2002 Buick Century Custom starts when it wants to.

Asked by Niccole Nov 01, 2018 at 01:22 PM about the 2002 Buick Century Custom Sedan FWD

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

Car was running perfectly fine.  I parked and
went in somewhere 10 mins and when I
came out I opened the door all the lights
came on fine.  I put the key n the ignition and
went to start the car and it kind of grunted at
me as all lights went out. I attempted to
start it again and it did absolutely nothing
not even the random grunt.  I opened the
door there was no dinging or anything and
popped the hood.  I got out my flashlight to
check the battery terminals and everything I
cld think of.  All seemed fine.   Sit down and
call for help outside the car and it amazingly
enuf starts dinging and the lights all kick on,  
on their own.  I try to start it with the same
luck.  It grunts and all dies down.  So
someone tries to jump me.  It seems to b
taking no charge but on the 4th attempt
caught and immediately died back out.  On
the 5th attempt it caught and I drove it home
about 2 miles away.  I shut it off and
immediately turn it back on and it catches.  
The next day the car won't start nor take a
jump.  2 days after that in my attempt to
show someone what it was doing it starts
just fine on the first try.  I take it to the
grocery store and come back and it has not
started sense.  The battery is brand new and
showing full charge.  What could b going
on?

1 Answer

27,570

Make sure battery has a full charge and battery connections on all ends, not just at the battery, are good. When problem is ongoing, any component that doesn't work, if fuse protected, check for voltage on that fuse, use a test light. Some fuses are hot all the time, some go hot with the key on. If a fuse goes hot with key on, it's called ignition feed, If problem with ignition feed have to check voltage to and from ignition switch, you can use a test light to check voltage. I've been talking about voltage but ground is very important also.

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