96 960 on friday the car started with a little hesitation. sounded as if the battery was runned down, but it's a new one(sears. rest of friday, had about 5 starts and everything ok; tho it never went above 20 degrees.
Saturday morning tried to start and it just made a sound, not clicking, but like a tongue on roof of mouth and rapid ddddddd.
any ideas?

Dear Charles,

Good p.m. and may this find you well.

New batteries sometimes fail. Happened to me last month on a 6-month-old Diehard Gold. The battery was so dead, it would not take a jump start.
Tried battery from another car and - like magic - everything was fine. Sears replaced the almost-new battery but quite dead battery, without question. It likely had a bad cell.

Do the "idiot lights" come on, when you try to start? If so, are they bright and steady, or dim and flickering? If they're bright and steady, that suggests the battery is OK. If the latter, that suggests a weak battery.

The alternator may have stopped charging the battery, leading to battery failure. Check alternator output. If the alternator is putting out - but the battery is not taking the charge, then the battery likely has gone bad.

If the alternator and battery are fine, one might look at the starter motor and solenoid. These are pretty robust, but can, of course fail.

Hope this gets you forward, and moving in short order.

Yours faithfully,

spook

thanks for the fast reply

all lights came on strong.tend to believe either starter or sol

Dear Chas,

Good p.m. You're welcome: if you can't start, that commands a rapid response.

How many miles on your chariot?

It could be that long-term cold has made "gummy" a weak solenoid's lube.

If you can get under the car, try putting a hair dryer (NOT an industrial heat gun) on the solenoid. It may "loosen up" enough to crank one last time. If that works, you may be able to drive to your mechanic or to get replacement parts.

Note (forgive me stressing the obvious): if you get to your mechanic or the parts place, DON'T switch off while you collect the spares or unless your mechanic tells you to do so. He may prefer to drive it right onto the lift (rather than pushing it later).

Let us know what it turns out to be.

Yours faithfully,

spook