So friday morning I was getting ready to leave to come up to Redding (where im at now) for the weekend to visit some family. I went and had the Max washed and when I went to leave it didnt want to start easy. I drove home, loaded up the car, and went to head out for the 220mile drive, and shes dead. So I called AAA and had them come out and jump it, which it worked fine, and I went and got a new battery from pepboys. The first 3-4 starts with the new battery werent smooth and easy, but I was able to make the trip up.

All the rest of friday once we got up here, and all of yesterday up til the evening, the car was fine. We went to Shopko and when we went to leave, she didnt wanna start easy. Went a block over to blockbuster, went to leave to head back to my fams house, and dead again. So we get AAA out again thinking its something more but a jump works again. So I just took it over to autozone and wanted them to test the starter, alternator, and battery. While I was waiting, I went to leave to run to use the bathroom down the street and it wouldnt start. So then they brought the machine out and tested everything and the results were:

Battery = Full Charge
Alternator = Charging the battery so he said its fine
Starter = Not trying to draw more power then needed so said its fine

He said the only thing he could think of was perhaps the battery was getting a bad connection, possibly through the ground cable. What do you guys think? Could something have happened to it when i wetn through the car wash since I had never had troubles prior to that? Could it be anything else? Where is the ground cable grounded at for the battery and is it easy to get to and look at? Any help would be greatly appreciate.

Thanks
John

 

5th gens have history of having bad alternators so you should get that double checked as thats the first thing i'd suspect from the sounds of it

 

Should I take it to say Kragens and have them come out and test it and see what they say? Would that be a good enough second opinion?

Thanks for the reply.
John

 

This could possibly be a starter issue. Are there any lights coming on or flashing on the dash? You may be correct with the 'bad electrical connection' bit.

Here's a suggestion for mods to come (these should be a significant help with that issue):
Grounding Kit
Underdrive Pulley

 

No lights on the dash. All electrical system things work fine(ac, stereo, headlights, ect..). If the starter was going bad, would getting a jump actually kick the starter into starting the car? The reason im thinking it might be a bad ground is the fact that it has no problem getting a jump start from a jump machine that has a good ground built in. When I got back I started it up twice and it fired fine. Im waiting to go out and test it in a bit and see what happens.

 

Sorry dont mean to thread jack or anything but doesnt the UDP makes it where your alternator will charge less?

If its the starter you could try giving it a whack w/ a hammer or a big wrench to reset the bendix inside.

 

Honestly, I dont even know where the freakin starter is in this car. Its so new to me I havent learned where everything is yet. I found the alternator easy, but no clue on the starter. But if the starters having problems, why would a jump make it start?

 

Honestly i have no idea but when my starter was going bad... i gave it a jump and it worked once.

Ok the starter is on the side of your battery, might be under your stock airbox, if you have an aftermarket intake you can see it easialy, its on the firewall side of the transmission.

 

Ima go to Kragens and ask them to run the tests and see what they say. Im just so lost on what this could be. I have an extended warranty with a $100 deductible, but id be best off getting back home and taking it to the dealer where I bought it to have them deal with it. Ill let you guys know what Kragens says.

Thanks
John

 

bad alternator

 

Again, same deal, everythings fine. The guy at Kragens said his girls car did the same thing for a couple days after having the underbody washed at a car wash too. If it keeps it up, im going to take it to the dealer where I got it.

Thanks for the help
John