Car people: my car wont start, I need help

[healother]

The last few months, sometimes I would turn the key, and my car would turn on the electrics but the start motor wouldnt engage. But usually after the 4th try the car would start.

Now today when i turn the key, nothing happens, the radio still comes on, but like before, the starter motor makes no noise and nothing happens.


If at all possible, I do not want to take the car to a mechanic, i want to fix it myself to save money. What could possibly be the problem?

 

[H_T_]

take a wrench and lay it across the battery terminals....

 

[PICK3]

What could possibly be the problem?

You own a POS?

 

[H_T_]

and put a box of BB's in with your next quart of oil....

 

[H_T_]

it's your starter. go smack it with a bfh a couple times.

 

[jh1]

The relay for the starter motor may not be working...

a way to test this is to take a jumper cable and jump from the positive lead directly to the starter motor to manually spin the starter motor...

if the starter motor spins there is nothing wrong with the motor so then it's either the solinode / relay for the motor or the cable supplying power to the starter motor.

 

[gonelifting]

I swear you're an alter. I PRAY you're an alter.

 

[PICK3]

btw, it doesn't have to run for you to knock out some poon in the back seat

 

[healother]

The relay for the starter motor may not be working...

a way to test this is to take a jumper cable and jump from the positive lead directly to the starter motor to manually spin the starter motor...

if the starter motor spins there is nothing wrong with the motor so then it's either the solinode / relay for the motor or the cable supplying power to the starter motor.

my starter motor is buried, i think ill have to unbury it, lol.

where is the solinode? the relays are really easy to access, right? arent those right on top by the hood?

 

[digimon7068]

take a wrench and lay it across the battery terminals....

you asshole. . .

 

[PICK3]

I thought you would be pretty handy with tools.

 

[jh1]

my starter motor is buried, i think ill have to unbury it, lol.

where is the solinode? the relays are really easy to access, right? arent those right on top by the hood?

The solinode is a huge mechanical relay - this particular one is going to be part of the start motor casing, most likely.

The starter motor will have to positive leads. a huge fat lead directly to the battery, and a small lead from the ignition that sparks the solinoide that then turns on the power to the starter motor.

 

[digimon7068]

it's probably something electronic (e.g., theft deterrent system shit to bed). . .however, it could just be the starter button inside your steering column.

is it a stick or an automatic?? if it's a stick, put it in first gear and then get out and rock the car back and forth a little. . .then jump in and try to start it. . .if that works, it's the bendix gear in your starter. . .it's sticking.

if it's the theft deterrent system, they can usually be reset by unhooking the battery for a few minutes. . .the one on my brother's tahoe, you have to turn the key forward and let it sit for two minutes until the theft deterrent light stops blinking.

good luck!

 

[Gambino]

alternator
starter and battery appear to be fine

 

[ceo]

solenoid

 

[swole]

alternator

check your accessory belts, i once had a car where it ripped off and i was driving without one

then get your battery charged

 

[jnevin]

Cuddle with it.

 

[the_clockwork]

Cuddle with it.

hahahahahahah that's some funny shit!

 

[puddlemonkey]

Cuddle with it.

lololololol

 

[Cutiebaby]

alternator

check your accessory belts, i once had a car where it ripped off and i was driving without one

then get your battery charged

that happened to me with my Honda back in the day..I had no idea about cars or anything like that..I did not know that a belt snapped, I figured it would have made noises like a fan belt, or a lose belt makes..Nope, I kept on driving till the damn thing died on me..I thought it was the battery because the radio kept turning on and off itself while I was driving..i was only like 2 blocks from my house, so I figured that car was gonna die or what not..I was shocked to hear that it was nothing more than a little belt.Lol

 

[heatherrae]

You need another transmission. You probably only have one. Go to the shop and tell them that you want to put two in your car.

 

[FriendlyCanadian]

check your sparks too, could be your fuel pump also.

really what you should do is get one of your mechanically inclined friends to come troubleshoot your car, because no offense but I have a hard time believing that you know what a cresent wrench is.

 

[jack sparrow]

You car people kill me.

 

[healother]

well everyone, thankfully saturday morning it started first try. and ive started it about 3 times since, and its started first try everytime. if this good luck keeps up im assuming it was prayer that saved my ass, haha.

check your sparks too, could be your fuel pump also.

really what you should do is get one of your mechanically inclined friends to come troubleshoot your car, because no offense but I have a hard time believing that you know what a cresent wrench is.

i worked on my car once before. a simple 4 hour job took me about 3 weeks to accomplish. i was successful but it sucked having to take everything apart. it was very stressful.

 

[AAP]

alternator
starter and battery appear to be fine

This sounds like the answer.

 

[healother]

So, last night it wouldnt start.

But, I jumped it, and all of a sudden it did start. Could it be just the battery possibly?

the strange thing is, i bet if i had waited a day i could have started it.

 

[-SD-]

starter or alternator

 

[AAP]

starter or alternator

Here is the answer.

Again.

Stop dicking around bro and get it fixed or it is going to break down on you at the most inconvenient time.

 

[-SD-]

So, last night it wouldnt start.

But, I jumped it, and all of a sudden it did start. Could it be just the battery possibly?

the strange thing is, i bet if i had waited a day i could have started it.

listen its not the fucking battery or you wouldnt get juice to your dash and electric readouts.

 

[ShowKidd]

i am a service manager for a garage so i can help you out, clean the battery terminals and replace the starter/solenoid (they come together on most cars) and your prob will be fixed, good luck.

 

[Mavafanculo]

take a wrench and lay it across the battery terminals....

and make sure you're grounded and if at all possible standing in a puddle of water.

-

 

[healother]

well folks, i took the plunge. I replaced the starter today. Only to find out that it didnt solve my problem My starter does sound healthier when the car starts though. the old one definately was making a funny noise so it probably needed to be replaced soon anyway.

But yeah, my car still wont start everytime I'm thinking its a wiring problem, and I'm not in the mood to rip apart my steering wheel to figure it all out. it really pisses me off though, all that work for nothing.

I'm debating getting raped by a mechanic just to get this stupid thing fixed, i already wasted $150 on the starter, and $50 on wrenches to replace it.

And for some reason my anti lock breaks light came on in my dash, and they dont seem to be working. So I must have broke a plug or something, cuz its all connected.

 

[-SD-]

well folks, i took the plunge. I replaced the starter today. Only to find out that it didnt solve my problem My starter does sound healthier when the car starts though. the old one definately was making a funny noise so it probably needed to be replaced soon anyway.

But yeah, my car still wont start everytime I'm thinking its a wiring problem, and I'm not in the mood to rip apart my steering wheel to figure it all out. it really pisses me off though, all that work for nothing.

I'm debating getting raped by a mechanic just to get this stupid thing fixed, i already wasted $150 on the starter, and $50 on wrenches to replace it.

And for some reason my anti lock breaks light came on in my dash, and they dont seem to be working. So I must have broke a plug or something, cuz its all connected.

Why didnt you take it to a shop and have them tell you what the fuck is wrong with it, then take your car out of there and do it yourself? They would only charge you a small check out fee.

 

[healother]

Why didnt you take it to a shop and have them tell you what the fuck is wrong with it, then take your car out of there and do it yourself? They would only charge you a small check out fee.

ive never found a shop that charges reasonable diagnostic fees. many places charge 80 bucks just to tell u what the check engine light means, when in my car i can do that myself for free.

some places have to tear your car apart to diagnose it anyway. I mean, if they are already tearing it apart, its gonna be a lot of labor anyway, right?

 

[healother]

UPDATE:

It just got worse.
Now when I try to start it, when it turn the key all the way, my lights go out and my dash lights begin clicking and flashing very rapidly. car wont start of course, as lights will flash rappidly whenever the key is turned all the way.

alternator?

I have no idea whats going on.

 

[puddlemonkey]

I have no idea whats going on.

Your car must be female.

 

[-SD-]

just take that fucker in to the shop and be done with it. You make $17.50 an hour and live at home in minnesota. if you cant afford it quit blowing your cash on whatever stupid shit you are blowing your cash on.

 

[healother]

UPDATE:

It just got worse.
Now when I try to start it, when it turn the key all the way, my lights go out and my dash lights begin clicking and flashing very rapidly. car wont start of course, as lights will flash rappidly whenever the key is turned all the way.

alternator?

I have no idea whats going on.

i jumped it and it started. so thought it was the battery. i drove it around for awhile, hoping it would charge, but the same problem still occurs/

 

[ponyfitness]

Doesn't that then mean it must be your alternator because your battery won't charge? I'm just talking out of my ass of course but I had it happen to me once and that's what the mechanic told me.

You have already spent $200 on NOT finding out what the problem is. Spend another $200 with somebody who can tell you wtf is going on besides people on a bodybuilding message board.

 

[MichaelScott]

voltage regulator, you know the saying "if it has tits or wheels its gonna give u problems".

 

[-SD-]

fuck me seven ways till sunday, healother is the ultimate alter clusterfuck.

 

[healother]

no problem with the battery, it was just not shielded properly, but thats fixed now.

car starts often enough now after cleaning the connectors. still not perfect, but better than before, and currently usable.

car starts 1 out of 2 times now, so im happy.