YACT: car won't start

[Snakexor]

bad ground/ starter or battery cables, if you tried the battery and its fine, then its not the alternator

 

[lsman]

any idea how to get the car back to home... (don't have AAA)...need AAA plus ($100) for the shoping mall where my car now is is about 6 miles away...

I wonder how long my car can be at that costco parking.... before it got tow, any idea?

 

[jlee]

Originally posted by: lsman
any idea how to get the car back to home... (don't have AAA)...need AAA plus ($100) for the shoping mall where my car now is is about 6 miles away...

I wonder how long my car can be at that costco parking.... before it got tow, any idea?

Call Costco and ask about their towing policy..if they own/run the parking lot.

 

[Toastedlightly]

So you turn the key and get a click?

Some parts may be gummed up in teh starter. Try hitting it a few times w/ a hammer then seeing if it will turn over.

 

[lsman]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
So you turn the key and get a click?

yes. turn the key from off to ON (not start), and a click somewhere near the glove box....

I think somewhat loud but may be normal?
and see no light ON with the panel...except very very dim light on the "oil" light...

but once I open the door, normal light door open appear on the panel...

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
So you turn the key and get a click?

yes. turn the key from off to ON (not start), and a click somewhere near the glove box....

I think somewhat loud but may be normal?

That may be the fuel pump pressurizing.. so you get no turning over even from a new starter?

 

[freakflag]

Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

 

[lsman]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
So you turn the key and get a click?

yes. turn the key from off to ON (not start), and a click somewhere near the glove box....

I think somewhat loud but may be normal?

That may be the fuel pump pressurizing.. so you get no turning over even from a new starter?

the starter was not new, but from junk yard parts.

I install the starter and have to start a few times but it fire up... since then I started like 4 times today (as well as the 2 times in my garage)

 

[spidey07]

You have something seriously wrong with your electrical system.

Take it to your mechanic.

 

[scottish144]

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: j00fek
repl alternator

I replace my battery and it still won't start, not sure its about the alternator.

Had a problem with mine a few months ago. I'd had low battery warnings for about a week. Carmax replaced the battery (AFTER I'd told them I'd tested the battery and it was probably the alternator). Sill got the warning, so I decided to teak it back to Carmax and get a replacement alternator. LEDs died on route 28 northern virginia (huge, heavy volume highway) during rush hour. Had to pull into the breakdown lane and wait 30 min to get enough juice to make it to carmax. They replaced the Alternator, car worked fine.

 

[lsman]

Originally posted by: freakflag
Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

you mean I need another car to jump start (using jumper cable)? or you mean the problem is the negative cable connection?

 

[freakflag]

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
So you turn the key and get a click?

yes. turn the key from off to ON (not start), and a click somewhere near the glove box....

I think somewhat loud but may be normal?

That may be the fuel pump pressurizing.. so you get no turning over even from a new starter?

the starter was not new, but from junk yard parts.

I install the starter and have to start a few times but it fire up... since then I started like 4 times today (as well as the 2 times in my garage)

First of all, NEVER, buy electrical parts from a junkyard. Second, it may be your alternator after all. If it started and ran all day, it may have been running off of stored power in the battery, now that it's exhausted, the car won't turn over. BTW, just to clarify one thing, it takes very little power to run a dome light. It takes ALOT of power to turn over the engine.

 

[freakflag]

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: freakflag
Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

you mean I need another car to jump start (using jumper cable)? or you mean the problem is the negative cable connection?

Both.

 

[lsman]

the dome light didn't on.. none except the door open (normal brightness) and a very very dim oil light, both on panel.

the way of door open light up normally but rest of it dead is very strange... is there a master switch or what?

 

[lsman]

Originally posted by: freakflag

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: freakflag
Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

you mean I need another car to jump start (using jumper cable)? or you mean the problem is the negative cable connection?

Both.

thanks.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Sounds like a problem with the alternator. If it isn't the alternator, and you can hear the engine try to turn over, then you may want to check on the solenoid (assuming it didn't come with the starter).

-Kevin

Edit: Do what they said first with the negative battery cable. They know more than I.

 

[Shame]

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: freakflag
Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

you mean I need another car to jump start (using jumper cable)? or you mean the problem is the negative cable connection?

Jump starting your car with your own car puts you in an electrical paradox. Don't do that.

 

[lsman]

Originally posted by: Shame

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: freakflag
Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

you mean I need another car to jump start (using jumper cable)? or you mean the problem is the negative cable connection?

Jump starting your car with your own car puts you in an electrical paradox. Don't do that.

🙂 freakflag think the battery is dead/drained thus suggest jump car.

 

[iamaelephant]

Man I don't know why people come to this forum for automotive advice - most of what has been said here is nonsense.

It's not the solenoid!

When it did start, did it turn over nice and easy or did it struggle?
Have you replaced the negative battery cable yet? Before you do that (because it's a waste of time) make sure that the bolt that connects it to the engine or chassis is as tight as a nuns snooch. If the battery terminals are tight and the battery is in good condition, then the negative cable connection is the next port of call.

Next, make sure that the nut that holds the main positive cable to the starter is nice and tight (don't over tighten this one, just firm. Use a spring washer if necessary). Obviously make sure the terminals on the battery end of both of these cables is nice and tight and that the terminals are clean. This is important.

When the car was running, did the battery light on the dash turn on? If not, your alternator is fine. If the light turned on, the alternator is buggered. Replace.

 

[Gamingphreek]

It's not the solenoid!

I didn't know he actually got it running at one point. I guess it serves me right for not reading the entire thread 😱

 

[iamaelephant]

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: Shame

Originally posted by: lsman

Originally posted by: freakflag
Get a ride to the nearest parts store. Buy a negative battery cable for your car. Follow the old cable back to wherever it connects to the engine block and/or chassis. Unbolt and replace. Attach jumper cables, start car.

you mean I need another car to jump start (using jumper cable)? or you mean the problem is the negative cable connection?

Jump starting your car with your own car puts you in an electrical paradox. Don't do that.

🙂 freakflag think the battery is dead/drained thus suggest jump car.

What are you guys babbling about? You need another car to jumpstart you, or at least a jumper pack (I prefer another car. Extra juice while Car #2 is running).

 

[lsman]

Originally posted by: Falcon39
Man I don't know why people come to this forum for automotive advice - most of what has been said here is nonsense.

It's not the solenoid!

When it did start, did it turn over nice and easy or did it struggle?
Have you replaced the negative battery cable yet? Before you do that (because it's a waste of time) make sure that the bolt that connects it to the engine or chassis is as tight as a nuns snooch. If the battery terminals are tight and the battery is in good condition, then the negative cable connection is the next port of call.

Next, make sure that the nut that holds the main positive cable to the starter is nice and tight (don't over tighten this one, just firm. Use a spring washer if necessary). Obviously make sure the terminals on the battery end of both of these cables is nice and tight and that the terminals are clean. This is important.

When the car was running, did the battery light on the dash turn on? If not, your alternator is fine. If the light turned on, the alternator is buggered. Replace.

thanks.
all are tight if I recalled correctly that I doubt check all. I clean the battery terminals with some hot water and baking power... all power dissolved in minutes.

When the car was running, no battery light on. like normal.
And it started "click, click, click, click.Boom"... about same as before I replace the starter. Not like my other car that click.boom...start up. So I guess its not as smooth but still within reasonable time?

Going to try to jump start it now...