Whats wrong with my car?

Question

I HAVE A 97 BUICK LESABRE.MY CAR CUT OFF ON THE FREEWAY. I HIT THE GAS A LITTLE IT GOT TO ABOUT 85. IT PICKED UP SPEED BUT THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON.THE ENGINE LIGHT KEPT BLINKING ON AND OFF,THEN THE CAR START LOSING POWER AND CUT OFF ON ME WHILE I WAS ON THE FREEWAY.I TRIED TO START THE CAR IT JUST MADE A CLICKING NOISE. THE LIGHT COMES ON .I BOUGHT A NEW STARTER IT STILL DOES THE SAME THING.CAN SOMEONE PLEASE HELP BECAUSE I HAVE THREE KIDS AND THATS MY ONLY TRANSPORTATION.

Answer 1

Your alternator belt could be missing. Check your belts.

Answer 2

The check engine light flashing meant you should have stopped and shut the engine off immediately. You've very likely done serious harm to the engine by continuing to drive until the engine quit running. You say you replaced the starter and it just clicks like the previous starter did? the first thing you should have done was to see if the engine would turn over manually or put another way, if it is seized! Since you ignored that flashing light until the engine stopped running that would be the most logical place to start, as well as the least expensive. Don,t start throwing more parts at a problem until you know what it actually is! 20 plus years of repairing vehicles correctly has tought me well, do yourself and your kids a favor and perform this simple procedure now before you spend another dime. Try to turn the engine over manually with a socket and breaker bar on the big bolt in the middle of the harmonic balancer (that's the big pulley down at the bottom at the front of the engine that drives the belt/s) if it won't move the engine is siezed.

Answer 3

with the check engine light coming on and not the red battery light, you dont have an electrical problem. At least initially. The battery could be dead from repeated cranking. Check the oil to make sure you have some in the motor. No oil means you probably have a blown motor. Dirty black and low oil could also mean the same thing. Check the coolant in the radiatior as well. No coolant or black or dark brown coolant will kill a motor as well. That means you have a cracked head or block. Coolant in your car should be orange if maintained according to GM guidelines. Green if it wasnt. Most newer cars have a crank sensor that wont allow the car to start if its bad. If the car wont crank over with a new battery or a jump start then you have a problem that you wont be able to diagnose over the internet. You'll need to take it to a competent shop for a thourough checkup and servicing. Ask for detailed information when they check the car.

Answer 4

It is possible that the problem lies with the altenator. The altenator is driven by your accessory belt and acts as a "generator" when the engine is running; supplying power to the car's battery in order to maintain it's level of charge.
A sure sign of a failing altenator would be the dimming of lights, fading of radio volume, and a loss of power prior to the vehicle stalling. The average life of an altenator should be about 70,000 miles, but this figure can vary.
Most auto parts stores would be able to check the condition of the altenator and the battery to see if they are at fault.
Replacement of the altenator is fairly simple, just remenber to replace the accessory drive belt if it shows any signs of cracking or splitting. It is eaiser to replace the belt, as it will have to be removed for the altenator replacement anyway, than to have the belt fail while you are on the road.

Answer 5

wow the answers are all over the map...

Since you have a later model car, the easiest thing to do is take it to a shop that can retrieve the trouble codes for you. The codes are stored in the electronic control module [ECM]. A code is stored when a component fails or a parameter is out of tolerance. Take a friend with you that knows mechanics so the shop won't rip you off...
HTH

Answer 6

Sounds like you have run out of electricity, clicking noise is a flat battery. My money is definately on a Alternator fault. Jules, Auto tech and lecturer. Australia.

Answer 7

Just clicking, lights blinking, died while driving...Check battery voltage.
Sounds like your alternator might have failed and only the battery powered the car until it died out.
As a tech with what you have told me I would check battery voltage first and then the charging electrical system

Answer 8

Sounds like maybe the timing chain/belt

Answer 9

Sounds like a fuel filter or carbs/fuel injection.

Hope this helps, I understand your plight.

Hogan Courrier

Answer 10

Charging problem