Demon Possesed

[jvmoore1]

i am having a strange problem with my 1996 gtp....

1) has moments when it wont start...not teh battery cause radio and lights still go....but it wont turn over.

2) drive down teh road and the RPM gauge will just shut off (going 60 and seeing the RPM needle go to 0 kinda freaks you out!!)

3) gas gauge is all over the map....once i get to about a 1/4 of a tank when i turn the car on my fuel needle shoots up to Full and my computer reading says i have like 503 miles left till empty.

anyone know what is going on? i took it to a shop and the guy said he couldnt do anything till it breaks down (which then has to be towed, but once it gets there it cranks....endless cycle)

[ericvrose]

I would check/change one or both of the battery cables. They could be corroded inside. There is still enough juice to run the radio/lights but a bad or intermitent ground cable will prevent it from starting sometime and screw with everything else that runs on the battery.

[jvmoore1]

hmmm never thought about the battery cable....
is there a way to test the cable and see?

have you had a problem liek this? google searches showed up not too much on this (of course i may be wording it wrong)

[ericvrose]

I have had problems like you describe but not with my GP. It was a 76 mustang and the ground cable looked fine on the outside. When I stripped off the insul. it looked like a rusted stick. I only changed it because I tried everything else and nothing worked.

[jvmoore1]

hmm seems my local advance auto parts store doesnt carry battery cable...
have to see if there are any other places around here that does....

[carnutcass]

I had the battery cable problem with my '96 Bonneville. My buddy had the same problem with his GTP. Here's the thread about it. http://www.automotiveforums.com/vbul...=battery+cable

[jvmoore1]

do you guys know where i can get some detailed instructions on how to change the battery cable? looked at it when i got home and the positive cable goes forever!!! :-)

[jvmoore1]

what abotu cleaning teh cable? could that help? or maybe just changing the ground cable...
that positive cable looks really tricky to get to

[carnutcass]

The problem with the cable was inside the insulation. No good way to clean that. I'll check my GM Service Manual tonight for complete instructions to send to you.

[jvmoore1]

sweet....
thanks!

[richtazz]

you may not need to change the whole cable. Try to check simple things like heavy corrosion at the battery terminals and at the jump start terminal by the battery ( it's a stud covered by a red plastic cover). these are the two biggest problems with these cars, and they are simple to check and clean. Use an old toothbrush (not the wife's or kid's) and a baking soda/water solution to clean any green corrosion at these areas. Then just rinse the white residue with clean water, and see what happens.

[jvmoore1]

yeah that is what i was thinking about doing...but my cousin is going to go ahead and change it out (plus look at the starter)

[IH8RICE]

just so u know baking soda and water eats corrosion off batteries, make sure to disconnect them and id recommend taking the battery complety out and them cleaning it.

[jvmoore1]

cousin said he couldnt cahnge them out...that only the dealer could....thought this was odd....

so when i get done painting the kitchen i will try cleaning them