Flickering lights, battery dead

[dreager]

'92 PAU Ultra 300km

Hi,
Had a similar problem to previous posts with flickering lights while driving or idling, but in my case on awakening next day the battery was dead.(6 months old Energiser) I connected my charger and set to it "start" which it will within 5 minutes normally. All the lights are on on my first attempt to start and I got a clicking which indicated it was near to starting.(gauge shows 13 amps) I waited and then when I tried again there was nothing,...no clicks nada, and all the lights/chimes were still working but still flickering.

The previous owner replaced one of the coil packs with a used one. Does this indicate others may have failed ?

Any ideas ?

[dreager]

After charging overnight, and without sounding like a complete dweeeb, I checked the battery connections and the positive nut took 5 complete turns to tighten, also the battery was flopping around..tightened bolt also.So I wait and see.

These connectors are the same problem I had with the '91 Regal.

The ? still remains...why did ALL the lights work but wouldn't crank?

[auto trainy]

Most likely your cable to the starter was loose and the cable for the instruments was just tight enough to make a connection (they are both on the same battery post)
A suggestion would be that you remove the both cables and separate them then clean them and put a coating of deilectric grease on them and reinstall.
(note) remember to always to disconnect the negative cable first. good luck

[HotZ28]

Originally Posted by dreager

The ? still remains...why did ALL the lights work but wouldn't crank?

It takes very little power (amperage draw) for the lights to operate, however, much more to operate the starter. This is why the terminals must be clean & tight!