QuestionHi, Car's haunted. Periodically, I go to start the car and have full power until I turn key all the way - then nothing, no sounds, lights. Sometimes starts after one retry, sometimes goes for 20 times. I've tried taking out of gear, opening closing doors, ect. One time I heard a click "sounding like a reset of something" and it started after that, but that was only once. Last time this happened daily for about 4 days took to dealer and "nothing wrong" They kept it for two days trying to reanact problem. That was about 4 months ago. Problem just started again last night. Also seems to be going thru more gas before this problems surfaces. Again dealer can't find anything. This is start of the fourth cycle. Also, clock occasionally goes thru a lightup speed flash and runs fast sometimes again not always, noticed added 3 minutes in past four days. This problem also comes and goes. Again, dealer nothing wrong.
AnswerYou'll definitely want to investigate your starting and charging system. If your battery is still the original, it's a prime suspect. I'm not sure what you mean by a "lightup speed flash," but the clock running fast may be a sign of excessive system voltage due to a defective alternator. Has your air bag (or ABS, if equipped) warning lamp been coming on?
Your description of the starting issue leads me to believe you may have a poor contact either at the starter or at the battery. Make sure the contacts there are clean from any corrosion and are tight. On the battery, remove the cables, inspect them carefully, and make sure they're clean. Poor contact problems tend to have symptoms like you describe: sometimes no problem, sometimes won't work when significant load is applied.
I will say that it may be difficult to locate the problem if it's not occurring when the tests are made. What tends to happen in these circumstances is that all the tests show good results.
