[96SNAKE]

Went to go and start my car this morning in the 20 degree weather and the lights and everything came on but when i tried to turn her over there was a loud screeching sound coming from the engine. The scangauge is reading out at 11 volts.

So did my batt crap out on me?

[weems]

Or your starter.

[96SNAKE]

How hard is it to replace the starter? I've never had hard starts before today. It got really cold lately. I'm thinking it's the battery, man.

[ReverendDexter]

Why would you think it's the battery? You've got good lights, and when you hit the key, it attempted to do something.

Sounds to me like you'd just really prefer it was the battery, despite no battery-related symptoms.

[M.P. Cobra Fan]

Does sound like you have made up your mind about the battery, but it really sounds like the starter to me.

[zigbigadoru]

hahahahaha good luck on that. those effers are a son of a gun, you are in for one hell of a time

[96SNAKE]

Well the battery is old as crap and its been really cold lately. It's only putting out around 11volts. Should I try to jump start it first off of my wifes 08 Cobalt? it's got alot of corrosion around the terminals. Any advice on the first steps?..

[ReverendDexter]

I'm with these guys... sounds more like a starter issue to me. But to be perfectly honest, I'd have to hear the screech you're talking about to give you any sort of diagnosis I felt comfortable with.

EDIT: You say the battery is at 11 volts... how many amps are you reading? Also, if it's the battery, you should be able to jump start it. Would be a pretty quick/easy test.

[96SNAKE]

Okay so let me get this straight, if I go to jump start it and it cranks up then its the battery, correct? If no start then I'm looking at other problems correct? Do you think a 2.2L I-4 could power my car to jump start it or should I not bother?

[97mustanggt]

starter.

[M.P. Cobra Fan]

The I4 should have no problem starting it.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by 96SNAKE Okay so let me get this straight, if I go to jump start it and it cranks up then its the battery, correct? If no start then I'm looking at other problems correct? Do you think a 2.2L I-4 could power my car to jump start it or should I not bother?

Correct, and yes.

You can circumvent the whole charging system by hooking up the negative on the receiving car to a good ground rather than to the battery. This will let you start the car off of the battery/charging system of the donor, rather than waiting for the donor car to charge your battery.

[96SNAKE]

Let's say that I don't hook the receiving car up to a ground and jsut straight to the battery, how long should i wait until I jump start bad car? 2 or so minutes?

[ReverendDexter]

Actually, I should say, if jumping it starts the car, than you know the battery was dead - it could still be the charging system that's at fault.

[96SNAKE]

Okay I'm going to give this a try.

If this adds anything to this topic, My Cobalt died a few days when it snowed and I had my Cobra jump it. I left the gps on by accident and thats what killed the batt in the Cobalt. The Cobalt is fine now and starts up everytime, but do you think that jumping it from the Cobra the other day that it killed the Cobra's old batt? The last time I ran the Cobra was about 3 days when I jumped the Cobalt.

BTW, thanks for al the help DEXT.

[ReverendDexter]

Originally Posted by 96SNAKE Let's say that I don't hook the receiving car up to a ground and jsut straight to the battery, how long should i wait until I jump start bad car? 2 or so minutes?

Probably longer than that :/ That's why I suggested the ground trick.

Originally Posted by 96SNAKE Okay I'm going to give this a try. If this adds anything to this topic, My Cobalt died a few days when it snowed and I had my Cobra jump it. I left the gps on by accident and thats what killed the batt in the Cobalt. The Cobalt is fine now and starts up everytime, but do you think that jumping it from the Cobra the other day that it killed the Cobra's old batt? The last time I ran the Cobra was about 3 days when I jumped the Cobalt.

I don't see why it would've, unless you did the ground trick above, that dropped the amps in the Cobra's battery to low to start it, and you immediately turned the Cobra off, not giving the alternator a chance to recharge the battery.

Originally Posted by 96SNAKE BTW, thanks for al the help DEXT.

No worries man, I just don't want to see you off buying a part that's not going to fix anything.

[forcefedcobra]

for sure do like dex said. If it starts up drive it around a little and then hit your local auto parts store. Have them run a check on the battery and/or alternator.

10 months ago I had to get a new battery and while I was at it I went ahead and upgraded to the start n charge alternator. The other day I went out to garage to start my car after it had been sitting in the cold for 3-4 days and it was completely dead. Wouldnt even unlock the doors or trunk. I jumped it with my kick butt jumper pack that my father in law got me and drove it around quite a bit to make sure the alternator had time to charge the battery. Went out the next day and it was completely dead again. Took it in and had it replaced under warranty and havent had any issues since.

[96SNAKE]

update: the bat is reading at 11.8 volts and still wont crank, cleaning termials now and then will jump start. thanks guys.

[ReverendDexter]

96 - how many amps are you seeing? That's a better guage of how much juice it has.

[96SNAKE]

dext, dont have anything to read the amps. i appreciate the concern