96 Grand Prix Se not starting HELP!!!!!!!?

Question

I have a 1996 Grand Prix Se it has 176000 miles on it and it currently wont start its not like the battery is dead because its still at 12. something volts when i try to jump although it will go dead if i let the car sit for like 2 days without starting it but even with the charge i turn the key and the engine dosnt make a sound no er er or the ticking noise that you get when the battery is dead also theres this little wire thats comeing off of my neg battery post that grounds to the frame about 8 inches away I had this problem before and when i looked the plastic around the wire had melted i wiggled the wire and the plastic came off and the car started right up now the wire is all crispy and i dont want to move it cause i dont wanna break it another thing i cant get the negative terminal off the post it dosnt screw off am i just going to have to cut the cable and get a new negative cable cause i need a better battery for my sound system any help is greatly appreciated

Answer 1

A bad battery or a poor connection will limit the voltage to the starter solenoid. This will be enough to make it move so no noise will be heard. The little wire to the frame is improtant to make the key switch and accessorys work. A poor connection will get hot. The melted plastic is a red flag and shows that this connection is supplying current and is needed. A battery with no capacity will have 12 volts with no load but will drop significantly when used. Test the voltage with the key engaged or the headlights on. It shouldn't go below 10 volts even while cranking. Battery cables can look good but still have a black coating that will disrupt the connection. If a connection won't come apart that is a sure sign of trouble. Baking soda and water is an excellent corrosion cleaner. Don't let any get inside the battery though (will neutralize the acid). The battery shouldn't run dead after only 2 days. Use a test light between the battery neg post and neg cable (with cable unhooked) to check for a drain. The dome light will look like a false drain so unhook this fuse first. Unhook fuses untill the light goes out to narrow down the circuit. An alternator diode can also cause a drain and it is an unfused circuit. Unhook the alternator charging wire (big red wire bolted on) if none of the fuses turn the light off. Also the battery can have an internal short that will cause it to run dead on it;s own. Check this by leaving the battery disconnected for a couple days then check its voltage. Hope this helps, Good luck.

Answer 2

Sounds like your solonoid switch is giving out. The solonoid is the mechanism that kicks in with the familiar "click" sound. Normally it is located close to the starter. A new one is normally less than $40, so it shouldn't set you back. But I also recommend just simply redoing your main battery wires as well, especially if they're already a little on the crunchy side. A failed cable could cause your system to short out, and then you'd be in worse shape than you are now.

Answer 3

Buy a new battery and cables. That way you will not have to disconnect the cable from the battery. Disconnect the ground cable from the engine first.

Answer 4

i comprehend it sounds loopy, yet on those vehicles , the temperature administration sensor and or the oil sensor. have lots to do with the gas equipment. or it could additionally be vacuum leak. verify each and every hose.