more than a battery).
Sorry for all the ie's (ie: this).
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Post by omegaic on Sept 19, 2004 20:30:45 GMT -6
That's true. I think my battery is 880cca. Almost enough to start a tank!
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Post by erw38 on Sept 19, 2004 20:36:54 GMT -6
That's true. I think my battery is 880cca. Almost enough to start a tank! Care to play tankwars? With the assault weapon ban expired it's reality is probably closer than you think.
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 20, 2004 5:12:09 GMT -6
ok then i will get the battery replaced. its getting towed out of here today.
$3500 and counting.......the endless pit
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Post by erw38 on Sept 20, 2004 9:15:49 GMT -6
did it turn out to be the battery? test the battery befor you actually replace it. almost any shop and/or autoparts store will test it. make sure they test it under load. and just try jumping it or try out the other battery before you buy it. Noone can be 100% sure it is the battery. It just might be a loose and/or corroded connection.
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Post by kobalt on Sept 20, 2004 15:51:33 GMT -6
Voltage is a good indicator of amperage - when your volage with the engine off reads below 12 you migth not have half the amps your battery is rated for. 12 seems to be a magic number for car batteries. Once they drop below 12, its time for a replacement.
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Post by erw38 on Sept 20, 2004 21:20:19 GMT -6
I would say that the number is a little higher. (~12.2 or 3)
The reason I say this is that when you find a battery at an autoparts store, Sams, Walmart or somewhere they are usually about 12.8 volts. This goes up to 14.7 or 8 when the car is on and the alternator is charging the battery.
Mine was at 14.6 volts (according to the DIC) when I first started the car (engine on) the morning.
Anyway you look at it, batteries have a life span of about 3 or 4 years on average. (car batteries at least)
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Post by kobalt on Sept 21, 2004 10:54:26 GMT -6
Agreed - the reason the batteries last a bit longer in Auroras is because the location under the seat - cool in the summer and warm in the winter, not to mention, dry. Olds did the right thing by relocating the battery in our cars.
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dred98
Aurora Driver
Posts: 470
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Post by dred98 on Sept 21, 2004 11:34:38 GMT -6
I think the real reason they put it under the back seat is because there's no room under the hood, that and the weight transfer -
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Post by kobalt on Sept 21, 2004 12:26:40 GMT -6
can't argue with that ;D
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 21, 2004 18:22:33 GMT -6
WOOHOO - got my ride back. it was only the battery thankgod. it was the original Delco Freedom battery too. WOW. almost 10 years old and it still started. but the aurora takes a special battery and it was $119 to replace and 40 for labor lol
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Post by Isnibs on Sept 21, 2004 19:06:50 GMT -6
Yeh It does feel good to have your Aurora back on the road. ;D
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Post by stevensolds on Sept 21, 2004 19:09:03 GMT -6
oh doesnt it....this time it better stay on the freakin road for more than a month without over a grand of work.
i hauled so much ass on the way back lol i was happy
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