2002 Silhouette electrical problems?

Hello,

I am having problems. My wife went out to start her van and nothing happened...the gauges flickered and when she turned the key...nothing.....I tried to jump the battery....and it turns maybe once...then nothing...any ideas? Do I have a short? Battery problems? alternator? No signs that anything was wrong prior to this...of course.....I am keeping my fingers crossed that this is something simple/inexpensive but my fear is that I have some major problem. I was thinking of subscribing to onstar so that they might do a systems check on it....or....just have it towed to the shop and let them at it.......any ideas would be greatly appreciated. Also, she says that when she has been coming up the hill to our driveway......the transmission might be slipping? she says that it was "jumping" a little......is it time to trade this one in? I was hoping to get a little more out of it.......has 62000 miles on it.....have replaced a head gasket and the air conditioner compressor already.........................ok............i have to add..........since I posted, I went out and jumped the battery and after a bit......i got the van to turn over and got it started.....I drove it around for about a half hour.....returned home....then went to put it into reverse to back it into the garage......and it died..completely...back to where I started........alternator? computer prob? battery? once again...any advice would be greatly appreciated!!! Thanks!!!


Chris

I have to respond to a fellow Illini!

I doubt it's something major. I'd first pull the battery and have it checked at Wal-mart. They can tell you (for free) if the battery is dead and if it will take a charge.

If the battery is okay but dead, then we need to determine why it is not getting a charge. The alternator might not be putting out power, but that usually is first accompanied by sluggish starting and possibly dimming of the headlights as you drive because the engine is running just off the battery.

Assuming the battery is good and you're reasonably certain the alternator is charging, I'd suspect either the solenoid (part of the starter), or maybe the battery cables.

So, not sure how much help this is, but I'd start with the battery and go from there.

One question. When you try to crank the engine with the headlights are on, do the lights dim way down? That would indicate that the battery does not have enough strength to turn the starter, but that the solenoid is switching properly to allow current to flow to the starter......

Good luck......ILL!

I have to respond to a fellow Illini!

I doubt it's something major. I'd first pull the battery and have it checked at Wal-mart. They can tell you (for free) if the battery is dead and if it will take a charge.

If the battery is okay but dead, then we need to determine why it is not getting a charge. The alternator might not be putting out power, but that usually is first accompanied by sluggish starting and possibly dimming of the headlights as you drive because the engine is running just off the battery.

Assuming the battery is good and you're reasonably certain the alternator is charging, I'd suspect either the solenoid (part of the starter), or maybe the battery cables.

So, not sure how much help this is, but I'd start with the battery and go from there.

One question. When you try to crank the engine with the headlights are on, do the lights dim way down? That would indicate that the battery does not have enough strength to turn the starter, but that the solenoid is switching properly to allow current to flow to the starter......

Good luck......ILL!

Same problem with our 2002 Silhuette last week--80,000 miles. Repair shop went to disconnect the battery cable and the lug fell off in his hand. New battery solved it. What really hurts is we had just ordered a new car!
SnoBird