Need some help please!

[chevypower91]

Hey guys,

I just joined this forum. I have a 2003 Olds. Alero GX which I had purchased new. I recently had some starting issues with the battery becoming drained. I would turn the key to accessories, all the lights seem to work and when I try to start it, it barely has power or no power at all at times to turn over the engine. Once I boost the battery it starts up fine. I did have the original battery, and replaced it with another battery that my neighbour had lying around, but I am still have the same issue.

Any comments or suggestions are appreciative.

Thanks in advance.

Benny

[JLw7123]

does the red battery light co9me on because i had the same problem and it was the alternator.

[AGT]

It sounds like a shorted cell in the battery. It has to be replaced if so. It happens on batteries. You might as well get the last battery you will need for that car. Yellowtop.

[chevypower91]

Hi there,

There is no battery or alternator light on, and the battery that I obtained from my nieghbour seems the be old, but he had it fully charged before I took it. I am not sure if it's not holding its charge.

[AGT]

You get power but clicks when it starts? You have an alarm?

[chevypower91]

I hear it click, but at times there isn't enough power to turn over the engine. The car has no alarm.

[AGT]

Its clicking is most likely battery or starter. Battery is easier and you can improve your battery. Starter is a little harder and one is just like the other.

[MotorCity]

**random fact the flywheel isnt jus for limiting vibration but it also helps to start the car(could be a problem ive never heard of it but it is possible).. jus some out of the box thinking** :P

[Nate's Alero]

Just chane the battery with a new one, a yellow or red top

[jayson_waltz]

probably battery, get a new one. its likely not the alternator, that has nothing to do with starting it has to do with charging after the vehicle is running. so put in a new battery which should already be charged and try it. used batteries= bad idea.
make sure you have the terminals nice and tightly connected to when you put the new batt in.

from there if that doesn't fix it, starter. cause u do know when you turn the key and it clicks, the power for everything else is supposed to go out during the starting process. that can be mistaken for a bad battery with lots of people. i just replaced my start a few weeks ago for the same problem, i just had put in a new battery a couple weeks before that.

[Gr1m]

if your battery isnt holding charge then you need a new battery, if it is holding charge and this keeps happen then you need a new alternator.

go out charge up the battery, start the car and then use a multimeter and check the voltage at the battery. should be 13~14, shut off the car and keep monitoring the battery with the multimeter, if it stays around mid 11 the battery is fine but if it drops below 11 your battery is shot.

[lonnie]

Battery or Alternator!

Have a shop up there load test the battery, or if you have a multi meter check the voltage across the post with the car running and not...like it was mentioned above. Should give you a quick idea as to what is going on.

[Ian 2000GL LA1]

CHECK all your connections with a meter and be sure your getting good connectivity as well as at least 11V to everything in the start process mabe its just 2 bad batteries but i would check connections.

[natedawg9640]

if the nieghbor had this "new" battery laying around... but it's actually old, he obviously took it out of something. And unless the only reason he took it out was becasue of winter storage or something, then it goes to say he prolly had a reason to take it out. i'd start with a NEW battery.

[Ian 2000GL LA1]

testing can be the cheapest remidy. why waste the $$ if u can troubleshoot for nothing first.

[chevypower91]

Hey everyone,

I just wanted to provide an update on my previous issue, and it turned out to be the battery.

I want to thank all of you for your assistance and recommendations.

Benny