1997 LHS No Start

[charles914]

After almost never having problems starting the LHS, today I turned the key and it wouldn't crank. However, when I checked the battery it seemed fine. With jumper cables I attached another battery that I know to be in excellent condition. When I turned the key I noticed the tach jumped up oddly, all the lights indicating the transmission settings came on (RND1D2), and on some tries I got a little clicking, once I got a sluggish sounding engine turnover, but after each try no lights or anything would work for a few seconds. With the strange way the dash lights and tach act, it seems like maybe the ignition switch is bad. Maybe both the ignition switch and starter went bad at the same time? I've never encountered this combination of problems. Also the fan for the auto climate control came on each time I tried turning the key, even though I turned it off each time and various other oddities.

Any thoughts?

[urclueless]

this is the classic symptoms of a bad battery. could be bad battery cables. have the battery professionally tested (load tested).

[charles914]

Thanks, I'll check it out. I wish it hadn't gotten so cold outside, no fun working in the driveway.

[urclueless]

when I was in highschool, I had to replace my transmission in the driveway..just after Christmas living in Milwaukee. it was do that or not be able to get to work. all I had was basic tools, a borrowed jack and jackstands. I did it in an afternoon.

[charles914]

A new battery and new battery cable terminals did the trick (thank you very much!). I found out that new Chrysler battery cables would cost around $400, so I was lucky there was enough cable left to allow replacing just the terminals. The cable ends and terminals were very corroded.

Now the electric cooling fans behind the radiator aren't working (neither of them turn on at any time). Any suggestions on tracking down that problem?