My 1999 Buick Regal
Dear KK:
My husband borrowed this car from his dad. It had been having some
problems before, and while he was using it the car just shut off while he
was driving. He was able to restart it several times after it kept
shutting down, and oddly it seemed to be every time he would use the
blinkers. Now it won't even start, and every time he tries, the whole car makes
a terrible noise and all the lights inside start blinking and flashing
wildly, and it won't start. What would cause this, and how would it be
fixed?
KK:
Well, with that many things going on, it leads me to believe they may all be
related. Sounds like an electrical problem for sure.
The basics- check the battery connections carefully. Make sure they are clean
and tight. Make sure the positive or negative lug is not about to fall out of the
battery by grabbing hold of the cable at the battery and try to pull it out. The lug
may also twist out when trying to tighten the bolt, or you may notice acid leaking.
Could also have a ground problem. Follow the negative cable down to the lower
front portion of the engine block and make sure the bolt is tight.
Have also seen a few engine wiring harnesses rub through on the bottom of the
a/c accumulator (dr. front of car, next to coolant fan -aluminum tank with 2 a/c
lines attached) causing several different electrical problems. Check these things
and let me know.
Back
Dear KK:
My husband borrowed this car from his dad. It had been having some
problems before, and while he was using it the car just shut off while he
was driving. He was able to restart it several times after it kept
shutting down, and oddly it seemed to be every time he would use the
blinkers. Now it won't even start, and every time he tries, the whole car makes
a terrible noise and all the lights inside start blinking and flashing
wildly, and it won't start. What would cause this, and how would it be
fixed?
KK:
Well, with that many things going on, it leads me to believe they may all be
related. Sounds like an electrical problem for sure.
The basics- check the battery connections carefully. Make sure they are clean
and tight. Make sure the positive or negative lug is not about to fall out of the
battery by grabbing hold of the cable at the battery and try to pull it out. The lug
may also twist out when trying to tighten the bolt, or you may notice acid leaking.
Could also have a ground problem. Follow the negative cable down to the lower
front portion of the engine block and make sure the bolt is tight.
Have also seen a few engine wiring harnesses rub through on the bottom of the
a/c accumulator (dr. front of car, next to coolant fan -aluminum tank with 2 a/c
lines attached) causing several different electrical problems. Check these things
and let me know.
Back
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Starting and electrical problem on 1999 Buick
