dead 94

[deactivated]

Well, I bought a 94 Buick Lesabre about 3 months ago, and within that three months have a couple of problems. Here goes:
First my check engine light came on when I first started the car before going to work. Seemed like throttle was stuck open, rpms were high and as soon as I let off the brake it would surge forward. Stopped at a gas station, turned the car off and popped the hood, turned out the throttle was stuck open, I pulled on the throttle lever and it came unstuck, started car up, no problems, no check engine light, moved on with my life.
Second I parked for an entire day at work, came out to start the car and It wouldnt start-no cranking, no electrics, no power period, no remote doorlocks, no accessories, zip. Figured i left the lights on, but not sure. Had a guy come try and jump me with a portable jumper-odd things start happening now-guy hooks up the cables, nothing, no power nothing. I say try a better connection so he takes the positive jumper cable off the side terminal and bam, power comes back, car starts, guy says "what the Hell", I move on with my life.
Third and fourth I am driving along and hit two bumps in about a 1 mile stretch- power flickers, everything goes for about 1/2 a second, car doesnt die, just a glitch.
Finally I go to start my car this morning, starts right up, pull out of driveway, get 10 feet and it dies, pull of to side of road.
Key points-obviously Im thinking electrical, probably ground(really likely given the bump glitches) this has only happened when I have a lot of stuff running Heater, windshield wipers, lights and usually the killer is either the radio(tape only, not just radio power) or the rear defog button.


Question is-is this purely a ground issue somewhere or battery not having enough juice and so cuts out when too much is asked of it. And if this is the case why can't I start it sometimes afterwards. I dont know if I wait awhile if it will start again, havent tested it today.

[Master01]

First of all Welcome to AF!

Your problem is probably loose terminals on the battery. Take them off and clean off the corrison and put some grease on them just a little and put the back on the battery and tighten it down really well. See what happends, if it dosen't work then check the grounds on the car.

[deactivated]

would a loose or bad/corroding batter connection cause the system to blip when too much power was being drawn?

[imidazol97]

Take the negative lead off the battery and clean it and put petroleum jelly. Use one of those metal brushes to clean the terminal and the battery contact. Then take off the positive. If it's a double layer contact on the side post battery, clean very carefully. Look down into the plastic covered part to see if the copper there is corroding with acid from the battery. Check the battery contacts to see if they are broken inside and losing connection or are leaking battery acid.

Check the other ends of those cables where they connect to the fender for ground and the motor for ground and where the positive goes tot he alternator and starter.

[jimakers]

Had the same problem with my 94 Limited. Turned out to be the positive cable corrision/loose. Those two thick donut connectors on that one side post don't always clamp down real well. Have to be removed and cleaned about every year or so.

[ponchonutty]

There's a serious problem with Delco batteries where the lead plates that you screw the cables onto isn't deep enough. Then when you tighten the battery or worse, unhook the battery and then reattach the battery it cracks and acid over a period of time corrods the battery cable on the inside. Make sure to check this.