Starting problems..

[trwp72]

Twice now, my car has had trouble starting, like the battery is dead... but both times it did finnally start... However, I noticed after it started, the fuel gauge was down on "E"... But the tank was full both times... So I turn the car off, and restart the car, which the second time it starts normally, (This was after running for only about a minute) and the fuel gauge goes back up to the point it should be at... And it starts normally from then on... for the rest of the day. So yesterday I did the following:

Cleaned the battery connections:
a) the posts
b) cut the end of the wires off, cleaned the ends, and reistalled them to the terminals..
It has the brass replacement terminals......

Checked the battery water... topped it off.. (Wasn't terribly low)

Charged the battery overnight with my 1 amp battery maintainer... which didn't charge it all the way.. (the green light wasn't on, the yellow charging indicator was still on) But it started alot better than it has been starting....

So... has anyone had this happen to them? And what did you do to fix the problem? Just wondering if the battery cables on this should be replaced... even after stripping the wire insulation, the wire was black, which SHOULD have been copper color... I cleaned them up with sand paper and a wire brush... So they were bright again... So I wonder if the problem is maybe the wires?

Any help would be appreciated... as I have never seen this happen before...
(With the gas gauge acting up when this happened)

Tom...

[Tiggie]

I'd buy a new set of battery cables for it, those replacement ends suck from my experience.

[gabegt90]

I'd buy a new set of battery cables for it, those replacement ends suck from my experience.

x1 to that I would try getting new cables first tom If they are the originals.

[gadget73]

Might also want to check the connection where the ground cable bolts to the side of the engine. If its not clean it can cause all sorts of electrical demons. There should also be a ground strap from engine to body, off the back side of the passenger head. If thats a bad connection most of the rest of the car will act funny. Not sure if the 91 has the problematic ignition switches, but thats also a possibility.

[trwp72]

I guess this pay day I will put new cables on it... and any other ground straps etc I can find to replace...