99 Alero sometimes won't start
myalerosucks
05-09-2005, 10:01 PM
Any suggestions???
Sometimes the car won't start. There is no pattern to it and the car may crank fine for a few days or a week or so. But, then you get in and it won't start. It will turn over fine once or twice but then it drags and turns over very slowly until it stops turning over completely. It is very similar to a dead battery but I had the battery checked and it tested perfectly. Also, sometimes the trunk opens when you crank it.....and sometimes the clock and radio resets when you start it. The times that it will not start, you can boost it off and it starts perfectly. It may go for a day or a week with no problem again. Then the next time it won't start, you can once again boost it off and it starts great again. It is driving me crazy because I can't find the problem and it's causing lots of problems because we keep having to ask people to boost us off at places. Any help will really be appreciated.
Sometimes the car won't start. There is no pattern to it and the car may crank fine for a few days or a week or so. But, then you get in and it won't start. It will turn over fine once or twice but then it drags and turns over very slowly until it stops turning over completely. It is very similar to a dead battery but I had the battery checked and it tested perfectly. Also, sometimes the trunk opens when you crank it.....and sometimes the clock and radio resets when you start it. The times that it will not start, you can boost it off and it starts perfectly. It may go for a day or a week with no problem again. Then the next time it won't start, you can once again boost it off and it starts great again. It is driving me crazy because I can't find the problem and it's causing lots of problems because we keep having to ask people to boost us off at places. Any help will really be appreciated.
BNaylor
05-10-2005, 07:55 PM
Any suggestions???
Sometimes the car won't start. There is no pattern to it and the car may crank fine for a few days or a week or so. But, then you get in and it won't start. It will turn over fine once or twice but then it drags and turns over very slowly until it stops turning over completely. It is very similar to a dead battery but I had the battery checked and it tested perfectly. Also, sometimes the trunk opens when you crank it.....and sometimes the clock and radio resets when you start it. The times that it will not start, you can boost it off and it starts perfectly. It may go for a day or a week with no problem again. Then the next time it won't start, you can once again boost it off and it starts great again. It is driving me crazy because I can't find the problem and it's causing lots of problems because we keep having to ask people to boost us off at places. Any help will really be appreciated.
How old is your battery and what brand is it? Plus you need to make sure there is no corrosion on the pos. & neg. battery posts and the cables.
Sometimes the car won't start. There is no pattern to it and the car may crank fine for a few days or a week or so. But, then you get in and it won't start. It will turn over fine once or twice but then it drags and turns over very slowly until it stops turning over completely. It is very similar to a dead battery but I had the battery checked and it tested perfectly. Also, sometimes the trunk opens when you crank it.....and sometimes the clock and radio resets when you start it. The times that it will not start, you can boost it off and it starts perfectly. It may go for a day or a week with no problem again. Then the next time it won't start, you can once again boost it off and it starts great again. It is driving me crazy because I can't find the problem and it's causing lots of problems because we keep having to ask people to boost us off at places. Any help will really be appreciated.
How old is your battery and what brand is it? Plus you need to make sure there is no corrosion on the pos. & neg. battery posts and the cables.
myalerosucks
05-11-2005, 05:34 AM
The battery is an AC Delco but I'm not sure how old it is because I bought the car used and the battery was already on it. There is no corrosion on the posts because that was the first thing that I checked. I replaced the positive cable because it was corroded inside the cable and I also cleaned both terminals and connections but a few days later I had the same problem again. Is it possible for the battery to be the problem even though it already tested to be fine?
BNaylor
05-11-2005, 07:46 AM
The battery is an AC Delco but I'm not sure how old it is because I bought the car used and the battery was already on it. There is no corrosion on the posts because that was the first thing that I checked. I replaced the positive cable because it was corroded inside the cable and I also cleaned both terminals and connections but a few days later I had the same problem again. Is it possible for the battery to be the problem even though it already tested to be fine?
Based on the description of your problem, you can't rule it out even though it may have tested fine. I've seen batteries tested and recharged at places like Autozone only to find out it was a bad battery.
The problem with sealed batteries is there is no way to test specific gravity so you never really know for sure. Our AC Delco battery went out a year after we had purchased our Alero with the same symptoms you have. Replaced it and never had any problems since then.
If its not the battery, then you'll need to check out the electrical/starter system especially the starter and the starter solenoid. Good luck!
Based on the description of your problem, you can't rule it out even though it may have tested fine. I've seen batteries tested and recharged at places like Autozone only to find out it was a bad battery.
The problem with sealed batteries is there is no way to test specific gravity so you never really know for sure. Our AC Delco battery went out a year after we had purchased our Alero with the same symptoms you have. Replaced it and never had any problems since then.
If its not the battery, then you'll need to check out the electrical/starter system especially the starter and the starter solenoid. Good luck!
myalerosucks
05-11-2005, 03:07 PM
How can I find out how many cranking amps that my alero requires in a battery? I want to make sure that my battery also has enough cranking amps for the car.
BNaylor
05-11-2005, 03:35 PM
How can I find out how many cranking amps that my alero requires in a battery? I want to make sure that my battery also has enough cranking amps for the car.
I'm not 100% sure but I believe that the stock AC Delco battery had 550 CCA. Replaced mine with an AC Delco Professional Series with 650 CCA. Its got a 6 year warranty from GM. Little more expensive but worth it. Autozone has the Duralast brand that appears reliable from 550 CCA - 700 CCA, etc. Sears Die-Hards are good too.
I'm not 100% sure but I believe that the stock AC Delco battery had 550 CCA. Replaced mine with an AC Delco Professional Series with 650 CCA. Its got a 6 year warranty from GM. Little more expensive but worth it. Autozone has the Duralast brand that appears reliable from 550 CCA - 700 CCA, etc. Sears Die-Hards are good too.
vamc
05-13-2005, 12:11 AM
bnaylor3400-do you think it could be an alternater? i think it could but could also be the batt. when the car is running, does the check engine light go on before it shuts off? a bad cell in the batt could make the alternater go bad. it has happened to me. I was pissed that day. i fixed it and runs fine. Just a thought.
BNaylor
05-13-2005, 02:08 AM
bnaylor3400-do you think it could be an alternater? i think it could but could also be the batt. when the car is running, does the check engine light go on before it shuts off? a bad cell in the batt could make the alternater go bad. it has happened to me. I was pissed that day. i fixed it and runs fine. Just a thought.
I agree it could be the alternator too especially if he had a shorted or dead cell in the battery.
I agree it could be the alternator too especially if he had a shorted or dead cell in the battery.
Automotive Network, Inc., Copyright ©2026