can a loose battery cause a car not to start? Options

[homebuilder]

Hi,

My car every once in a while will not start. The starter turns over but it does not catch. Then if I wait a while it will work.

A mechanic looked at it when it did this once, he went under the hood saw my battery was not tied down properly, he moved it over hit the top of the cable and it started. Now I do not know if it was him moving the battery or just the normal, wait a minute and it works.

So anyone else have this problem? Anyone think it is the battery?

I plan to secure the battery anyway, but just wondering if that's really the problem.

[homebuilder]

Well, I got the fuel pump from a junkyard, decided to replace to see if that was the issue. Easy to replace, andso far its working fine.

There maybe a guide on here somewhere for replacing a fuel pump, but I did not see it so I will give a quick how to:

How to replace a fuel pump:

1. remove back lower seat. On a convertible, it just clips on so you can pull it up. If you like, you can also remove the top section, there are just four bolts that hold it in place. On the convertible, you go behind the seat, lift up the velcro that holds in place the vinyl where the convertible top retracts.

2. remove Four philips head screws to remove the cover plate.

3. Now you can see the outside of the tank/pump. Have two hoses and one electrical clip to remove. The metal hose you need a 14 mm wrench and a 19 mm wrench. Push on the 14 mm toward the driver side of the car, it should loosen without too much trouble. If you need, spray PB blaster to loosen.

The electrical clip is easy, push in on the side and lift up like all electrical clips. The o

For the rubber hose, use a pliers to push together the two sides to open the clamp and move clamp down hose, grip hose with pliers and twist a little but back and forth to loosen and move off of nipple.

4. remove a bunch of Philips head screws around the plate, lift assembly out of car. May want to have a plastic bag handy to put in so less fuel drips. Keep in mind you can now see into gas tank, so maybe don't smoke while doing this.

5. The pump is the cylinder object. You have an electric clip to remove and a hose, again, use a pliers to squeeze the ends of the clip together to make it expand, move it out of the way, remove the clip and then slide the pump out of the holder that holds it in place on the bottom end.

6. since I replaced with a junkyard part, I kept the strainer attached, just popped it in place, attached hose and electrical clip, put everything back together, prayed, and it worked. The pump I got basically for free while buying another part so it was a free fix.

Over all very easy. No need to get a mechanic to do it. Be careful of the fuel lines to not bust. Takes less than a half hour.

What made it easy for me was going to junkyard and "practicing" on that junk car. Even if you do not use the parts, I suggest going to a junkyard and just playing around with the cars. I took almost the entire interior and much of the engine apart to practice.... I am not a mechanic so it helped.

This post has been edited by homebuilder: Feb 10, 2013 - 8:42 PM