1996 buick regal custom bad connection

[Netsurfers]

My brother bought this car like 2 years ago, and handed it off to me, All the electronics work, AKA radio, lights, when you turn the key, But if you turn it to start it, Everything shuts off. brand new battery, fully charged in it.

So the only thing I can think of is a bad connection, So I replaced the almost all visible wires, And even the starter.

So is it a bad connection or a bad wire?

Little money was spent on it, And i'd like to keep it that way if possible

I do have a parts car, a 2001 grand prix GT, They both have the same engine, 3800 3.8l

EDIT:
Forgot to mention, It starts with a batterycharger on it.

[GTP Dad]

Welcome to AF!!

It sounds like you may have a bad connection between the starter and the battery. However, if it will start when you have a battery charger on the car you may actually have a bad starter. Once in a while the starter will go bad and require more power than the battery can actually supply. Try a new starter from the other car and see what happens. Also check all connections at the starter to make sure they are clean and are making a good connection.

[Netsurfers]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

Welcome to AF!!

It sounds like you may have a bad connection between the starter and the battery. However, if it will start when you have a battery charger on the car you may actually have a bad starter. Once in a while the starter will go bad and require more power than the battery can actually supply. Try a new starter from the other car and see what happens. Also check all connections at the starter to make sure they are clean and are making a good connection.

The battery is exactly what the book that came with the car says, the grand prix starter is currently in the buick, And im pretty sure its not the starter because all of the electronics go off as soon as soon as you go to start it, But this doesnt happen with a battery charger. It starts with a battery charger

The battery cables were replaced, I installed a 12 volt meter on to the dash and its staying fully charged when you go to start it, Its not drawing any power whatsoever, Im gonna replace all of the cables/wires that runs to the starter, Hopefully that will fix it

[Tech II]

I am confused here......new battery,replaced wires(which ones?), new starter.....won't start.....but it starts with a battery charger on it?

Were the battery cables and bolts free of corrosion when you installed new battery?

Take a test light......attach it across battery....light bright? Leaving one end attached to the neg terminal, attach test light to terminal of starter where the other end of the pos battery cable attaches.....is it still bright?

Turn key to crank position.....is it still bright and does it crank?

If bright, and it doesn't crank, attach test light to the "S" terminal of the starter solenoid(purple wire)......Turn key to crank....does the test light shine bright when the key is in the crank position?

If no, when key is turned to "on", look at SECURITY light....does it go out after 5 seconds?

[Netsurfers]

I got it fixed, I pulled the dash off, found a few disconnected connectors, Reconnected them. Went under the hood. Pulled the wires off the starter. Replaced them with the ones off the grand prix, And a few other things and it seemingly fixed it. I dont think the disconnected connectors had anything to do with it. Just mentioned it just incase.

Though I got another question.

I started it up, It ran for a few seconds, no more then 30. And smoke was comming up from behind the engine. Under the right cylinder head somewhere, Cant see where. And I noticed a small amount of oil laying on top of the block.

And it also smells like antifreeze was leaking..

Any idea to why?

[SuperFudd]

OOPS!
Sounds like the bad intake manifold problem common to these engines. There was a recall on some of them, I think. I had mine repalaced with the re-desined manifold before it failed. If it fails you get coolant where it should not be and wreck the engine. Search this forum and elsewhere for details.

[big white bufflo]

it could be a valve cover gasket you say u see oil on the block look at that first or are you loseing coolant to or the smoke smells like oil or antifreeze valve cover gasket are the cheaper one to fix

[Netsurfers]

Theres really no need for it anymore, I traded it for a chevy truck.