Car problem (no power) - *Updated*

[kag]

Hi,
I tried to start my mom's car 5 minutes ago, but I realized that there isn't any power at all, just like the battery would have been unplugged. The radio doesn't work, the heat, the electric doors, the lights, nothing.

I'm no mechanic but my guess is there is something wrong with the battery. Could it be something else? I haven't called the garage yet, but I hope it won't be too expensive (and won't take too long to fix) because my mom is on a trip to Holland and I'm still all alone at home for 2 weeks...


Update:
I boosted the car and it started almost right away. The battery recharged super fast. I drove the car for like 10 minutes and everything seems correct. Even like 30 min after that 10 min trip, it started like a charm. Hope everything will stay A1 because I can't figure out what happened

 

[gittyup]

Sounds like you got yourself a dead battery.

 

[bunker]

No lights, radio, clicking when you turn the ignition? If so, then yes, the battery would be the second thing I'd look at. First, check the cables and make sure they're attached.

 

[cmdavid]

Yep, id say its a dead battery. The thing is though.. you dont have to get it fixed.. just get a friend to come by your house and jump your car, you know.. w/ jump cables.. drive the car around for about 30-45 mins w/out turning it off and the battery will be good for a while again.. if it dies again w/ in like 4 or 5 days, you probably need to get a new battery....

 

[kag]

it doesn't click when I turn the ignition... it doesn't do anything

I'm gonna go outside and try to take a look... but unfortunately, the battery is hidden under the windshield washer thing

 

[snakesnfrogs]

it's probably not the battery, per se, it's the corrosion between the posts and the cables---loosen the cables and give the connectors and posts a good cleaning. After you get them cleaned, jump start it and it'll probably be OK

 

[Emulex]

jump the car take it to autozone or pep boys they will take your battery out and test each cell and let you know if its bad.. (for free)

 

[kag]

I just realized that yesterday (the last time I started the car), it started like it does in a cold morning in the winter... the engine sounded so slow for like 0.5 sec before it started....

i mean, it didn't start right away

 

[Rent]

It could possibly be a dead alternator. Otherwise, clean the battery cables and see if you can get one of your friends to jump it and make a quick run to your local auto shop.

 

[snakesnfrogs]

If it started yesterday, you can bet that it's corrosion build-up. Though with the battery being under the windshield washer reservoir, it'll be a pain in the @ss to mess with. What kind of car---Lumina Minivan?

 

[kag]

Cutlass Supreme

 

[kag]

If it's a dead alternator, will it start if I boost it?

 

[snakesnfrogs]

<< If it's a dead alternator, will it start if I boost it? >>




it'll probably start, it just won't run very long

 

[MajesticMoose]

having a dead alternator would mean that the battery will just completely discharge. Jumping it would start it but if the alternator is doing absolutly nothing then it should die right away or very soon after you disconnect the cables.

m00se

 

[kag]

okay
that's all I wanted to know... a way to isolate the problem to know if it's the alt. or the battery

I'm gonna call a friend later this afternoon, and I'll have to look again for my boosting cables..

 

[Thump553]

I'm placing my bet on dead battery, with a close second on corroded or disconnected terminals.

Do you have a battery charger around? If so, slap that puppy on it for a few hours. You can buy one at places like Walmart pretty reasonably. But if the battery is that weak, mom should give some thought to replacing it-this problem will reoccur when the cold weather rolls around.

 

[kag]

I'm pretty sure that it's not corrosion, because of what happened yesterday.

just realized that yesterday (the last time I started the car), it started like it does in a cold morning in the winter... the engine sounded so slow for like 0.5 sec before it started....

I *hope* it's a dead battery because it's not as expensive as an alternator

 

[frizzlefry]

I used to have a Cutlass Supreme Intl Series. Great car. Until it BURNED itself to death. Anyways, I had a recurring problem with ead batteries on that thing. You have a fully digital dash? Well, if you do, that car is so full of electronics that it kills the battery every 1.5-2 years. I was replacing them like crazy. But it also has bad alternators. I replcaed two of those. From what I was told is that if you keep jumping a dead battery and if it has some bad cells, then you risk damaging your alternator. I don't know if this is true. But here are a couple suggestions.

If it is a dead battery or if it has bad cells, get a new one but with a higher rating.

If the alternator is going out, get a higher amp alternator. This will save the alternator and provide more juice for those electronics. just my 2 cents.

 

[kag]

Ours is a Cutlass Supreme SL
only the air conditionned is digital... and the cd player

the speedometer, rpm, etc are analog

 

[brxndxn]

Take aluminum foil and put connect the two battery contacts together... That should give the battery a nice jump start.

Also, you might want to try holding the + contact in your left hand while holding the + car connector in your right hand.. and make sure you're not wearing shoes or socks.

Also, try not to listen to me.

 

[kag]

and make sure the ground is wet too?

 

[bigd480]

a bad connection can affect the car at any time...

just last week my g/f's car wouldn't start because some &quot;anti-corrosion&quot; stuff wal-mart put on it 2 months ago heated up and caused the battery to lose contact... after the terminals were throughly cleaned, it started right up, without the hesitation that it usually tended to have...

 

[kag]

with what product did you clean them?

 

[Angrymarshmello]

I read you can drop an aspirin or two (like Bayer) into the battery itself to give a dead battery one last good crank before you have to replace it. (This was in a magazine with car tips, forgot which one)

 

[Angrymarshmello]

kag - pour coke on the terminals of the battery and cables - the acid will clean them up