Hi guys. Here we go again. 91 Chevy Lumina. I wrote in a week ago about my front right tire being suspect after hitting a curb. Turns out I had the whole front right side replaced. Worked like a dream. Car drives better than it used to. Here's the problem: when I picked up the car last evening it started like a charm. Ran two errands and it continued to start properly. But I noticed I had to re-program the clock and all the radio presets. I assume they disconnected the battery while working on it. This was all last evening. I just went out to start it today for the first time and nothing. And I mean nothing. There is absolutely no sound not even the fuel pump starting up. It is not too cold and there was nothing left on when I parked it last night. I have a friend on his way to give me a boost and I hope it works. My questions; what caused this even when it started last night when I picked it up; how can I prevent it further; and if a boost doesn't help me what should I do next? Until today I had no starting problems whatsoever. And now this. Please help me.

 

Problems can show up at any time. The procedure is to have a shop test the battery, alternator and for any draw on the battery. They have the right equipment and the charges usually are under $20. You'll then know where you stand.

 

Start with the obvious. I helped out a lady last week whose car was dead. When hooking up the positive jumper, the positive cable lifted right off her battery. It was that loose.
Check to see that the repair shop tightened your terminals. If thats not it, then jump it and head for the shop, as Desi501 suggests.

 

Well, I tried with a boost but to no avail. It was very weak and would not turn over. So I had it towed to my mechanic. He is of the opinion that the people who did my suspension work killed the battery for whatever reason(door open, trunk light whatever)and boosted it to get it going but only ran long enough to get me home. Apparently when you get or give a boost, as I have done several times, it shortens the life of the battery. And as a result one of the plates in the battery may have broken or whatever they do and this is resulting in a faulty battery and hence no starting. I dont know. The person boosting me has a questionable battery too. I think the thing that bothers me the most is the uncertainty. If it was just the battery I could replace it and move on but it is all the other possibilities that freak me out. As it stands it was too late for them to look at it today so now it's wait until Monday. Does any of this additional information make anything any clearer?

 

I don't know, sounds like he's not only a mechanic but he has a crystal ball too. I don't know how he came to all those conclusions but one thing is for sure. The ONLY way your going to have any defininative answers is to run the tests that I advised earlier. Don't assume or try to second guess anything. Just test it and then you'll know.

 

I agree. It's in the shop now. I'll find out on Monday and keep you posted. Thanks.