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Dead Battery or Starter?

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  #1  
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Flab
 
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Default Dead Battery or Starter? - 01-26-2006 , 11:43 AM






I have a 5 yo Malibu, V6, 98k miles.

The car is garaged and the temp is mild (like 50 deg at night)

This morning, whe I tried to start it, I got half a crank, then
nothing. Thought my battery was dead, but the radio was still running
(however the headlights were dim) I tried again and then I got one full
(but slow) crank.

I tried about 8 times, I waited about 10 seconds between each try and
every time it would crank a little more before dying. The car finally
started, but the started sounds slower than usual.

During all that, after each crank, the spedometer jumped to 60 mph
(which I guess is a relevant code from the ecu)

I drove my car to work, and once it was warm it starts easier, the
started sounds slow though.

Does anyone know what the 60mph means? Or how to get more info out of
the computer? It does not sound like my battery is dead (even though I
have no experience with a dead car battery) but I'm guessing that the
more you try starting, the less charge there should be...

Any thought?


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  #2  
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Henri
 
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Default Re: Dead Battery or Starter? - 01-26-2006 , 12:42 PM






A Guess! Your Battery is bad. Get a load test, most OE batteries do not last
much past 5 years.The Speedo is electronic so it will jump under these
conditions.


"Flab" <lambertf (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

I have a 5 yo Malibu, V6, 98k miles.

The car is garaged and the temp is mild (like 50 deg at night)

This morning, whe I tried to start it, I got half a crank, then
nothing. Thought my battery was dead, but the radio was still running
(however the headlights were dim) I tried again and then I got one full
(but slow) crank.

I tried about 8 times, I waited about 10 seconds between each try and
every time it would crank a little more before dying. The car finally
started, but the started sounds slower than usual.

During all that, after each crank, the spedometer jumped to 60 mph
(which I guess is a relevant code from the ecu)

I drove my car to work, and once it was warm it starts easier, the
started sounds slow though.

Does anyone know what the 60mph means? Or how to get more info out of
the computer? It does not sound like my battery is dead (even though I
have no experience with a dead car battery) but I'm guessing that the
more you try starting, the less charge there should be...

Any thought?



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  #3  
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roger
 
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Default Re: Dead Battery or Starter? - 01-27-2006 , 08:38 AM



dead battery.
"Flab" <lambertf (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote

Quote:
I have a 5 yo Malibu, V6, 98k miles.

The car is garaged and the temp is mild (like 50 deg at night)

This morning, whe I tried to start it, I got half a crank, then
nothing. Thought my battery was dead, but the radio was still running
(however the headlights were dim) I tried again and then I got one full
(but slow) crank.

I tried about 8 times, I waited about 10 seconds between each try and
every time it would crank a little more before dying. The car finally
started, but the started sounds slower than usual.

During all that, after each crank, the spedometer jumped to 60 mph
(which I guess is a relevant code from the ecu)

I drove my car to work, and once it was warm it starts easier, the
started sounds slow though.

Does anyone know what the 60mph means? Or how to get more info out of
the computer? It does not sound like my battery is dead (even though I
have no experience with a dead car battery) but I'm guessing that the
more you try starting, the less charge there should be...

Any thought?




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  #4  
Old   
KjunRaven
 
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Default Re: Dead Battery or Starter? - 01-27-2006 , 08:41 AM



"roger" <4lishbrk (AT) sbcglobal (DOT) net> wrote in news:inpCf.28354$PL5.18928
@newssvr11.news.prodigy.com:

Quote:
dead battery.
"Flab" <lambertf (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1138293793.105270.270210 (AT) g47g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com...
I have a 5 yo Malibu, V6, 98k miles.

The car is garaged and the temp is mild (like 50 deg at night)

This morning, whe I tried to start it, I got half a crank, then
nothing. Thought my battery was dead, but the radio was still running
(however the headlights were dim) I tried again and then I got one
full
(but slow) crank.

I tried about 8 times, I waited about 10 seconds between each try and
every time it would crank a little more before dying. The car finally
started, but the started sounds slower than usual.

During all that, after each crank, the spedometer jumped to 60 mph
(which I guess is a relevant code from the ecu)

I drove my car to work, and once it was warm it starts easier, the
started sounds slow though.

Does anyone know what the 60mph means? Or how to get more info out of
the computer? It does not sound like my battery is dead (even though I
have no experience with a dead car battery) but I'm guessing that the
more you try starting, the less charge there should be...

Any thought?




dead battery! if its the OE DELCO its probably leaked acid around the
pos.post. poor a gallon of baking soda/water mix all around area or you
WILL end up with washer pump and wiring probs...............


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  #5  
Old   
Cy Welch
 
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Default Re: Dead Battery or Starter? - 01-28-2006 , 01:21 PM



Henri wrote:
Quote:
A Guess! Your Battery is bad. Get a load test, most OE batteries do not last
much past 5 years.The Speedo is electronic so it will jump under these
conditions.


"Flab" <lambertf (AT) gmail (DOT) com> wrote in message
news:1138293793.105270.270210 (AT) g47g2000cwa (DOT) googlegroups.com...
I have a 5 yo Malibu, V6, 98k miles.

The car is garaged and the temp is mild (like 50 deg at night)

This morning, whe I tried to start it, I got half a crank, then
nothing. Thought my battery was dead, but the radio was still running
(however the headlights were dim) I tried again and then I got one full
(but slow) crank.

I tried about 8 times, I waited about 10 seconds between each try and
every time it would crank a little more before dying. The car finally
started, but the started sounds slower than usual.

During all that, after each crank, the spedometer jumped to 60 mph
(which I guess is a relevant code from the ecu)

I drove my car to work, and once it was warm it starts easier, the
started sounds slow though.

Does anyone know what the 60mph means? Or how to get more info out of
the computer? It does not sound like my battery is dead (even though I
have no experience with a dead car battery) but I'm guessing that the
more you try starting, the less charge there should be...

Any thought?


You actually could have either one of two problems. Either the battery
is no longer providing full cranking current, or the starter is bad and
drawing too much current. Most parts houses can measure your actual
cranking amps and tell you which it is.

--
Cy Welch
89 Camaro RS 5.0 TBI
98 Passport
03 Malibu


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