Hello,

I have a 1997 Lumina that is having trouble starting:
This has been going on for about three weeks.

Sometimes when the car sits for 8 hours or more it won't start.
The starter solenoid (Build into starter) just chatters. Sometimes
it will start after a couple of tries, but the engine cranks slowly prior to
starting. I battery is 5 months old (Krikland brand from Costco 875 CA,
700 CCA). I had the starter replaced last week. No luck.

The mechanic said the alternator is working OK, so I must have a leak that's
draining the battery. With the key off, I disconnected the Negative battery terminal an put a DMM amp meter in line. I read 500 ma for about 5 seconds,
then some relay opens and the current drain is only 4 ma. Not enough to
kill the battery in 8 hours ?

If I jump the purple wire stud to the remote positive battery terminal, then
the car will start but it sounds weak.

I charged the battery, and started the car again.
I read 14.38 volts at the battery when the car is running.
( The V AC setting on the meter reads 40 mv - Just noise ? )

I shut the car off after about 5 minutes, I turned the key on again,
the lights seem bright. I read 10.75 volts at the battery.
I turned the key off again.

After a couple of hours I read 12.5 volts at the battery (at 50 Deg. F).

This is driving me crazy!

Any ideas what might be wrong ?

Thanks,
Paul

 

Well I made a SWAG that the battery was defective.

Costco refunded my battery purchase and I installed a new battery.
So far so good. I'll follow up in a couple of days.

 

Just a quick update.
It's been two weeks since I replaced the battery.
The car is fine now.
Until this problem, I have never seen a new battery that's defective.