94 LeSabre Starting Problem

[netkliks]

This car us really driving me nuts. About 3 months ago, it would not start after running perfectly. I would turn the key and nothing would happen, not a sound. Put a new battery in and it did great until today. Tried to start it and it would just click but after about 5 minutes it started perfectly. When I turned the headlights on it almosted died. All of the warning lights came on for a second or two, then it was ok after I accelerated the engine to keep it from dying. I drove it for a few miles and I noticed that when I would apply the brakes, the headlights would dim. When I got back home, I tried to start it and it would just click, but it started in a few minutes, but it again tried to die when I turned the headlight on. Hope some on can help.

[yogi_123rd]

It sounds like the battery cables have a high amount of resistance in them. Try cleaning the contacts.

[sallisonbrown]

Originally Posted by netkliks

This car us really driving me nuts. About 3 months ago, it would not start after running perfectly. I would turn the key and nothing would happen, not a sound. Put a new battery in and it did great until today. Tried to start it and it would just click but after about 5 minutes it started perfectly. When I turned the headlights on it almosted died. All of the warning lights came on for a second or two, then it was ok after I accelerated the engine to keep it from dying. I drove it for a few miles and I noticed that when I would apply the brakes, the headlights would dim. When I got back home, I tried to start it and it would just click, but it started in a few minutes, but it again tried to die when I turned the headlight on. Hope some on can help.

I second Yogi's advice. But, aftre you clean/check the terminals and connections (Frame, Battery, Starter, Alternator) you might conside going into your local Auto Zone or Checker, etc. parts store and asking them to do a quick system check on the Battery, alternator and starter. This will give you a little better idea of your systems condition.. Also, I had a friend with the same kind of problem and for some reason the "Park" lockout for allowing you to start got funny and they had to make sure that the shift lever was really fully in the Park position. Next time, if it still fails to start initially, jiggle the shift lever just to make sure.

[netkliks]

I cleaned the battery cables with water and baking soda.
The car is starting good now. It is even running better. I have had a slightly rough idle for about a year, but now it idles like it did when it was new. This car has 2 positive cables going to the battery. All of the corrision was between the 2 cables. I just hope this was the problem. I have had this problem for about 6 months. it has been about a month since it last acted up and the it started acting up again a couple of days ago. I'll know if it is fixed after I drive it for awhile, hopefully.