Saab 9-3 no crank no start

I replaced the starter and carnkshaft position sensor but I still can't get the car to crank. My battery appears to be fine unless it does't have enough juice. I tried the short cut from the fuse box to the starter with no success. I am in Texas, the car did overheat and the A/C quit all at the same time, I'm at a loss as what to do, What function does the fuse have on top of my battery? I tend to have problems with that. Botom line my car has been sitting in my driveway for over a year and I"m about to give up on it. Please help.... There are many threads on this topic but I can't find a solution

Saab 9-3 Won't Start

Junior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Dec 2010

Posts: 3

Hi All,

Please HELP!! So, the other night I was driving home from work. Got 95% of way home, and stopped at store for 3 mins. When I came out, car clicked (one click, not a rapid click) and wouldn't start. Anytime I try to start, the car just gives me a click and nothing else. So, a friend came and jumped me. Car started right up! He followed me home (about 2 miles) and everything was fine. Once I got home, parked the car, turned off, tried to start, and got a 'click' and no start. Let me also add the car had been cranking slow over the past week as I live in the northeast and it is pretty cold! Anyway, I'm thinking it's the battery as I drove home the night the battery died and I got home fine so to me, that means the alternator was giving the battery enough juice to get me home but the battery wasn't holding the juice. Well, I take the battery to AutoZone where I bought the battery 2 years and 1 month ago. They hook up the battery and tell me the battery is 67% charged. They then offered to put on charger for me. So after 20 minutes they take it off their charger, and tell me the battery says it's 100% charged. I am completely perplexed so I take the battery home, put it in the car, and 'click'.

I still think it sounds like a battery but who knows. Does anyone have any thoughts? Any and all help will be greatly appreciated!!!

Thanks so much.

Jon

Super Moderator

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Kiev, UA

Posts: 2,030

Might be a bad ground. Make usre the contacts are clean and make sure the ground cable isn't rusted off.

Junior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Dec 2010

Posts: 3

Hi and thanks for response. So, the ground cable going to the battery? I disconnected both pos and neg and cleaned both really well. They seem to be intact and in good condition.

Super Moderator

Join Date: Dec 2006

Location: Kiev, UA

Posts: 2,030

Trace the negative cable to where it grounds. See if it's clean there.

Junior Member

Thread Starter

Join Date: Dec 2010

Posts: 3

Ok. So, I put in a new batt last night and still just a click. I am now thinking it's the starter. Well, I go beat the hell out of the starter with a hammer while someone else was cranking and I still get just a click at the starter solenoid. Any other thoughts? Is the 'beat the starter' method a guarantee? Like i mentioned before, on the drive home that night, I jumped the car and drove home absolutely fine so the motor isn't seized or anything. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.

Just a rundown...
Car didn't start-got just a click at starter
Jumped car and drove home
Got home, tried to start, and got a 'click'
Replaced battery and checked all grounds/connections-still just a click
Banged starter with a hammer while cranking-still just a click

Thanks for all your help!

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Posts: 1

It's your alternator.

Junior Member

Join Date: Jan 2011

Location: MA

Posts: 7

Check fuses. I believe there is a fuse that tells the sparks and fuel pump to start working. This happened with my car also, i bought a brand new battery and brand new spark plugs, but the car kept having the same problem. In my case, the car would turn over, but wouldn't have something to catch onto (for example....a spark) One time it was so bad, that it wouldn't start for a couple of days. I had a diagnostics test done on it, and came to find out that it was a fuse. I can't remember which one it exactly was, i just know that it had something to do with the sparks and fuel pump. I changed the spark, and bam! it works perfectly. Btw...i have a 2000 Saab 9-3 SE Convertible.

Junior Member

Join Date: May 2013

Posts: 1

Quote:

Originally Posted by SaabRocks

Check fuses. I believe there is a fuse that tells the sparks and fuel pump to start working. This happened with my car also, i bought a brand new battery and brand new spark plugs, but the car kept having the same problem. In my case, the car would turn over, but wouldn't have something to catch onto (for example....a spark) One time it was so bad, that it wouldn't start for a couple of days. I had a diagnostics test done on it, and came to find out that it was a fuse. I can't remember which one it exactly was, i just know that it had something to do with the sparks and fuel pump. I changed the spark, and bam! it works perfectly. Btw...i have a 2000 Saab 9-3 SE Convertible.

Is it possible to recollect the fuse # and fuse name(fuse name preferably) that was replaced to correct your problem.

Junior Member

Join Date: Dec 2014

Posts: 1

I read on another forum that this guy did all that was done above. Battery, cables, solenoid and starter, still just clicked. Took it to the dealer and had the ignition switch replaced. FIXED! Just sayin...

Junior Member

Join Date: Feb 2015

Posts: 1

Like i mentioned before, on the drive home that night, I jumped the car and drove home absolutely fine so the motor isn't seized or anything. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated.???

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