JasonA Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 For the very first time, but the wound was self-inflicted. Coming out of the barber shop, I went to start it and NOTHING. No crank. I have full lights, radio/windows work, etc. The starter would only click. Hmmm... I called my wife to pick me up, but forgot to have her bring my wrenches so I could check the battery connections, etc. I had it towed home. When I checked it, the positive battery cable was easily loose. Darn. Tightened it up (with vice grips because the bolt is rounded off) and she cranked right up. I learned a valuable but inexpensive lesson. When you're replacing your battery and notice that the battery cables could be replaced, or that the bolt is messed up, go ahead and replace it and don't wait "until later" like I did. The pos. cable has a bit of corrosion, so I think I'm going to go ahead and replace it. Thankfully, it was an inexpensive lesson because USAA picked up the tab for my tow. If anyone's never said it before, USAA is by far the best insurance company out there... Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSchlossmann Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 Did you try to start it in neutral instead of park. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BSchlossmann Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 Ignore my previous post. You found the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted November 15, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 Yes I did. I thought it could possibly be a bad P/N switch. I also considered a bad ignition switch. But since I heard the starter click, I figured all switches were good on the top side, and it had to be voltage or connection-related at the bottom side (or just plainly a bad starter). Luckily, it was just the connection. I plan to replace the battery cables soon. I'll use the wonderful archives here to build my plan of attack, and ask questions if need be. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 15, 2005 Report Share Posted November 15, 2005 Yes I did. I thought it could possibly be a bad P/N switch. I also considered a bad ignition switch. But since I heard the starter click, I figured all switches were good on the top side, and it had to be voltage or connection-related at the bottom side (or just plainly a bad starter). Luckily, it was just the connection. I plan to replace the battery cables soon. I'll use the wonderful archives here to build my plan of attack, and ask questions if need be. Jason, I think we will do this one together, I want to replace mine also. Sounds like a nice December job in the garage. It involves pulling the intake manifold....to get to the starter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted November 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 It appears on mine that just the positive cable has corrosion on mine. And it's not like it's falling apart, but it looks well "used". I need to replace the bolt anyway, and some of the cable ends (where it bolts to the battery) are well-rusted and crusty. I figure it's a good idea to go ahead and replace this important piece, since I got lucky this time. And come to think of it, the car never cranked all that great after I replaced the battery. I started for sure, but it just didn't seem QUITE like a new battery. I don't think I must have gotten something tight, because that battery bolt backed out in 2 months (or however long it's been). Now that I tightened it real good, it starts with authority! I think I'll start checking online parts houses for the pos. cable. Come to think of it, I think I remember pricing it at Rockauto back when I did the battery and it was back ordered. Maybe I'm making that up though. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scotty Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Rockauto has mine w/o heated windshield AC Delco Part # 6SX782 for $87, plus they say to order 12167666 starter solenoid harness. This is a big job. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted November 16, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 I was looking at the service manual, and it appears to be two (2) separate cables. One runs along the engine cradle towards the PCM and plugs into the relay box. I reckon that one is PN 6SX782 they quoted you on Rockauto. Then there appears to be another cable that runs under the intake to the starter. That one must be PN 12167666. Indeed, on mine, the positive cable bolt is about 1" long, and it connects TWO cable ends to the battery -- and I think this is where my "looseness" came from -- I must not have gotten those cable ends and rubber surrounds lined up exactly right the first time. I believe all I really need on mine is new cable ends on the battery, but I suspect that that job would be somewhat of a "hack", and if I'm going to do anything, I should do the entire battery cable. I may wait until I get a daily driver for the winter. Next month or January, I'm planning to buy a '96 Pontiac Sunfire with 50k miles from a family friend that I'm going to use as a daily driver from now on. Then I can devote some time to some work on the Seville, without having to worry about getting it ready for work the next day. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PAUL T Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 I had the same problem when I went to pick my 92 Deville up from the paint shop. My wifes horse got out and decided to chew some paint off of the hood and trunk, then my dog decided to chew my mud flaps and ripped off the lower rear fender panel, anyway that is another story. I went to start it and nothing, so the paint shop guy checked the battery terminals and they both were loose. We tightened them up and all was fine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adallak Posted November 16, 2005 Report Share Posted November 16, 2005 Rockauto has mine w/o heated windshield AC Delco Part # 6SX782 for $87, plus they say to order 12167666 starter solenoid harness. This is a big job. Mike, the same part number at http://www.autopartsgiant.com is $75.62 with free shipping. BATTERY POS CABLE Note: w/stacked terminals at pos bat post: also order 12167666 strtr sol harn; heated windshield defroster (c50); also need connector 12085669, terminal 12355044; & need enough 12 ga wire to run pwr to dist block for ws defrostr The saddest thing in life is wasted talent Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gygmy Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 Jason, you are right on the money about USAA, they are the best. Since you are planning on getting a smaller daily driver it will seem like a real decadent rush to drive the Seville when you get the chance. It is nice to have some instant fun parked in the garage. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JasonA Posted November 17, 2005 Author Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 What's this about heated windshields? Were they only available a few years? I've never heard of nor seen one on a Cadillac. The only defroster grid I've seen on a windshield is on Mopar minivans. Handy if you park outside in the winter. Jason(2001 STS, White Diamond) "When you turn your car on...does it return the favor?" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StinkinLincoln Posted November 17, 2005 Report Share Posted November 17, 2005 Don't you hate those simple things that are so easily overlooked. I had a similar incident once when I could not figure why my car was starting and it was simple enough that my girlfriend had been out driving and she left me with little to no gas and because of the slope of my driveway it just was not getting enough to start and I thought of everything but that in the process figuring out the problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KHE Posted November 19, 2005 Report Share Posted November 19, 2005 What's this about heated windshields? Were they only available a few years? I've never heard of nor seen one on a Cadillac. The only defroster grid I've seen on a windshield is on Mopar minivans. Handy if you park outside in the winter. The Opti-Clear windshields were available for a few years - they could clear one tenth of an inch of ice in 2 - 3 minutes. Kevin '93 Fleetwood Brougham '05 Deville '04 Deville 2013 Silverado Z71 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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