Will not start

MATTHEW SMITH4

MEMBER
2007 SATURN SL2
2WD
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

I bought the car listed above. I bought brand new battery for it now it won't turn over, makes click noise. Dash lights flash and the key gets stuck after I bought brand new alternator and put it in charged battery and car.
worked fine for 1 day then same thing.

7 Replies

94 TRANSAM

MECHANIC
680 POSTS

These are all symptoms of low power. I would check your battery cables at each connection on all 4 ends and make sure they are all good.

Here is a guide to help:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Rich

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Thursday, January 2nd, 2020 AT 9:53 PM

MATTHEW SMITH4

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4 POSTS

My battery is in the trunk.

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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 4:53 AM

94 TRANSAM

MECHANIC
680 POSTS

Okay, check all 4 ends of both cables from the trunk.

Rich

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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 3:26 PM

MATTHEW SMITH4

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4 POSTS

I checked it again it is running today but don't think that's problem anyways. It does this it'll work fine then randomly do it. I barely bought car a month ago was working fine then started doing that so bought battery started working then stopped again so bought new alternator ran for little bit then same thing then today working after tightened battery cables. Online there talking about security system being bad in Saturn's and stopping started and to cut some wire.I do not know what to do.

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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 7:17 PM

94 TRANSAM

MECHANIC
680 POSTS

Is your security light coming on when it wont run?

And FYI just tightening the cables will not work if the cables are bad. That is why I posted instructions on how to test the cables. Bad cables can be intermittent too, so that they work some times does not mean they are good.

I will research the security issue and get back to you.

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Friday, January 3rd, 2020 AT 10:52 PM

MATTHEW SMITH4

MEMBER
4 POSTS
2007 SATURN ION
2.2L
AUTOMATIC
180,000 MILES

I bought this car a month ago. I brought a brand new battery and drove off in it. Drove for little bit then I went to go start it, turned key and heard one click then lights on dash flash. Then key stuck in ignition and won't work so after this I went and bought new alternator and charged battery then went to start worked then couple days later nothing. Today I have read a lot of stuff on internet about security system doing it. Do you think that's what it is? I'm not sure what to do sometimes works sometimes not. Not reliable. Need help.

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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 6:03 PM (Merged)

JACOBANDNICKOLAS

MECHANIC
108,192 POSTS

Hi,

Based on your description, it sounds like a weak connection. Are the battery terminals clean and tight? Also, is the ground from the battery to the engine block and body tight?

If the security light isn't on, I don't think that's the issue. Also, when you said it clicked one time, that isn't how the security would act.

Here is a link that explains how corroded or loose wires to the battery can react. Take a look through it and let me know if it seems to mirror what you experience.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

Let me know.

Joe

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Sunday, January 5th, 2020 AT 6:04 PM (Merged)