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Irritated, confused..... Stupid thing

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sd80mac7204

sd80mac7204

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Finally got my Impala back. I really needed it back because the Buick loaner car is in sad shape after 2 deer impacts in a week(in fact I have a spare headlight from the Impala taped on the front just so I can see at night.) Now while the Impala runs better than I remember it ever running I now have a problem getting it started.
-Last Monday night when I picked it up, it started nice and smooth.
-Tuesday night it wouldn't start when I went home from work. I turn the key and there is a thump then silence. Figuring dead battery, I got a coworker to come jump the car(it has been sitting for 2 months so I figured the battery was low), but I turned the key before we hooked up the cables and it started on it's own...strange...
-Wednesday morning there was no getting it to start, just a thump when I turned the key. Ended up missing work because the Buick's battery was dead. Eventually got the Impala to start at 4pm as if nothing was wrong. That night I parked the Impala next to the Buick so I could use the Impala to jump the Buick if the Impala would't start the next morning.
-Thursday morning. Impala just thumps...again. Spent 10 minutes getting the ruined hood open on the Buick and finding my jumper cables. After both hoods were open I tried to start the Impala again and it starts right up. hooked up the cables and jumped the Buick anyway and let both cars run.

-When it's below 15 outside seems to be when the car won't start. Bad starter? Water in the starter? I'm confused at this point and I'm hoping it is cheap as I already have $1600 in the car in repairs.
 
1130131408.jpg0103141925.jpgbefore and after on the Buick
 
Battery connection? (check the ground at the block too) Neutral safety switch? (move shifter while trying to start).

Might be the block ground seeing they had the top of the motor apart.
 
Grounds seem good.
 
I used to have the same problem with my Healey. It was a bad battery isolation switch. Since I assume you don't have one on the Impala, I would check all the high current connections: Battery ground, battery posts, starter solenoid, solenoid to starter (if separate), engine ground. Also, check the cable where it's attached to a lug, especially at the battery. Sometimes they go bad from internal corrosion even if they look good on the outside.
 
What you describe as a "thump" makes me think you have a bad spot in the starter solenoid, or a dead spot in the starter motor its self. If you can, try rapping on the starter (be gentle! you don't need to kill it) while someone is turning the key. If it starts I would replace the starter. But only after checking the electrical connections like has been previously stated. A loose or dirty connection anywhere in the high amp starter circuit can cause the same symptoms. If the battery connections seem good, the next place I would check is the connection on the starter.
 
Don't forget you have that stupid electrical box where you are supposed to jump the car from. make sure you check in and out of that as well
 
Bad or intermittent starter solenoid?

Intermittent electrical gremlins are the worst!
 
If you can rig up some type of heater to keep the battery warm this may alleviate the problem .Low temperatures tend to make the battery appear discharged.
 
My money is on bad contact at some place on the battery cables/ground strap, too. AFTER cleaning all contact points, if it still does the "thump" thing, the starter tapping exercise would be my next step.
 
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