Major Problem

[Lilyofthevalley]

So my car is currently stranded 30 miles from my house at work. It won't start. Here's the story of the last three weeks.
Dead Car Day 1: after a long night of work I got out to start my car and it won't start. I try to get a jump start. We tried to jump it for 20 minutes with no success. I bought a new battery and it started right up
Dead Car Day 2: a few days after that I have a dead battery again after work. This time the jump start works. I take it home and I have the garage take a look at the alternator. He says that is working fine
Dead Car Day 3: Tonight I go out to start my car and the car won't start. The lights and everything else work. I don't hear a clicking noise nothing.

Does anyone have any idea what is going on with my car?

[galantlvr34]

it sounds like your starter went.

[bronxbombr]

either your starter, altenator, or ignition switch. maybe even a fuse is about to go.

[Lilyofthevalley]

Any idea what that might run me to get replaced? I kind of suspected that might be the problem.

[Lilyofthevalley]

Any ideas on how to figure that out when the car won't start at all. I had the alternator tested last week so I know that isn't the problem.

[Galanttuner10]

if its a fuse, 4 bucks. starter like 70. ignition over 100, alternator around 100 brand new non refurbished or used. start with the cheapest fuses.

no clicking or anything points to the starter or the fuse

[o1naturalhigh]

you can lightly tap on the starter a few times with something magnetized, like a hammer, try to start it, and if it starts, it could possibly be the starter.

[galantlvr34]

you can try tapping on the stater with a hammer and try turning it over.if it is the starter it will start after tapping it.

[Lilyofthevalley]

if its a fuse, 4 bucks. starter like 70. ignition over 100, alternator around 100 brand new non refurbished or used. start with the cheapest fuses.

no clicking or anything points to the starter or the fuse

I'm not knowledgeable about cars. What is the best way to test a fuse? Is there a way that I can do that. If I don't have to pay for a tow I really don't want to.

[galantlvr34]

you can lightly tap on the starter a few times with something magnetized, like a hammer, try to start it, and if it starts, it could possibly be the starter.

you beat me to it while i was typing lol.

[o1naturalhigh]

you beat me to it while i was typing lol. ;) unfortunately, that trick works for only so long

[galantlvr34]

;)

lol we were both thinking the same exact thing.

[w/oarctic7g]

Clean the battery terminals with wire brush or battery tool

[galantlvr34]

I'm not knowledgeable about cars. What is the best way to test a fuse? Is there a way that I can do that. If I don't have to pay for a tow I really don't want to.

a fuse you pull it out of the spot and if it looks blackened replace it.there is also a fuse tester to check fuses.

[Galanttuner10]

a fuse you pull it out of the spot and if it looks blackened replace it.there is also a fuse tester to check fuses.

i just blew my ignition fuse, if its the ignition fuse, there wont be much left of it, i blew 3 fuses before i found the short.

[galantlvr34]

i just blew my ignition fuse, if its the ignition fuse, there wont be much left of it, i blew 3 fuses before i found the short.

your fuses melted or something?

[Galanttuner10]

your fuses melted or something?

noooo, the fuse didnt leave much doubt if it blew or not. its a 30 amp fuse, it wasnt just a little break, part of it wasnt there haha.

that fuse is in the engine bay

[galantlvr34]

noooo, the fuse didnt leave much doubt if it blew or not. its a 30 amp fuse, it wasnt just a little break, part of it wasnt there haha.

that fuse is in the engine bay

oh ok.

[eksz]

You wrote "Dead Car Day 3: Tonight I go out to start my car and the car won't start. The lights and everything else work. I don't hear a clicking noise nothing. "

Did you try getting a jump on dead car day 3? If so what happened? As suggested before, this is probably a starter problem but it could also be ignition switch or even a fuse. Two other possibilities are wiring issues (corrosion on battery terminal, corrosion between battery cable wiring and battery cable terminal, bad ground, etc) or a parasitic drain (something electrical that does not shut off when the car is shut off; light in trunk or glove box, door ajar warning light, etc over several hours these can drain a battery).

Replacing the starter is straight forward and no need to get under the car (can all be done from the engine bay). Basically you remove air filter housing/MAF, unbolt starter and slid it out towards you over the transmission, unbolt/disconnect the wires. Installation is the reverse of the removal. Autozone will test it for you for free because they want to sell you one. There was a recent thread about changing the starter titled ”changing out starter” Do a search.

[Lilyofthevalley]

You wrote "Dead Car Day 3: Tonight I go out to start my car and the car won't start. The lights and everything else work. I don't hear a clicking noise nothing. "

Did you try getting a jump on dead car day 3? If so what happened? As suggested before, this is probably a starter problem but it could also be ignition switch or even a fuse. Two other possibilities are wiring issues (corrosion on battery terminal, corrosion between battery cable wiring and battery cable terminal, bad ground, etc) or a parasitic drain (something electrical that does not shut off when the car is shut off; light in trunk or glove box, door ajar warning light, etc over several hours these can drain a battery).

Replacing the starter is straight forward and no need to get under the car (can all be done from the engine bay). Basically you remove air filter housing/MAF, unbolt starter and slid it out towards you over the transmission, unbolt/disconnect the wires. Installation is the reverse of the removal. Autozone will test it for you for free because they want to sell you one. There was a recent thread about changing the starter titled ”changing out starter” Do a search.

Getting a jump was the first thing I tried, but it did nothing to help the car. Thanks guys. We will probably go down and starting pulling out the fuses first since it will be the easiest fix. Then I guess we will have to try the starter.

[Galanttuner10]

look under the hood, go to the fuse box and it says which one is the ignition fuse, no need to guess.

[bronxbombr]

dude, if you need a starter or altenator let me know. I got over 20 of them in my garage and i only want 25 a pop for em.

[Lilyofthevalley]

Hey so we drove down to take a look at my car and the first thing I tried was to start it, which of course it started right up. Now its at the garage where my mechanic will take a look at it. After telling him what the car did, he too is leading towards it being the starter.

[galantlvr34]

Hey so we drove down to take a look at my car and the first thing I tried was to start it, which of course it started right up. Now its at the garage where my mechanic will take a look at it. After telling him what the car did, he too is leading towards it being the starter.

yeah it is probably most likely the starter.that is weird how it just started right up with out doing anything to it.

[Lilyofthevalley]

yeah it is probably most likely the starter.that is weird how it just stated right up with out doing anything to it.

You're telling me. I had a hammer in hand and I was ready to hit it a few times. But I didn't question I just drove it the 32 miles to the garage in my town and I told me my mechanic that my car stranded me again. He was shocked like I was.

[galantlvr34]

You're telling me. I had a hammer in hand and I was ready to hit it a few times. But I didn't question I just drove it the 32 miles to the garage in my town and I told me my mechanic that my car stranded me again. He was shocked like I was.

i would have him replace the starter.the starter is probably original and on its way out.

[Lilyofthevalley]

i would have him replace the starter.the starter is probably original and on its way out.

That is more than likely the plan. He's gonna take a look at it in the next day or so.

[Lilyofthevalley]

Okay so here's the update. My local mechanic took a look at everything and he said that I had a faulty battery terminal. He replaced that. He also said he checked the wires and they all look good. He seems to think the bad terminal was the cause of my problems. I just want to know if that makes sense to you guys?

[98mgalant]

I'm no mechanic but I've never heard of a faulty battery terminal. If it was broke I could see that happening but if it was not broke I'd get a second opinion. My car did this a while back I replaced the starter and it's been fine. But I would see what everyOne else thinks before I do anything.

[Galanttuner10]

if the terminal isnt getting a good connection it could cause a short in the system depending on how its sitting and now start and even ground out and drain the battery

[galantlvr34]

Okay so here's the update. My local mechanic took a look at everything and he said that I had a faulty battery terminal. He replaced that. He also said he checked the wires and they all look good. He seems to think the bad terminal was the cause of my problems. I just want to know if that makes sense to you guys?

i think he means that the battery terminal is corroded and was not getting a good connection to the battery.

[mko]

a terminal cant cause a short period. bad ground, bad connection yes