94 Buick PA-Battery, Starter or Alternator

[2early]

Hello, Everyone.

I have a 94 Buick PA and I'm an OTR tractor-trailer driver. I stay out about 3-4 weeks at a time. But when I return home I never have such issues with my car. I've had the car since 10/2005. It only had 80,000 miles. Now it has 125,000 miles and the only thing I've ever changed was tires, battery and fuel filter.

Recently, I learned that the battery cables that were connected to the side post were stripped, and after a period of driving they'd become loose and need retightening. So I changed the entire negative battery cable to top post and on the positive cable, which had 2 separate cables and 1 wire, I cut the side post connection off and added a top post connection. As I was changing the post connections on the positive cable there was a heavy build-up of corrosion within the positive cable. The battery is a Wal-Mart battery that I've had since 1/07 and haven't been giving me any problems.

Since I've changed the cables I'm having problems starting. Without a jump it just clicks and all the lights flash and flutter and then it dies. With a jump it turns over then stop, then theres a loud ping or cluck from the starter and it starts, but it dies the moment I remove the jumper cables. A few jumps with that Wal-Mart battery makes the starter sound like that. With a different old battery, that's weak, I get a jump but the noises from the starter aren't there. When I remove the jumper cables it stays on. But when I try to start with the old weak battery, without a jump, it turns over one time and then nothing.

Do I change out the entire positive cable since it might be corroded throughout the cable down to the starter, or buy a new starter, alternator or battery. I tested the battery, in the car, at Auto-Zone and they said it was good. I'm going to take it out of the car and have them charge it and determine if it's still a good battery.

As that is happening a few of you master craftsmen can give me some wisdom on my situation and then I'll let you know if the battery's good.

SSL

Thanks for all your help.

[HotZ28]

Get the battery up to a full charge & then tell them to do a "load" test. If the cable to the starter is corroded on the “inside” you need a new cable. Be sure to check & clean, (or replace) the cable going to the main fuse/relay panel mounted on the firewall. The same applies to the cable between the alternator & battery positive. All positive & negative cables & terminals must be clean & free from corrosion. Once you are sure that everything else is up to par, you should have the alternator tested for output. BTW, if you have auto climate control, be sure to turn it off before disconnecting the negative battery cable. Remember, always remove the negative (-) cable first!!