Starting/Battery Issue

[cskinner89]

I was given a 93 exploere XLT by my land lord. The battery was dead when I got it, It hadent moved in a few years. I tried to jump it with a 2000 honda accord lx when i connected the jumper cables the indoor lights came on but were flashing (along with the clock on the cd player) the horn worked and all other accesorys but when i turned the key to start it i got nothing just the oil, check engine and battery lights... I dont know if i just dont have enough power to turn it over or what so any input would be greatly appreciated. thanks

 

[cybergasm]

Yea if it's been sitting for awhile then the battery is really dead dead. when i went to pick up my 91 recently i had to let it sit with the cables connected for about 15-20 mins before it finally cranked over and started and i was using a Chevy HHR

 

[cskinner89]

Also there is a fuse missing, its a 20a for electronic shift so would that cause it not to turn over?

 

[cybergasm]

uhh i think that is just for the transfer case if it's a pushbutton transfer case
and no it should not prevent it from starting just won't have no 4x4 that all.

 

[bdever24]

just a little hijack

I am going to pile on here with my own starting issue.

After a wkend at a big country music festival, which included alot of stereo use in the camping area and doors opened and closed my vehicle wouldn't start. So I figured just get a jump and away she goes. So Sunday morning, got a jump, ran fine, went for about a half hour drive, stopped and started again just fine. Drove home (about an hour) and then had to drive a friend home (an hour and a half). No problems starting. This morning it barely started. Lights, radio, etc. all working fine. It just didn't seem to get enough juice. When I drove back home today (hr and half) I noticed the voltage meter "jumping" in the M-A-L portion of the gauge. I've never seen that before. After the drive home I shut it off and unloaded. I went to start it and it barely started after four or five times trying.
I replaced the sel'd only about six months ago. My battery was tested at that time and it's a heavy duty one for winters in Canada. The starter was replaced about three yrs ago.
So I'll get the battery tested again.
I was just curious about the volts gauge jumping. That isn't normal.
Any suggestions?

 

[BrooklynBay]

The charging system has to be tested. The regulator might be defective or maybe a diode blew out. To the author of this thread, welcome to this forum! Try a new battery. To both people, clean the battery contacts, and ground connections. Use antioxidant on the connections.

 

[cskinner89]

Last night I gave it another go with jumping it, I got a couple of good cranks out of it but not enough to catch... I am going to get a new battery and try that.

 

[mikeinri]

Battery cables are another weak area. Many people report that they corrode from the inside out, so you don't get much warning when they go.

Look at the terminal ends of the battery cables. If you see white gunk built up an the terminals or on the copper wire, replace them.

Mike

 

[bdever24]

update

Well this morning I started it up. One labored crank then it flashed right up. I drove it for a half hour and stopped for an hour. Went to start it and it almost gets to the point where there's no sign of life then it starts.
Here's a couple of things I've noticed; when it does start the clock, radio, etc have reset (back to reading 12:00). It did that when I replaced the solenoid about six mos. ago. When I first drove it this morning the gauge wasn't jumping like yesterday. But when I was driving after stopping this morning the gauge was jumping again. I turned on the head lights, the gauge stopped jumping and was dead smack in the middle of the "normal". Lights off, jumping again. Tried the a/c, and it stopped jumping again.
I'm taking the battery in to Can. Tire for a test and the solenoid. I'll start with the easy stuff.
I'm curious about the jumpy gauge though. Never seen that till yesterday.

 

[bdever24]

so it turns out...

I needed a new battery. Everything's working just fine now.