Car won't start...any car know it alls around?

[DisJosh]

Well I ended up getting a ride home tonight and leaving my car in the parking lot on campus.

When I went to turn the key NOTHING happened. The starter didn't make a sound. Could this be my battery? The lights still work and everything else does too but when I was putting up the window up the stereo shut off. :veryconfu

Someone tell me it's probably just the battery....I need my car this weekend lol.

 

[SpongeScott]

Take your car to an auto parts store--Auto Zone type store--and they can check your battery for free. Obviously, you'll need to get it jumped off first. I'll let the store take it from here!

 

[DisJosh]

You think it's the bettery though? If it can be jumped it's obviously the battery. I dont want it to be anything else...because something more complicated would deem me carless for the weekend.

 

[MobileBadBoy]

Sounds like either the battery or altenator.

The battery could still have enough juice to run things, but the alternator might have lost it's charge to crank the car.

Or the solenoid is bad.

Auto Zone can tell you.

 

[Herbie53]

If you have a passive alarm system, it could be that. The car won't start (or even make a sound), but the lights and stuff still work. It happens to me sometimes. Something would have to have triggered it though.

 

[Tramp]

This may sound very elementary, but make sure the car is in 'park.'

 

[DisneyCP2000]

Originally posted by Tramp
This may sound very elementary, but make sure the car is in 'park.'

I agree with Tramp, its happened to me plenty of times. I can't even turn the key sometimes. I found out that the car wasn't in park. You can tell when the car won't even turn over, but the lights come on. Give that a shot, it may work.

 

[The Mom]

I vaguely remember something similar. I would turn the key, hear a click, then nothing. As I recall,it was 1. the alternator or 2. bad battery cable connections...the mechanic poured coke (honest to God!) on them before jumping the battery. I think I had to replace both the battery and the cable connection. This was back in the days before I had a great mechanic who always keeps on top of things!

 

[DisJosh]

Tramp, I'm not that stupid. The car was parked in the first place...had it been out of park my car would have rolled b/c of the incline I was on.

God, I hope it's the battery.

Marcia, there's absolutely no sound when I turn the key, not even a click.

I really just don't want to be stuck with out wheels this weekend.

 

[Herbie53]

Originally posted by Tramp
This may sound very elementary, but make sure the car is in 'park.'

That actually happens to me quite a bit! :lol: Well, the opposite really. My car is a standard transmission, and most of the time when I get into an automatic I forget, and try to turn the car off and leave without putting it in park. Thank goodness the ignition won't let you have the key back unless the car's in park. I could cause some real damage! :lol:

 

[Talsonic]

Neutral Safety Switch

Originally posted by DisJosh
Tramp, I'm not that stupid. The car was parked in the first place...had it been out of park my car would have rolled b/c of the incline I was on.

God, I hope it's the battery.

Marcia, there's absolutely no sound when I turn the key, not even a click.

I really just don't want to be stuck with out wheels this weekend.

If I may, I think Tramp was referring to the neutral safety switch. In all modern cars (even older models) the vehicle has a switch that will not allow the car to start unless the car is in neutral, park or (with a manual) the clutch pedal depressed. Sometimes, the switch gets worn and you must "fiddle" with the gear lever in park or neutral to activate the switch. As an example, with the car in park (or neutral), turn the ignition key to start and then "wiggle" the gear lever. Sometimes that will make the neutral safety switch work properly. So, Tramp gave you excellent advice.

 

[Fievel]

I'm guessing alternator or starter, most likely the starter.

If you have lights working anywhere, it isn't the battery.

 

[Monorail Lime]

Is your call a relatively new Accord? A number of them just got recalled because of problems in the ignition contacts causing exactly the symptoms you describe. I'm taking mine to the Honda dealer next week for a free fix because I don't want that problem to happen to me!

It could be the battery even if the lights are working. It takes a lot more juice to start the car than it does to power the lights.

 

[lamarvenoy]

Hey DisJosh,
It's either your starter or ignition switch,if you give me the details on your car I can give you several simple tests to figure it out on your own. Please give me the year, model, mileage, how long you've had it and the history if any ignition related repairs.Also, do you have a stereo system with an amp,or self installed fog lights or anything wiring related you have done to the car.on a final note,avoid Autozone. Most of the stores have few if any "carsmart" employees,they have a fancy battery tester but that's all that thing really does. If you want some one on one help for free e-me or try Advanced Auto Parts of Discount Auto Parts either one of them have several ASE certified techs at each store.Hope this helps.

 

[SpongeScott]

Originally posted by lamarvenoy
Hey DisJosh,
It's either your starter or ignition switch,if you give me the details on your car I can give you several simple tests to figure it out on your own. Please give me the year, model, mileage, how long you've had it and the history if any ignition related repairs.Also, do you have a stereo system with an amp,or self installed fog lights or anything wiring related you have done to the car.on a final note,avoid Autozone. Most of the stores have few if any "carsmart" employees,they have a fancy battery tester but that's all that thing really does. If you want some one on one help for free e-me or try Advanced Auto Parts of Discount Auto Parts either one of them have several ASE certified techs at each store.Hope this helps.

Now here's the guy we've all been waiting for! Sounds a lot smarter about it than me!

 

[DisJosh]

It's fine now. It seems that the battery connections were just loose.

 

[The Mom]

Originally posted by DisJosh
It's fine now. It seems that the battery connections were just loose.

Whoa! I was right!! But please, don't ask me any car questions....this was a fluke!! :lol:

 

[Tramp]

Originally posted by The Mom



Whoa! I was right!!

...hey Mom....the engine light comes on in my Lexus every now and then and sometimes the motor idles rough...and there's some blue smoke coming from the engine compartment, and my rear window doesn't go all the way up, and my tires seem to wear out on the inside first and the brakes squeal a little in hot weather and the moon roof leaks in very hard rain and I hear a thump everytime I make a left turn....

...think you can help me, Mrs. Goodwrench?



:lol:
:lol:
:lol:

 

[WDWFREAK53]

Mom,

My car is a volkswagon beetle...and I have a few problems with it.

The doors open automatically sometimes, it can skip across water, it spits out oil (on it's own), the trunk eats people, it gets drunk off of irish coffee, and it's afraid of the highway...and it actually tried to commit suicide by "jumping" off of a bridge...

got any answers for me???

 

[The Mom]

Originally posted by WDWFREAK53
Mom,

My car is a volkswagon beetle...and I have a few problems with it.

The doors open automatically sometimes, it can skip across water, it spits out oil (on it's own), the trunk eats people, it gets drunk off of irish coffee, and it's afraid of the highway...and it actually tried to commit suicide by "jumping" off of a bridge...

got any answers for me???

Hmmm...What color is it? :lol: