Oldsmobile/Buick Repair: Buick Starting Problem, jumper cables, trickle charger

Question
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Followup To
Question -
I have a 99 Buick LeSabre with 16K miles. Has been riding fine. Came home from work yesterday, put in the garage and everything was fine. This morning I go out to go to work and turned the key. No start. Not even a crank. Noticed my speedometer was sitting on 70 miles an hour. My husband thought it may be the battery. Tried to jump me. My lights on the dash came on brighter, but no still not even a crank. Just a fluttering sound when turning the key. I have had cars for 30 years and never had this problem. One side note, however, probably nothing to do with problem. But, I was gone for 2 weeks and the car sat. When I first started it, it was perfectly fine, however, my locks were goofed up. I had them programmed to stay locked after turning the car off. Now, when I put the car in Park, the locks automatically unlock. Probably has nothing to do with it, but thought I would mention it. Thanks for your help!
Answer -
Disconnect the battery, and charge it a bit, possibly even with your husbands vehicle.
While disconnected, check the connection surfaces, and clean them if corroded.
Reconnect the battery, and with it, and the jumper cables, try again.
Van

Thanks Van. I didn't know the battery had to be disconnected when charging. He put a tickler (sp?) charge on it last night, but left it connected. Is this bad?  Also, will it hurt his battery to try to jump mine?  Thanks again!

Answer
Hi Cecily,
I believe it is a trickle charger, which is the best for it.
But that doesn't address the possible corrosion that might be found under the connections.
Also, I have run across the situation several times where if the battery is real low, and then recharged without disconnecting, the computer looses its place somehow and doesn't realize it has a good battery, or something like that, and the vehicle may not act correctly. i have had it happen. Just by unhooking one cable for a few seconds, it knew it had a charged battery.
His battery connected while starting won't hurt either battery or vehicle if connected + to +, and neg to neg.
Good luck,
Van