The Oldsmobile Connection

85cieraholiday · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 5:25 pm Post subject: Too Hard to Start

After my car has been siting for 3 hrs or more, it takes a good amount of time to turn over, and when it is trying to turn over, the engine seems to strain really hard. The starter is only 10 months old, any ideas? :roll:

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

Battery....I just recently had to recharge mine since it wouldn't even start...just a "click..click...click...click"

A battery with high cold cranking amps is what you want....

TOC Admin
Brando

73Delta88 · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 7:00 pm Post subject:

check for bad connections or corrosion on the battery terminals.... you'd be suprized how much a little corrosion can lower the power available to your starter.

if that's fine I'd say to load test the battery. If you dont have a load tester you could probably get someone at a shop to do it for next to nothing.

Psyco Diver 69 · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 207 Location: South NJ

I agree but make your fuel system is running clean and what weight oil are you using.

85cieraholiday · Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2004 11:16 pm Post subject:

The battery is only a few years old (like 2 or 3) and the connections do not have any corrosion. The car as I said has a new starter (from may 2003) and it has 10-30 oil in it (which is what the book says 2 use). The car only has 72,800 miles on it.

Psyco Diver 69 · Joined: 21 Sep 2003 Posts: 207 Location: South NJ

Its seems your battery might be to old then. You can bring them to most parts stores and have them test it for free to tell you if your battery is bad or not

Cutlass95Ciera · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 433 Location: Portage, Michigan

My battery is 3 years old and it's starting to go. I have the same problem in the cold. I took it to pep boys cus I heard they will check them for free, which they did, and it tested low.

strokercutlass · Joined: 09 Jun 2003 Posts: 379 Location: Wis

next question...
what make/brand of battery?
If its a Wal Mart "NEVERstart", then you've found your problem...otherwise, I'd still tend to lean towards the battery, unless theres something thats draining the battery in that amount of time. I'd take it by somewhere and have them do a load test on it just to be sure. For a new battery I'd suggest either an Interstate or an Optima. They're a little more expensive, but how much is it worth to you if your car is dead in the cold???

86Delta · Joined: 06 Nov 2003 Posts: 281 Location: NJ, USA

i agree with stroker, if it is the battery, i highly reccomend Interstate. my MT-78 is 4 years old, has been run dead 3 times (twice from having the stereo cranked while tailgating, and once when my alternator went), and takes a beating everyday from my stereo and it still starts the car everyday, even this morning when it was 9 degrees. if you can fit a bigger battery in there, the number is MT-78, if not, you will need an MT-75.

Cutlass95Ciera · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 433 Location: Portage, Michigan

strokercutlass wrote: next question...
what make/brand of battery?
If its a Wal Mart "NEVERstart", then you've found your problem...

:thumbup: Exactly what I found out the hard way! I bought one for my old car at Meijer last year, and it lasted about a week.

p.s. If you don’t live in the Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois area...Meijer is our version of Wal Mart

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

Cutlass95Ciera wrote: strokercutlass wrote: next question...
what make/brand of battery?
If its a Wal Mart "NEVERstart", then you've found your problem...

:thumbup: Exactly what I found out the hard way! I bought one for my old car at Meijer last year, and it lasted about a week.

p.s. If you don’t live in the Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois area...Meijer is our version of Wal Mart

Cept Wal-Mart usually doesn't sell groceries....unless it's one of those super wal-marts or whatever the hell you call em....

TOC Admin
Brando

Cutlass95Ciera · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 433 Location: Portage, Michigan

Brando wrote:
Cept Wal-Mart usually doesn't sell groceries....unless it's one of those super wal-marts or whatever the hell you call em....

TOC Admin
Brando

Well they are selling groceries around here, all of the new wal-marts moving in start out as normal ones, and then go to super centers. Then it really takes away from Meijer, and that's why I might not have a job this time next year :lol:

Brando · Joined: 06 Jun 2003 Posts: 3067 Location: Michigan, USA

AHA!
You work at Meijer....I was thinking about working there....I got an application and everything...but then I got in the personality of I'm too good to work at Meijer....LMAO

I'm looking just to do jobs online....like web sites and stuff....

How much does Meijer actually pay you? And what do you do there?

TOC Admin
Brando

Cutlass95Ciera · Joined: 27 Jun 2003 Posts: 433 Location: Portage, Michigan

well they pay me 8 bux an hour....but i've been there for almost three years. I work in the produce departement, third shift. I started out as a bagger, if I recall correctly it pays just under six bux an hour. You get a raise every 700 hours you work. It may sound like alot, but if you work 40 hours a week during the summer, the hours sure can add up fast :lol:
It sux being a bagger, but you can get promoted, it took me almost two years! I'm with you on the web jobs. I would LOVE to work from my computer :thumbup:

85cieraholiday · Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2004 3:38 pm Post subject:

I just went outside and checked what kind of battery it is. Its a NAPA power 60.