Car won't start by itself but hookup cables starts right up

Hi, this is Bo, an auto expert on RepairPal's Car Genius team! If your 2016 Buick Enclave clicks but won’t start on its own, but it fires right up with jumper cables, you’re likely looking at a battery or starter issue. The fact that it’s worse when it's cold suggests the battery might be losing its cranking power when it’s cold, which can be a sign it’s not holding charge properly, or it could be nearing the end of its life. When you hook up jumper cables, you’re giving it a little extra power, which is why it starts. Another possibility is that the starter itself could be weak, or there’s a poor connection somewhere in the starting circuit—like a loose or corroded cable. I’d recommend checking the battery voltage (it should be around 12.6V when fully charged) and getting the battery and alternator tested. If those check out, you might want to look into the starter or connections. If you need any further advice or want help finding a trusted RepairPal shop in your area, please feel free to call us at 877-913-1554.