'Lac not starting....but battery has a charge. 1996 Deville

SUPERFLY30 · #1 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 03:54 AM

What's up folks....problem:

My caddy('96 Deville) won't start....I mean nothing...the interior lights won't come on, radio won't come on...nothing....but the battery has a charge.

When you attempt to crank it, you can hear a clicking noise coming from the fuse box.

I don't know too much about fixing rides...any suggestions as to what may be causing this?

Oh, a little more info: Prior to my car not starting, I was at the gas station and let my radio play(car was off) while I pumped the gas. It started acting weak then...had to turn the key 2-3 times before it started up. I then went to the grocery store and car was completely dead when I came out.

Thx for any help you can provide!

**Ranger** · #2 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 10:34 AM

This car is fuel injected, not carbureted. Pumping the gas does nothing. Sure sounds like a dead battery and the clicking sound you are hearing is not from the fuse box, but the starter solenoid under the intake manifold. How do you know it is good?

SUPERFLY30 · #3 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 04:39 PM

Well, I attempted to get a boost. So I connected the booster cables to my battery...when I touched the positive and negative cords together, they were sparking.

So I was assuming the battery was good since it was giving off a spark....but maybe not, huh?

submariner409 · #4 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 04:53 PM

Don't touch the cables together on a Northstar or Cadillac engine - good way to fry a LOT of expensive modules !! Just because a battery will spark a cable doesn't mean it is fully, or even partly, charged. If the battery is more than 4 years old a load test should be performed - if it's over 6 years old, new battery.

Running the radio for the 5 minutes you were pumping gas into the tank may just have been enough to finish off a dying battery.......What voltage does your DIC display when the engine has been running at 1,500 + rpm for a while ?? The battery should charge at 14.4 to 14.8 volts.

SUPERFLY30 · #5 (**permalink**) 06-22-09, 05:05 PM

OK...I'm gonna take my battery to Autozone later this PM...I think they'll test my battery free of charge.

I hope that's the answer to this riddle....because I know if I take it to a repair shop, they're gonna charge me an arm and leg.

Pre-8 the advice!

SUPERFLY30 · #6 (**permalink**) 06-23-09, 05:34 PM

Ya'll,

It was the freaking battery like ya'll said....starting like a champ now with my new battery.

Thx for your help on this!