new battery, not starting.PLZ help! :(

[kiko B]

Yeahi saw the video, its nithing i didnt already know/try. It was interesting tho and im thinking of emailing him to ask for advice. I can not twist the terminals by hand, they are secure.
Ps- thanks for the video.

[GTP Dad]

I know you don't have a lot of money but change the entire positive wire leading from the battery to the starter not just the end of the cable. I suspect that you have an internally corroded wire that is high amperage and that is why the car will start with a boost and not the single battery. This happens when the wires get old and can draw so much current during the starting phase that the battery cannot supply enough to start the car. This is the only thing that I can think of that may be causing the issue.

[thephantom1492]

Originally Posted by GTP Dad

I know you don't have a lot of money but change the entire positive wire leading from the battery to the starter not just the end of the cable. I suspect that you have an internally corroded wire that is high amperage and that is why the car will start with a boost and not the single battery. This happens when the wires get old and can draw so much current during the starting phase that the battery cannot supply enough to start the car. This is the only thing that I can think of that may be causing the issue.

That could be tested by the same way that Eric in the video did...

Put probes on battery, try to start. Voltage should stay over 10V. If not, you could have a battery problem OR a starter OR engine problem or a mix of all.

Put a probe on the starter "big wire", put the other probe directly on the battery positive (if you can't, go to the connector...)

Then try to start. The voltage read should be very low. If you read an high voltage (let's say more than 2V) then your wire lose lots of voltage and need to be replaced.

If you read close to 0V, then one probe to the starter body, one to the battery negative terminal. Try to start. If high volt, you have a ground failure. If close to 0V then the ground wire is fine.

If both tests test ok, body of the starter and starter small wire. Should read about 12V when you try to start. If you do not then look at why!

Basically, the small wire power the solenoid, which pull on a lever, that push out the gear out of the starter so it engage in the flywheel, which is bolted to the engine. That solenoid also have a "switch" that connect the big wire to the starter motor.

The proper sequence is: small wire get energised, which power the solenoid, which engage the gear. Once the gear is in, the copper disk that is part of that "switch" make the contact and the starter turn.

The small wire come from the ignition key switch, then go to the transmission shift interlock switch (that prevent a car from starting when in gear) or to the clutch pedal for manual transmission. That wire can also be cut and a relay inserted there for anti-theif protection...

So you have 2 power path and a few mechanical devices.

Check for the voltages first. It will help to understand stuff.

[ffshnike]

Hi there,
I have a 95 grand am se and a 97 grand am gt. My 95 has done the same thing to me and I replaced the battery. Both times it has been the ignition switch. $180 to fix it twice in 2 years. Got a 3 year warranty on the part this time. But it would start sometimes and other times nothing until it would just go competely dead. Hope this helped.

[ffshnike]

Hi in doing some research for my 97 gt I found out that there has been a recall on later year grand am for the ignition switch. I have replaced my 95 ignition switch twice in 2 years. I called GM today and they are sending both my 95 and 97 to a service tech to get fixed or looked at and I was told that if the switch repair I already did is already done correctly I will be able to get a reimbursement for the repair!! Guess it doesn't hurt to check it out!

[jtgdy61]

I have a 2003 Grand Am, GT, ran great no problems then won't start, nadda. all lights lit no noise at all when turning key., battery replaced 3 months ago i had to beleive that the starter was OK always a smooth start, did not know what to think. I read your post and I thought that it was strange but worth a try. After going thru the 3 times on and off, car started right up. Cannot thank you enough for your advice great to hear from someone who knows what they are talking about.THANKS

[kiko B]

Okay time for an update. Since i have started having this problem i have checked/changed/replaced : my battery, negative ground wire, checked alternator, bench test starter,replace solinoid, replace ignitionswitch(twice) replace spark plugs and wires and tried the security bypass thing. The weird part : i had to change the rad(there was a hole) and after that she would start by herself without a boost. Ran perfectly for 3weeks, my boyfriend left it in neutral over night one night but it started up fine when i left for work. It was only when i tried to go for a coffee run at work( two hours later) that the same old ugly problem reappeard. Again not start unless boosted. I had a friend come over and insisting it was the plugs and wires changed them. It started with a boost but the engine light was on so we shut her off and tried again. She wouldnt even take the boost! So i did the ignition switch, to no avail, i did not try to boost this time. I gave up untill 3 weeks ago, i had a friend come loom and he thought it was the positive termial that i had replaced not connecting the wires properly(it was one that you slide over the wires the twist one the end that attaches to the battery)OR a dead spot in the starteer that "wouldnt appear on a bemch test because the isnt the load from the engine on it". At any rate we boosted it and she started with noises that sounded like a dead zombie chicken trying to escape from my engine. But after making that noise she started by herself several times that day and the next. I have been too busy to even think about the car until today. I tried to start it and it cranks but wont catch she did catch a couple times but died before i even took my hand off the key. What could be possible problems with this new issue? Any ideas would help immensly!
-no gas
-bad starter?
I have no idea and didnt even think to look at the gas gauge (but it should be full, unless someone syphened it).

Ps- the tips/advice/help you guys have given me so car have been wonderfull, and i really appreciate it. So thanks again and thanks in advance for any fresh ideas.

[Tech II]

Have a can of carb cleaner handy.....when it won't start, spray carb cleaner into the intake and have someone crank vehicle.....if it starts and runs as long as you spray, it's a fuel problem......either no/low pressure, or injector problem(Security system?)....