986S won't start. Any suggestions?

[Sain0rs]

2003 S, just under 50k miles. Outside temp was probably about 25F-30F.

Went to start it up this afternoon and it won't turn over.

Everything electrical in the cabin flickers making me think it's an electrical short (additionally, the power driver's seat and the interior ambient dome LED have been flaky in the last few months). Everything in the cabin still has power, keyless entry works, trunk release, radio, etc. Turning the key to start position is when everything starts flickering. The normal key insertion tests seem to happen without any problem (oil, dash lights, etc). I hear a loud clicking but I believe it's the speakers popping on and off and not the starter. This is the first time I've had trouble starting the car. It was driven probably 15 hours prior with no signs of any problems.

I haven't tried jumping it, was hoping maybe someone had some insight into this.

[ray986s]

Originally Posted by Sain0rs

2003 S, just under 50k miles. Outside temp was probably about 25F-30F.

Went to start it up this afternoon and it won't turn over.

Everything electrical in the cabin flickers making me think it's an electrical short (additionally, the power driver's seat and the interior ambient dome LED have been flaky in the last few months). Everything in the cabin still has power, keyless entry works, trunk release, radio, etc. Turning the key to start position is when everything starts flickering. The normal key insertion tests seem to happen without any problem (oil, dash lights, etc). I hear a loud clicking but I believe it's the speakers popping on and off and not the starter. This is the first time I've had trouble starting the car. It was driven probably 15 hours prior with no signs of any problems.

I haven't tried jumping it, was hoping maybe someone had some insight into this.

Start with the basic, if it just flickers and it does not crank, it sounds like a dead battery not having enough juice to turn it over. Check you battery terminals if they are loose then it will not have good contact and not crank. Be carefull when jumping it, make sure when you attach the cables that the polarity is correct and let it charge for a few minutes before you crank it. This way if it is a dead if gets a little charge and also not have such a big power surge.

Maybe your dead battery was caused by the short you mentioned causing a drain on the battery when the car is not on? good luck

[wanna986]

Originally Posted by ray986s

Maybe your dead battery was caused by the short you mentioned causing a drain on the battery when the car is not on?

I'd second that. Mine was behaving very much the same before I replaced my battery.
Now all's well- in that department, anyway.

[Sain0rs]

A jump did start the car rather quickly. I'm going to have to go get a new battery tomorrow. The slow leak method from something else shorting out seems to be a likely cause.

Thanks for the help.

[wanna986]

Hope that's the cure!