Car Talk: Two likely causes exist for non-starting car; Battery either has a dead cell or a current drain

Dear Tom and Ray:

I am a student in Boston with a car that is originally from Texas.I have a 1996 Chevrolet G Van that has more than 150,000 miles on it.The car had been working really well until last fall.

This was its first real winter. Basically, I have to jump-start mycar every time I want to turn it on. It starts very easily andreliably with a jump. So I bought one of those portable jump-startboxes, because I got tired of praying that someone would be in theparking lot whenever I needed to go anywhere.

I am hoping that you might have an idea of what is going on withmy car and what I can do to fix it.

Hannah

TOM: You must have made a lot of new friends, Hannah. That's agreat way to meet people when you're new to a city - drive a car thatnever starts.

RAY: Two things come to mind, Hannah. The first is very simple tofix. I think you might have a dead cell in your battery.

TOM: A car battery is made up of six cells - kind of like the unitwhere my brother did time after the IRS caught up with him.

RAY: If one cell in your battery is dead, the battery might onlybe producing 10 volts instead of 12. That's enough to work thelights, the radio and the 40,000-watt stereo system. But the startermotor needs a full 12 volts, or it just won't move. When you turn thekey, you might hear the starter lurch, or you'll hear a clickingsound, or nothing at all.

TOM: The solution to that is a new battery. That'll cost you 75bucks. Just flag down one of the guys in your parking lot and say:"Excuse me, my car won't start. Would you mind putting in this newbattery for me?" Then go hide behind a building in case he crossesthe cables and sets your car on fire.

RAY: Or just go to a gas station, and have them do it, Hannah.Because they can check for the other possibility: a current drain. Itcould be something like a light in the glove box that's staying onall night.

TOM: Or a fellow student running his laptop all night from yourcigarette lighter so he can sell term papers.

RAY: It's very easy for your neighborhood mechanic to test yourbattery and your charging system, and to check for a current drain.That shouldn't cost very much. But I'd bet on the battery. Good luck,Hannah.

Listen to Tom and Ray at 10 a.m. Saturdays on West Virginia PublicRadio's stations. Got a question about cars? Write to Click and Clackin care of this newspaper, or e-mail them at www.cartalk.com.