Starter and trunk release won't work

[youngwatery]

I had to jump start my car this morning. The starter motor didn't have quite enough voltage to kick it over - and eventually gave the telltale clicking noise of a low battery. I was in the driver' seat when the car was started and the jumper cables were removed, so don't ask the question I know you all want to know! I don't think anything got shorted out...

After running the vehicle for a few minutes, I decided to close the trunk (convertible w/ Cadillac style electric trunk). The motorized latch tried to pull down the trunk lid, then stopped prior to fully closing. I re-opened it and tried closing it again, but no luck. It does not work - and the trunk will therefore not fully close. The electronic latch which releases the hood cover would also not operate, so the car is now stuck with the convertible top down. Next - I turned off the engine and tried to re-start the car - and the starter motor would not work at all. It does not even click (like it would if the battery were a bit on the flat side, as it was earlier). When I try to start the car, the temperature gauge goes flying off the scale and the radio display dims, but that's about it. I've checked the fuses to see if the tailgate fuse was blown - and it seems OK. I've tried jump starting the car again, but the starter motor will not respond. Most of the electronics (alarm, lights, fan, radio, locks etc.,) still work - and the problem seems related to the aforementioned regions. Any clues?

[Viper_Storm]

sounds like it could be a bad altenator... the battery isnt charging, and it runs out of juice trying to power the electronics and then your not able to start becasue its dead.

[youngwatery]

Originally Posted by Viper_Storm

sounds like it could be a bad altenator... the battery isnt charging, and it runs out of juice trying to power the electronics and then your not able to start becasue its dead.

Thanks for the input. Yes, that could be it. I'm curious, why when trying to jump start the car for the second time, am I not even getting ANY response from the starter (even clicking noises)? I had the jumpers connected to another car running at 2000rpm for over five minutes before trying to start it up. Also, the two items (trunk latch and hood cover release) remain a mystery.

[Viper_Storm]

Originally Posted by youngwatery

Thanks for the input. Yes, that could be it. I'm curious, why when trying to jump start the car for the second time, am I not even getting ANY response from the starter (even clicking noises)? I had the jumpers connected to another car running at 2000rpm for over five minutes before trying to start it up. Also, the two items (trunk latch and hood cover release) remain a mystery.

maybe they are both in need of replacing?

also, i somehow managed to not read the last bit of your post, maybe your battery is in need of replacing (1)... lol, i donno, this is tricky, maybe your starter has a bad connection to the battery? (2)

(1): if your battery is shot, then how are you getting power to other things?


(2): doesnt explain why you arent getting enough juice to power those 2 things that you mentioned...


do you have an after market stereo system? maybe its drawing tons of juice, try turning some shit off like the system, climate stuff, if you have a new stereo you might be using all the just trying to start the car but maybe just the starter went?

i donno tho becasue once you fire up the car you dont even need the battery.

[youngwatery]

Re: maybe your starter has a bad connection to the battery? Could be.

Re: do you have an after market stereo system? 1990 stock stereo. Original everything (except a two year old battery) 16K original miles. This is the first mechanical problem the car has ever had. So I guess I can't complain :-)

Re: Turn off climate stuff, - yep, it was all off when this was taking place.

One minor point - the trunk latch closure system failed while the engine was running (after the 1st and only jump start), so I don't believe it failed due to lack of current driving the electric "trunk closure" motor. In fact, (prior to jump starting the car) there was initially enough power in the battery to power the electric motor to open the trunk (where I had my jumper cables!). The roof cover release latch failure probably happened at the same time as the trunk latch failed. I'm not sure if both of those things run from a common circuit or not. All fuses looked to be in good shape.

I'd like to think that it is a blown fuse (that I'm somehow not seeing) and a loose battery connection at the starter motor. I'll check everything again in the morning. Thanks again.