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From: Leftie on 12 Jan 2010 21:46
My housemate has been telling me for a couple of months that the
starting interlock is going. I described how that would act (no sounds,
no cranking) and she agreed that this was the case. I could never
reproduce it. The other morning, at work, in 20 degree weather, I found
what appeared to be a very low battery: just a click and low groan when
I tried to start it. Jumping that car took two tries - it didn't turn
over the first time, just groaned a bit, but started right up the
second. I drove it home with the fan and rear defroster off, and then
let the car sit a couple of days to make sure the battery really was
bad. When I tried to start it today, same click and groan. HOWEVER, my
housemate was with me this time, and she told me that this was exactly
what it has been doing for weeks, and when I kept trying, after about 6
tries the starter suddenly cranked at normal speed and the car started
right up. I checked the battery cables and they are not loose or
corroded at the battery. The way I see it, it's one of three things, in
descending order of probability:

* Dying starter.

* Loose or corroded cable connection someplace other than the battery.

* Intermittent internal open or short inside battery.

Any thoughts of a helpful nature? The alternator seems fine and I've
never seen a very low battery just spring back to life like that,
despite stories of them warming up under load. We always run the engine
up off idle a bit, with all accessories off, before shutting it off in
cold weather.
From: Sharx35 on 12 Jan 2010 20:50


"Leftie" <No(a)Thanks.net> wrote in message
news:OD93n.5358$ap2.118(a)newsfe18.iad...
> My housemate has been telling me for a couple of months that the
> starting interlock is going. I described how that would act (no sounds, no
> cranking) and she agreed that this was the case. I could never reproduce
> it. The other morning, at work, in 20 degree weather, I found what
> appeared to be a very low battery: just a click and low groan when I tried
> to start it. Jumping that car took two tries - it didn't turn over the
> first time, just groaned a bit, but started right up the second. I drove
> it home with the fan and rear defroster off, and then let the car sit a
> couple of days to make sure the battery really was bad. When I tried to
> start it today, same click and groan. HOWEVER, my housemate was with me
> this time, and she told me that this was exactly what it has been doing
> for weeks, and when I kept trying, after about 6 tries the starter
> suddenly cranked at normal speed and the car started right up. I checked
> the battery cables and they are not loose or corroded at the battery. The
> way I see it, it's one of three things, in descending order of
> probability:
>
> * Dying starter.
>
> * Loose or corroded cable connection someplace other than the battery.
>
> * Intermittent internal open or short inside battery.
>
> Any thoughts of a helpful nature? The alternator seems fine and I've
> never seen a very low battery just spring back to life like that, despite
> stories of them warming up under load. We always run the engine up off
> idle a bit, with all accessories off, before shutting it off in cold
> weather.

HOUSEMATE??!!!! Is that what they call "shack-ups" these days?




From: ransley on 13 Jan 2010 08:45
On Jan 12, 8:46 pm, Leftie <N...(a)Thanks.net> wrote:
>     My housemate has been telling me for a couple of months that the
> starting interlock is going. I described how that would act (no sounds,
> no cranking) and she agreed that this was the case. I could never
> reproduce it. The other morning, at work, in 20 degree weather, I found
> what appeared to be a very low battery: just a click and low groan when
> I tried to start it. Jumping that car took two tries - it didn't turn
> over the first time, just groaned a bit, but started right up the
> second. I drove it home with the fan and rear defroster off, and then
> let the car sit a couple of days to make sure the battery really was
> bad. When I tried to start it today, same click and groan. HOWEVER, my
> housemate was with me this time, and she told me that this was exactly
> what it has been doing for weeks, and when I kept trying, after about 6
> tries the starter suddenly cranked at normal speed and the car started
> right up. I checked the battery cables and they are not loose or
> corroded at the battery. The way I see it, it's one of three things, in
> descending order of probability:
>
> * Dying starter.
>
> * Loose or corroded cable connection someplace other than the battery.
>
> * Intermittent internal open or short inside battery.
>
>     Any thoughts of a helpful nature? The alternator seems fine and I've
> never seen a very low battery just spring back to life like that,
> despite stories of them warming up under load. We always run the engine
> up off idle a bit, with all accessories off, before shutting it off in
> cold weather.

Get the battery tested, its free most anywhere.
From: norm46 on 13 Jan 2010 09:24
On Jan 12, 9:46 pm, Leftie <N...(a)Thanks.net> wrote:
>     "My housemate has been telling me for a couple of months that the
> starting interlock is going." snip
I had a 1989 corolla with the same problem only worse. After 3
batteries and 5 starters and different switches and new cables the
damn thing would still refuse to start when the temp was lower than 20
degrees. Triple A man showed me how to leave the car in neutral key in
the on position with parking brake on and jump two connections on the
starter. Car would then start right up. Battery good, cables good and
starter good. Car went down the road to my daughter for a few years.
Left a small jumper wire in the glove box and made sure she new how to
use it. Car is gone now and never did find the real cause. Gave the
Master Tech white hair trying to figure it out and cost me lots of
money. Good luck on finding whats wrong.
From: norm46 on 13 Jan 2010 09:25
On Jan 12, 8:50 pm, "Sharx35" <shar...(a)hotmail.com> wrote:
> "Leftie" <N...(a)Thanks.net> wrote in message
>
> news:OD93n.5358$ap2.118(a)newsfe18.iad...
>
>
>
> >    My housemate has been telling me for a couple of months that the
> > starting interlock is going. I described how that would act (no sounds, no
> > cranking) and she agreed that this was the case. I could never reproduce
> > it. The other morning, at work, in 20 degree weather, I found what
> > appeared to be a very low battery: just a click and low groan when I tried
> > to start it. Jumping that car took two tries - it didn't turn over the
> > first time, just groaned a bit, but started right up the second. I drove
> > it home with the fan and rear defroster off, and then let the car sit a
> > couple of days to make sure the battery really was bad. When I tried to
> > start it today, same click and groan. HOWEVER, my housemate was with me
> > this time, and she told me that this was exactly what it has been doing
> > for weeks, and when I kept trying, after about 6 tries the starter
> > suddenly cranked at normal speed and the car started right up. I checked
> > the battery cables and they are not loose or corroded at the battery. The
> > way I see it, it's one of three things, in descending order of
> > probability:
>
> > * Dying starter.
>
> > * Loose or corroded cable connection someplace other than the battery.
>
> > * Intermittent internal open or short inside battery.
>
> >    Any thoughts of a helpful nature? The alternator seems fine and I've
> > never seen a very low battery just spring back to life like that, despite
> > stories of them warming up under load. We always run the engine up off
> > idle a bit, with all accessories off, before shutting it off in cold
> > weather.
>
> HOUSEMATE??!!!!    Is that what they call "shack-ups" these days?

Smart a** replay but no real help.
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