Question about car batteries (Resolved)

[RonJ]

I had a new battery installed in my '03 Mercury Sable about three weeks ago. Since then it has given me starting problems several times. Usually a slow crank and then after a few minutes it would turn right over. Now it won't crank at all and a jump from my wifes car doesn't help.


So the question is Can a defective battery keep the car from starting even from a jump start?

 

[Marshall 357]

It the old battery started your car fine,I would have to say you bought a bad battery. The same thing happened to me last year.Bought a new battery and two months after that my truck was almost doing the samething as your car. I swapped out the battery and it started right up. The new batter would not hold a charge, The Auto Parts store replaced it free of charge.

 

[krissylou]

DH said yes it is possible.

 

[RonJ]

DH?

 

[onebadscrambler]

Yes, a defective battery probably will not hold a charge.

 

[krissylou]

DH?

DH = Dear, Darling, Darn, Da** Husband.

Take your pick on the word for D.

 

[RonJ]

DH = Dear, Darling, Darn, Da** Husband.

Take your pick on the word for D.

Thanks to you and DH.

 

[Black_Sheep]

A good battery vendor will have a load tester to determine if the battery is defective...

 

[afriqueart]

Or, it's a bad alternator. You're using the battery to "run" the car and you drain the battery. When you try to start the car, the battery is dead. If your car won't turn over and start with jumper cables something else is wrong. Try hooking up the jumpers and let them charge the battery for a few minutes then try to start the car. Rev the "good car" and try to turn over the sable.

If that doesn't work, you have some other problem. Does the starter turn over when you're jumping? Are you only getting clicking?

 

[Landpimp]

check your pos/neg termails again, clean, tighen.........try again

 

[Grayfox]

Check in this order:
1. Loose, dirty or corroded connections at battery, starter or starter relay (if it has one). Be sure to check the ground connections at battery, starter, frame and engine.
2. Bad battery cable(s).
3. Alternator not charging or not charging enough.
4. Charge new battery and test.
5. Defective starter.

From your description, I'm betting on a bad connection or cable.

 

[conn ak]

Or, it's a bad alternator. You're using the battery to "run" the car and you drain the battery. When you try to start the car, the battery is dead. If your car won't turn over and start with jumper cables something else is wrong. Try hooking up the jumpers and let them charge the battery for a few minutes then try to start the car. Rev the "good car" and try to turn over the sable.

If that doesn't work, you have some other problem. Does the starter turn over when you're jumping? Are you only getting clicking?

+1 The bad alternator killed your old battery. Not satisfied, it drained your new battery. It's almost always the alternator, then the starter-solenoid.

 

[RonJ]

Ok, a member PM'd me (thank you) and had me check the headlights. Lights are bright and dim only slightly when I hit the ignition. I feel like a dummy for not checking that.
I hear the fuel pump when I turn the key. So current is not getting to the starter or the starter/solenoid is bad.
If that's the case I'm covered under warranty ($100.00 deductible).

 

[Landpimp]

check the positive cable that goes to the starter

if its the starter, give it a little wack with something, then see if it turns over, if so you selnoid is bad

 

[G-Mac]

Hmmm....

Maybe you didn't need a new battery...maybe you needed repairs to your charging system.

Just maybe...

 

[RonJ]

Maybe you didn't need a new battery...maybe you needed repairs to your charging system.

Just maybe...

You're probably right, but the old battery was six years old and would have to be replaced soon anyway.

 

[RonJ]

Thanks to everyone who replied. Ford had my car for five days and couldn't find the problem. Thanks to you guys I was able to give them enough info to track down the problem. Those who replied may send their bill to Sunset Ford in St Louis.
It was the starter.

 

[Landpimp]

I own more than a few Land Cruisers and what is just amazing is I can take a starter off a 1997 cruiser and it worked perect(better as its gear reduction) on a stock 1964 Cruiser....now that my kinda thinking

I still carry a hammer in each

 

[Jack Flash]

Thanks to everyone who replied. Ford had my car for five days and couldn't find the problem. Thanks to you guys I was able to give them enough info to track down the problem. Those who replied may send their bill to Sunset Ford in St Louis.
It was the starter.

Five days and they couldn't figure it out? What does that say about all their fancy electronic diagnostic equipment? That such equipment is worthless in the hands of a "mechanic" with a chimpanzee-level IQ, is my guess.

 

[gunlovingirl]

Five days and they couldn't figure it out? What does that say about all their fancy electronic diagnostic equipment? That such equipment is worthless in the hands of a "mechanic" with a chimpanzee-level IQ, is my guess.

lol. +1