99 3.4 Auto...Electrical Gremlin

[dhost78]

Hey Everyone,

I have a strange situation brewing that I'm hoping someone might be able to help me out with.
I getting an intermittent no start on my 99 3.4....just a quick click, then nothing....no more clicks, no crank. That is, until I open the drivers door and close it again...it will fire up with no problem at all...it's worked every time. Then today, it did a fast series of clicks that made me think it was the starter, but again I opened and closed the door and it fired right up with no problem at all.
The only thing I can think of is that the door switch is shorting or sticking and doing something to the security system? But I don't see how that can cause the fast clicks that happened today. Maybe the door switch and the starter are failing at the same time?
I'm kinda desperate because I'm driving this sucker from Colorado to North Carolina at the end of the week, and I really don't want to get stranded in the middle of BFE!!
Any thoughts from anyone? It'd be MUCH appreciated!

 

[NTORACN]

It sounds like you may have a starter issue. Shutting the hood will probably also result in it starting like slamming the door does. Eventually it will stop working and you'll be walking.

 

[dhost78]

I totally forgot to mention something else...every time it does the "one click then nothing" act....it also resets my stereo (aftermarket) after I start it up? I'm friggen terrified that this will wind up being something crazy when I bring it in. I guess I'll just have to bite the bullet and see what the shop says.

 

[Edubsam]

Sounds like a starter to me. I know when the electrical system gets a kink in mine, it resets the stereo. I suppose there could be some short that has to do with the door switch as well. Try getting a new starter in it, if it doesn't help, return it. Or keep it for when you need it.

 

[Qyota]

Load test the battery first. A bad starter won't effect your stereo, or at least it shouldn't. Auto Zone and other places will load test your battery for free.

 

[dhost78]

Sounds good, thanks for the advice guys....I think I'll have my battery tested before I do anything else, which would actually be the best case for me since it's less than a year old.

 

[KeatonMP]

Mine did the same thing (except for opening and closing the door) and it was the battery.

 

[Singtoe]

Sounds like a loose or corroded battery terminal to me.

It sounds like the connection is so bad, that the radio looses it memory.

I would clean them with a wire brush and re-attach tightly.

 

[brian2sun]

Sounds like a loose or corroded battery terminal to me.

It sounds like the connection is so bad, that the radio looses it memory.

I would clean them with a wire brush and re-attach tightly.

This^^.

 

[dhost78]

You guys were right. It was a battery terminal. $7 and the problem was solved. I was so pumped that I had to run to the tire store and pick up the 265/75-16 BFG A/T's that I've been eyeballing! Thanks again for your help everyone!