10% to 25% off contacts.

Special Sections
-- Baby Boomers -- Family -
-- Green -- Home and Auto --
-- In Critical Condition -- Lifestyle --
-- Just Starting Out -- Money --



The Car Care Clinic

'92 Lumina Starting Problems

by Bob DeP.
AskBob@stretcher.com

share your thoughts
about frugal living
at TDS Community
 
Web Stretcher.com

Subscribe to Our Money Saving Newsletter

Also In This Week's Issue

Money games for kids

10 hot toys for under $20

How repossession affects credit score

Marriage doesn't wipe out credit history

Visit our Library
Advertise on this site
Bob-
My problem is with starting my 1992 Chevrolet Lumina Euro 4- door Sedan. Just recently, it came to the point that whenever I try to start my car, I must turn the key in the ignition twice and on the third try the car cranks just fine. Also, with the first two tries I hear a loud clicking noise. I've replaced my battery, I've had a new starter installed and I even recently had my thermostat replaced, although that was for a different problem. My car currently has 130,000 miles on it. An associate of mine that drives a Chevrolet Corsica seems to be having the same problem. Any ideas?
Kim

Kim,
Okay, so you turn the key the first two times and nothing happens, then on the third time she goes... you had a new battery put in and a new starter.... okay, do you hear a click or a hum?? does the interior light dim while you do this? Some cars, this light will go out all together but on others it will stay lit, just dimly..... The problem may be with the cables from the battery to the starter... I want you to check at the battery to see if they are tight and there is no corrosion (fluffy white powder or blue-ish colored powder on the cable ends). I want you to look at the wires and see if they look okay... look to see if the insulation (the rubber covering) is cracked or worn... Also, the problem may be with poor grounds.... If all of these check out okay, then the problem may be with the ignition switch itself.
Good Luck!
Drive Safely!
Bob, The Auto Answer Man

If you have a question for Bob send it to: AskBob@stretcher.com. He's able to answer many of them personally and we'll include the best questions in future issues of The Dollar Stretcher.

Do you have a time or money saving idea that wasn't included in this article? Please send it to tips @stretcher.com. We get the best ideas from our readers!

If you liked this article sign up for our free eNewsletter Surviving Tough Times Do it today and we'll give you our ebook featuring over 200 ways to save on groceries (a $19.95 value).

Follow The Dollar Stretcher on Twitter.

I Would like to:

Would you like to tell a Frugal Friend about this article? Just fill out their email address and your name and we'll send them the URL.
Enter your friend's email:
Enter your name:
Enter a message to your friend:

Copyright 1996 - 2009 "The Dollar Stretcher, Inc.". All rights reserved unless specifically noted.

Write to the Dollar Stretcher at:
Dollar Stretcher
PO Box 14160
Bradenton
FL 34280-4160

941-761-7805 voice
941-761-8301 fax

"The Dollar Stretcher, Inc." does not assume responsibility for advice given. All advice should be weighed against your own abilities and circumstances and applied accordingly. It is up to the reader to determine if advice is safe and suitable for their own situation.