LeSabre :: 1997 - When Start The Car Getting Clicks And Very Pronounced Thump
Oct 13, 2014
My '97 Lesabre is giving me some what of an issue of battery vs alternator. I retired last year and the car isn't getting the use it had when I was working. I replaced the battery last December and have had to force myself to just run the car for the sake of running it, otherwise the new battery would go dead (even in weeks period) and I would have to charge it. Last year we changed insurance companies and to get a reduced rate, they required plug-ins to monitor your driving habits. I suspected that being added and the factory security system being armed might be enough to discharge a new battery.
I began by locking the car w/o arming security and all seemed to be working, along with driving the car more. We just returned home from a one week vacation, the buick resting in the driveway. When I went to start the car, I got the similar "I am dead" clicks and a very pronounced thump. I put the 10amp charger on for three hours and started the car. Engine runs rough, alternator gauge on dash is up and down at idle, can't get a clear screen on the OBD for codes. My question is, could this have been an alternator going bad all along, draining the battery when sitting idle/little use and now the roughness in the engine? I can easily replace the alternator....
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Sometimes when I try to start it it clicks and I loose all power , but when quick tern key 2,3,4 times it will start but then I need to feather gas till I can get it to idle. This happens first start of the day or cold. I put a new starter in, alternated is two years old .
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The car (97 Buick Le Sabre with 3800) ran fine and started fine until one day last week it did not turn over. After about 10 minutes it was tried again and this time it did start. It was used regularly with no issues for the next few days. Then one morning it didn't start (or turn over) and hasn't really been successfully started since. The battery is good and cable connections too. So my mechanic figured it was probably the starter. Since I had this weekend free, me and my friend replaced the starter. But it still did not start. We then turned the ignition to run and crossed the solenoid terminals with a metal tool and then the engine turned over and ran for a brief period (around 5 to 10 seconds) but then killed.
This procedure was duplicated a few times. So we figure it wasn't the starter, the battery, or most of the larger cable connections. The tension wheel had failed on it in the recent past so we wonder if when the belt blew out if it had hit and weakened a wire somewhere that has now failed but difficult to locate. We also wonder if the car's security system maybe failed and it thinks the car has been stolen. This might explain why it won't start or stay running when ignition is circumvented. Note: the panic button on the key fob works properly. All of the fuses were checked and none were found to be blown out. What the root cause of this problem might be and how to repair it?
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On my 97, just had a new engine installed. Suddenly the Lo presser AC switch died. Now the Start Solenoid (I think) just clicks sometimes. Is this Solenoid on the Firewall the Start Solenoid?
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Having a problem with my 1997 Buick Lesabre. It's a v6, automatic 4 door, and I live in good ole HOT Florida.
Anyway for about two weeks ago I went to start up the vehicle and it would turn over, run for about 2 seconds, and then turn off and did that about 5 or 6 times. Knowing very little about cars I had a friend try to jump me, and nothing, still wouldn't turn on. So I left the car there, came back five days later. It started and ran, and I drove straight to the mechanic. I had noticed my belt whistling a little so he put on a new built, fix a power steering pump fluid leak, and put on a new belt tensioner.
Anyway, I pick it up a week ago and it starts up no problem. Today the problem has started again. Some times now though it will start up, run for a little while and then just shut off. Doesn't seem to make a difference whether I am idling or not. Sometimes now though it will turn over, but not actually fire up and start.
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2001 F150 2WD 4.6 102,000 miles.... All rotors and pads replaced by a shop and the trouble began. The shop swore it was my tires and like a dummie I took it to Sams and had my tires replaced.
What's been done? New BFG Long Trail T/A Touring Tires, rotors and pads were replaced a second time, new Monroe shocks and the shocks were replaced a second time, new U-joints, front wheel bearings repacked, ball joints inspected and have slight wear, new driveshaft at 20,000 miles, two new rims, two new back tires of same type, wheels balanced over and over with road force equipment. All this got rid of a dangerous shake at 67 mph but did not affect the 42 mph bounce.
I now have a pronounced bounce at 42 mph. I have an annoying vibration at 67 mph that is present 97% of the time and an occasional smooth ride for 3-4 miles on the interstate before the vibration resumes. The ride is always rough until the tires warm up. I think the vibration is caused by the road and the truck can't stop it, but I'm not sure. Three shops are scratching their heads.
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Battery is fine, turn the key and nothing (no clicks, groans, nada). At first it only did this when the engine was warm, wait 30 min and it would struggle as if the battery was weak but it would start. Had battery tested and it was fine. Now, it will also do this when the engine is cold. If I remove the connections to the starter and reconnect them, it starts right up and works normally hot or cold but at some point, same problem.
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This happened about a year ago when I quickly started and shut it right off. I googled something and I found a sequence, procedure. Something about open door open switch wait etc, it worked started right up. Now I been stuck for 2 days looking and can't find it.All I have is regular metal key. 1997 f150....
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I'm hearing a muffled thump in the center rear of my '97 Lumina about 2 minutes after I turn off the engine. It comes in a series of 2 thumps. This started about a week ago and now the thumping is occurring when I'm in a slow idle--just a series of two thumps. Maybe it's releasing pressure? What this could be?
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Alright, when I first crank the car I get a thump on the passenger side. Sounds like something to do with the a/c. It's having multiple misfires and dies at idle when I stop at a red light. It idles horrible all the time. It acts differently depending on how much gas is in it. If its full it runs great but as soon as it hits 3/4 of a tank it all goes down hill and starts shaking. The low coolant light flicks on and off too. The coolant has been going pretty fast out of the reserve tank. I had the radiator flushed and it worked with that a little bit. I replaced spark plugs and the temperature sensor already. What is my next move? Or what does it sound like?
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My 97 lesabre cooling fans won't come on. the car gets pretty hot when driving around town. I saw on another form that they should come on when the Air Conditioning is on but mine does not. I got the fan to come on when connecting it directly to the battery so i know the fan is good. I replaced the high speed relay with the horn relay and still nothing.
Im not opposed to putting a switch in the cabin but im not sure the best way to go about doing that.
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I have a 97 Le Sabre that the heater doesn't turn all the way off. It also sometimes goes to the defroster even when heat or vent are on. When it does this it will return to the selected setting after a while. This is the single control system without the digital settings.
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Just bought a 97 buick ltd and no matter what setting you put it on no air of any kind will blow from the vent.
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What are possible causes for"check engine light" being on continuously. 1997 Buick
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My Passat will not start it clicks but nothing. And yes the battery has 12.9V. I am thinking maybe a relay or something. I am getting my VCDS cable back tomorrow so hopefully it will shed some light on things..
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My car was having starting issues recently so I took the starter to Autozone and the guy said that it wasn't performing as well as it should. I just went ahead and bought a new starter hoping that would fix it. I took the starter home installed it and the car started! Yay!(I thought) The next day I drove it around a couple of times, that night I went to go to work and it wouldn't start. All I get is one click when I try and start it. The alternator is fine and it is a brand new battery.
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SC430 with 104k miles on it
Went to start her up today. As I began to turn it over--nearly immediately--I heard what can only be described as a thump followed by whirring. (I'd like to believe the thump was related but cannot be certain). Tried to start again, only very briefly, and all I could hear is that "whirring". It will not turn over and I'm hoping that neither attempt damaged anything.
If I had to guess, I'd say the timing belt snapped immediately as the starter was beginning to turn over the engine. Is there a relatively quick way to diagnosis this without potentially damaging the engine any further? An access port/hole or cover I can see through or remove to determine if the belt is snapped? What else could it be? Starter solenoid failure? That would certainly be easier to diagnose.
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I am having problem with the gas gauge I have a full tank of gas but the gauge needle is stuck on E but when I unhook the battery and hook it back and start the car the gas gauge needle is on the full and its stays on full for like 3 days and then the gas gauge needle will drop back down to the E and stay there. This sound like something wrong in the fuel pump.
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, My 1997 Buick Lesabre transmission slips at random when I shift into overdrive. I have my mechanics look at the transmission and have them drive the car to recreate the problem and what do you know the car doesn't do it. I made a post about this problem a while back and it wasn't the A/C that was the problem. I do not drive fast in the car and I checked the Transmission dipstick and the fluid is still red and at the full mark. I brought my car to Auto zone to check the codes but all i get is a loose gas cap.
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98 1500 4x4 quad, 5.2.. Did run fine. Go out to start wont start just clicks once. Replaced starter and the battery. Still only clicks once. checked voltage across terminals to the grounds. swapped relays around still one click. Going to check in the morning make sure it didn't seize.
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02 2.4 IL4 2AZ-FE Camry will not start, starter clicks once and car is dead, even no radio.
Took battery to automotive store and it tested bad. I still asked them to charge it, let it set overnight and test it again when I pick it up. It tested 100%.
Put battery into car, started car and drove it to automotive store to test charging circuit and battery with car running. Checked 100% good.
Car would not start, again, starter clicks once and car is dead, even no radio. Took battery to automotive store and it tested bad. Replaced battery. Car started twice and again, starter clicks once and car is dead, even no radio.
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