New starter and battery and still no start.

[Troxartes]

Hello everyone....I noticed the headlights dimming in their reflection in the car ahead of me while I was driving to work. Sure enough, at lunch, the car doesn't start. I figured battery was going bad, so I asked for a jump, which didn't work.
Tow truck came, he tried to jump it with his booster. Didn't work, he said I may have a ground issue, or a bad starter. AutoZone said battery was good, so I replaced the starter ( from Rock auto). Still didn't start, so I replaced the battery. Still no joy.
Do I need to replace the cables now? Or is it not that simple? The engine is trying to start, it's just not turning.

What am I missing? Any help you can offer will be appreciated! Merry Christmas everyone!

[harofreak00]

What do you mean the engine is trying to start but not turning? How is it trying? Are you hearing a solenoid or relay clicking? Have you tried jumping the starter solenoid with a screwdriver to see if it will engage?

[Troxartes]

The solenoid is working and the engine is cranking, it's just weak, like it's not quite there.

I am pretty sure it has to be the neg. ground connection. On the 1998 SSEi, where does the ground bolt to the engine? The battery cables are routed together in a tube and I can't figure out where the connection is made.

I'm thinking of making a new ground connection somewhere else and just forgetting the ground wire, wherever it is. Lol

[95naSTA]

I'm not 100% but I think it's on the front of the block between the AC compressor and the starter.

Do you have fuel pressure at the schrader valve on the rail and do you have spark?

[Troxartes]

Okay, so......just to reiterate, my Bonneville is a 1998 SSEi that got me to work one day then wouldn't start to go home. Jumping did no good, still wouldn't start. Tried different jump cables, wouldn't start.

Towed it to my dad's where the tools are, replaced the battery and starter, still nothing. We couldn't find the neg ground connection from the battery, so my dad rigged a new ground to the body. It's still cranking like the battery and/or starter is dead.

We haven't done anything with positive cable yet.

I've been sick so I haven't been able to get back to my car.

Can anyone help me with suggestions or advice? Thank you all so much!

[95naSTA]

Do you have fuel pressure at the schrader valve on the rail and do you have spark?

[Troxartes]

The car is cranking, just weakly. How do I test these two things?

[95naSTA]

For fuel pressure, to see if you have any pressure at all, with the key in the run position, you can take the black cap off the fuel rail Schrader valve and push the pintle in like you're letting the air out of a tire. If fuel doesn't come out under pressure, you have a bad fuel pump most likely.

For spark, you can buy an in-line spark tester light from harbor freight for like $5. Or $10 at a parts store. (Do not try this second method of you just shot fuel from your fuel rail) Or you can pull a plug wire at the plug, plug in a spare loose plug, hold the threads of the plug against the head and have someone crank the engine while you watch the plug to see if it sparks.

[Troxartes]

Well, mystery solved.

We did electrical checks of the battery cables, starter and a bunch of others and they all checked out

My ac compressor had been making noise for awhile, and we brainstormed and figured out the ac compressor was not turning.
We took off the belt and it cranked right up.

Now, we just need advice on changing the compressor clutch. The whole time, it was a seized ac compressor....

[95naSTA]

Cool to hear you got it figured out.

There's probably a TY video on how to do the clutch if you can't find info here.