**Return of the car noob** Car not starting.

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KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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Nov 30, 2005
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**UPDATE**

Anyone have any ideas on how to get this stupid nut off the negative cable? I have my new battery now and am ready to throw it in, but I can't get this stupid thing off for the life of me; I've tried every single tool I own. Do I need to buy a a power drill or something?

Battery.jpg



Nut.jpg


So freaking frustrating. Is there another way to get the cable off? It's such a tight space, I can't get any leverage with anything and the socket wrench does not fit.





So my old beast (97 Maxima) seems to be having an issue, but I'm not sure exactly what it is. I imagine it's pretty simple, but I have no idea about this stuff.

I drive my car maybe once a month and I went down to the parkade to do so yesterday and it would not start. The first couple of times I tried the key, it chugged a bit (classic whrrr whrrr whrrr noise) but then it stopped even doing that. So it was pretty much completely dead. Is this the battery or sparkplugs or something?

Thanks in advance for the help and for putting up with the stupid question (s). Let me know if you need more information.

Thanks!

KT
 
Last edited:
jlee

jlee

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Sep 12, 2001
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KeithTalent said:
Hmm, ok. Easy to replace on my own?

KT
Click to expand...

Does your engine bay look like this?

Remove battery hold down bracket, disconnect negative and positive terminals (make sure not to bridge the terminals with a tool...could get sparky and stuff), remove battery, repeat in reverse with new battery. Auto parts places may install a new battery for free, too.
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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jlee said:
Does your engine bay look like this?

Remove battery hold down bracket, disconnect negative and positive terminals (make sure not to bridge the terminals with a tool...could get sparky and stuff), remove battery, repeat in reverse with new battery. Auto parts places may install a new battery for free, too.
Click to expand...

Yep, that's her. Not sure how I would get the car to the place if it's not starting, aside from paying for a tow, so I'm leaning toward trying it myself...

KT
 
Last edited:
LTC8K6

LTC8K6

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Mar 10, 2004
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Get a jump starter/battery pack and jump it?

And quit leaving it sit so long...
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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LTC8K6 said:
Get a jump starter/battery pack and jump it?

And quit leaving it sit so long...
Click to expand...

Lol, well what am I supposed to do, force myself to drive more often? :D Maybe I'll do what Possessed Freak recommended.

A self jump starter, as in I would not need another car? Did not know they existed. I'll check that out, thanks.

KT
 
V

Vette73

Lifer
Jul 5, 2000
21,503
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Yea battery may still be good.

My Corvette will kill its battery after not driving for a week; I trickle charge it now.

But remove battery and have it charged at ADV/AZ and tested for free. If it test good then just disconnect the battery when not in use.
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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Cool. What's considered cheap? Is $100 enough to get an ok one?

I guess I'll jump start the car, then take it somewhere to get the battery tested and/or get a new battery.

KT
 
LTC8K6

LTC8K6

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Mar 10, 2004
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Yes, $100 should get you a good one. You can find them with extras like an inverter with 120V outlets and with USB charge ports, etc.

You don't really need all that stuff though. That first Stanley one should be a good one. You want to look for the higher amp capacities.

Keep in mind that it will need to be charged up first.
 
H

holden j caufield

Diamond Member
Dec 30, 1999
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dude you're killing the battery after a month it'll drop down to 9v and then you can't really recharge it. Disconnect it, or do what I do if no outlet is available. I take a UPS and a trickle charger. Put UPS in the car, crack the window and let the the trickle charger do it's work overnight. Hella ghetto but it's better than spending $70 for a battery. Or get an optima red top.
 
O

Occ

Senior member
Nov 11, 2009
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Just get a battery tender for the future. Park car, plug it in, forget about it. But don't forget about it when you leave. :hmm:
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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Pretty sure there are no outlets down there, though honestly I have not really looked. I think maybe umplugging the thing is the best bet. It's weird though, I've had this car for a few years now and have never had this problem before and I've never really driven it that much.

Oh well. Thanks for all of the help; hopefully that charger will work and I can get the battery checked out or replaced and be good to go.

KT
 
PlasmaBomb

PlasmaBomb

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Nov 19, 2004
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KeithTalent said:
Pretty sure there are no outlets down there, though honestly I have not really looked. I think maybe umplugging the thing is the best bet. It's weird though, I've had this car for a few years now and have never had this problem before and I've never really driven it that much.

Oh well. Thanks for all of the help; hopefully that charger will work and I can get the battery checked out or replaced and be good to go.

KT
Click to expand...

Cold reducing the amps or battery starting to salt up and die?

Either way leaving it hooked up means that the ancillaries of the car will run the battery down over time :(
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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PlasmaBomb said:
A trickle charger would probably be better, because over time the battery is going to end up dead - the alternator won't provide enough juice to fully recharge it.
Click to expand...

PlasmaBomb said:
Cold reducing the amps or battery starting to salt up and die?

Either way leaving it hooked up means that the ancillaries of the car will run the battery down over time :(
Click to expand...

It's not very cold here and it's pretty warm in my parkade so I don't think the weather is an issue. I don't think a trickle charger, whatever that is, will work though since I'm pretty sure there are no outlets near my parking spot.

KT
 
KeithTalent

KeithTalent

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Sooo, anyone have any ideas on how to get this stupid nut off the negative cable? I have my new battery now and am ready to throw it in, but I can't get this stupid thing off for the life of me; I've tried every single tool I own. Do I need to buy a a power drill or something? :colbert:

Battery.jpg


Nut.jpg


Is there another way to get the cable off? It's such a tight space, I can't get any leverage with anything and the socket wrench does not fit.

KT
 
HeXen

HeXen

Diamond Member
Dec 13, 2009
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do you just not own the right size socket or is it due to space?
kinda looks like a 1/2 " long socket...no wrenches?

if i had to, i'd just cut the cable and buy a new one, but you should really just buy a tool you can get in there with, may come in handy and can be found cheaper than a new cable probably. i'd guess you need the deep socket. just buy a cheap socket set at Kmart or something.
 
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