# Car Start Issue

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** astra, saturn\
**Created:** [June 6, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410 "2020-06-06T17:12:30Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![paulypres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@paulypres](https://community.cartalk.com/u/paulypres)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 5:12pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410/1 "2020-06-06T17:12:30Z")

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This morning I started my car, ran idle for about 10 seconds, sputtered, came back to life for 2 seconds and then died.

No crank no start. Cabin lights work, Stereo does not work, headlights do not work, Dash lights working.

Recently had the fuse box and positive battery cable replaced. Car ran great for about 10 days since repair.

Edit: Got the car to work again. I replaced the starter relay with another relay in the fuse box. Car cranked and started as normal. For fun I put the starter relay back in its original position and it worked. Any ideas??

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**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 6:06pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410/2 "2020-06-06T18:06:46Z")

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Did the replacement fuse box come from a salvage yard?  
That, or something else has corrosion.

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**Author:** ![paulypres](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f8ce5/32.png) [@paulypres](https://community.cartalk.com/u/paulypres)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 6:08pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410/3 "2020-06-06T18:08:52Z")

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Yes the fuse box came from a salvage yard. Can you explain how taking the relay out and putting it back in fixed the issue?

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**Author:** ![Barkydog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/barkydog/32/2470_2.png) [@Barkydog](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Barkydog)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 6:16pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410/4 "2020-06-06T18:16:31Z")

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Intermittent failing relay or bad contacts are options. If it fails try tapping it while someone tries to start it.

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![circuitsmith](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/circuitsmith/32/40376_2.png) [@circuitsmith](https://community.cartalk.com/u/circuitsmith)\
**Post date:** [June 6, 2020, 6:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-start-issue/165410/5 "2020-06-06T18:21:25Z")

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Pulling the relay and re-inserting can polish away the corrosion.  
Some 600-1000 grit emery cloth and a pencil eraser are useful tools for cleaning tarnished or corroded contacts.