Car Not Starting - Electrical OK - Solution

[Voytek]

Here's one that I've seen on another forum too.
I thought I'd post it because it drove me nuts and cost me a lot of money but there is a simple solution for this potential problem.

You go to start your SAAB (mine is a 2006 Aero) and nothing happens. There is a small 'click' from the engine but otherwise silence.
The battery is good, all systems are working and there is nothing that your code reader can read.

I've seen some say that it's the starter.
This is what I thought it was.

I've seen others say that it can be the ignition coils (or starter module or something). In some cases quite possibly.

HOWEVER:
Sometimes the simplest solution is the best.
Our SAABs have this nice little yellow button on the positive terminal of the battery. Push this button to reset the car's electrical system (windows, alarm, etc).

After having the car towed to the house for $120, then to a shop for $120 and the mechanic removing the starter for $110, the conclusion was that the starter was just fine!
Apparently the security system in the car did something 'funny' and all I had to do was push the stupid yellow button to get the car started.

START WITH THE SIMPLEST SOLUTION!
I knew the button was there but never would have thought to push it.
Now I know!

Also, I've seen someone talk about their SAAB not starting after replacing the battery, but everything else working just fine. Very likely they just need to push this button.

It's like a REBOOT key for our cars.
Quirky? Yes, but it's a SAAB.

[protech5]

Thanks for the tip. We will add this to the faqs

[IrishSwan]

I had a similar problem that went on for two months. The car would start sometimes and not start other times. The Saab dealer said I needed a new battery, but mine was only 11 months old. They said it was my ignition switch, an electrical problem...you name it and after having my car towed and spending $120 a foreign car shop - not the dealership (my battery and all electrical was fine) it turned out the connectors on my battery cables need to be cleaned, not just cleaned - I had done that - but had to be seriously scraped down. The shop took off a lot of corrosion. And again, I had just cleaned them and thought they were ok.