2000 Lesabre Starting Problem

My car was in an airport parking lot for 5 days. Just a clicking noise when I tried to start it. I got it jumped, drove it 3 hours and shut it off in the driveway. After about 15 minutes I tried to start it again - just a clicking noise. After 4 days, I went out to 'deal' with it - had friend come over to jump it, and just for the heck of it - I tried to start it and it started. Took it an AC Delco dealer who checked the battery, under load, and found nothing wrong with the battery or the alternator. Any clues? If it is a solenoid, can I just keep driving it and getting it jumped? I have to take a long trip in the next couple days.

Sounds like the starter relay (which is part of the starter) is going. The starter should be replaced.

When you start your car, the clicking noise is the starter solonoid engaging the starter drive gear. It will also engage electrical contacts in the starter relay sending full battery power to the starter. In your case, the contacts are most likely worn. Right now it marginally starts. It will only get worse.

I had a problem like this. Apparently the result of an accident that cracked the battery casing casing it to leak acid around the positive terminal.

The car would be fine for months at a time. Then it would start hesistating when starting. Then it would stop starting. When I'd check the battery, there'd be so much acid the terminal cap had popped off. After I cleaned it up with some baking soda solution, all was well again.

Then one day, nothing worked, couldn't get it to start at all. If I got a jump, then everything was fine... until I turned the engine off. Took the car to AutoZone, pulled the battery, and they did a... "charging load test" or something. Basically, a high-amp fast charging, if the battery holds the load for 15 minutes, the battery is good. Came out fine.

So we put the battery in my car, and I had to get them to jump me. The battery had just come off a charger, so the guy was puzzled. He hooked up the whole diagnostic rig to check the alternator and everything.

No Tach, so he'd giving me hand signals because the car has to be at 2000 RPM to run the test. I made about... 1800 RPM and every indicator light in the car (including the environmental controls) starts flashing on and off, engine flat lines.

They told me I needed a new battery. I said "I need a jump." Drove to Wal-mart, they tested the battery with a little handheld and agreed. Replaced the battery under warrenty, installed it in the parking lot, mystery problem solved. Better battery too, the one I returned they stopped making.