What do I do if my car won't start?

Question

I live within 5 minutes of a pep boys and my car won't start...they do towing to their location. But i'm kind of iffy about mechanics in general because i've heard bad things about mechanics/garages and a few about Pep Boys. I'm afraid they might rip me off or do sloppy work and damage the car moreso but I have no choice. I have no one to help and no other way and I have to have the car fixed whether I want it or not by tomorrow. Any suggestions?

By the way it's an 89 camry when I turn the key it won't even start..there's no noise what so ever and all the lights/clock/stuff is off too..so it's battery related but I figure altenator. Just so you know what Im thinking...it can't be starter cause there's never any clicking...

Answer 1

First, they would probably charge you extra for being towed, so if you decide to get their services, I would suggest asking one of your friends to jump start it.
It sounds like it could be the battery or the alternator (which you already said). I have actually gone through the same situation, so I can definately help.
The car will start if you get it jumped. It may or may not start again depending on how long it sits. If you have a battery charger for your car, it would be a wonderful thing to take that with you where ever you go.

Okay. I know that AutoZone and BigO Tires tests the battery and the alternator for free. Big O will also test your starter for free too, but I don't know if AutoZone will.
I hope you have one of those stores nearby... It will help a lot. You could call Pep Boys if you wanted to see if they will test it for free...
You can probably figure out what to do after you know what the problem is.

I hope this works out for you. Good luck!!!

Answer 2

The FIRST thing to check, before you do anything else, is the condition of the battery terminals. A loose or corroded terminal connector will cause the car to have no power at all. Start by opening the hood and looking at the battery. If there is corrosion buildup on the terminals, clean them off. The easiest way to do that is to mix baking soda and water and pour it on the terminals. Coca cola will work in a pinch also.

Check to be sure the cables are tight. If you can turn them they are loose. Pull off the loose terminal and clean it with a wire brush or Emory paper. Re install it and tighten the bolt!

If the car will not start then, try jump starting it. If a jump start starts the car, and the car will run fine after the jumper cables are removed, most likely your battery has gone bad. If the car will not run without the jumper cables connected it is an alternator problem.

If you have AAA or another roadside service, call them and they can help you!

Answer 3

Assuming you are (or someone you know is) mechanically inclined and have tools, the first thing you need to do is inspect the alternator. The battery is dead, and that is either because the battery cells are no good anymore, or the alternator had gone bad and is no longer charging the battery. The AutoZone where I live will test alternators for free (of course you have to remove it yourself and bring it in). If the alternator is good (and the belt that drives it is not broken), then you'll need a new battery. AutoZone will also test your battery for you free of charge.
If these options don't work for you, you'll either have to just buy a new battery and hope that solves the problem (winter is coming soon anyway, might as well have a new one?) or, you'll have to give your mechanic the benefit of the doubt and let him figure it out for you. Most mechanics are generally good and want to keep a good reputation anyway, though they do sometimes overcharge just a little on parts, so if you can buy the part yourself and bring it to them, you'll save a couple of bucks.
Hope that helps!

Answer 4

I think you should have the car towed but why to Pep Boys? If there are any other options (especially dealerhsips) you should have a qualified technician diagnose your problem. Any reputable shop will provide an estimate for repairs. It is important to remember that no technician can diagnose your car without some important facts and they can only get the information they need by checking the car. If you have reservations about a shop, ask the service writer about their estimate policy (how much do they charge for diagnostic time) and about their satisfaction policy. If they are reliable, they will have answers for you and they'll also understand your hesitance. It's okay to be worried, even technicians worry when things go wrong for them. You are upset about your car and it is unfortunate that you have had bad experiences in the past. You'll need to somehow balance your fears and your need to have the car repaired and I am hopeful that a local shop will be able to put you at ease if you call them and explain your situation (tell them you are concerned about unnecessary repairs and/or being taken advantage of).

Answer 5

Take the battery out of your car and get a friend to drive you and the battery to the shop. They will check if for you. If it is OK they can charge it up. However, chances are it is bad and you will need a replacement.

If the battery is not bad and can be charged, chances are it is your alternator. Have them charge it and use the juice to drive the car to the shop so they can check/replace the alternator.

If the battery does, in fact need replacing it is probably not the alternator, just an old battery. However, it would be best to drive it to the shop anyway and let them check the alternator for you anyway. Some places like my local AutoZone will do that for free and don't have any vested interest in telling you it is bad because they just sell parts, they don't do repairs.

Answer 6

Call a mobile service, tell them you think your battery has died. They'll come to you and try to charge it and if they can't most of them will be able to replace the battery, Cheaper than tow and service for the same thing. If it's something more serious than your Battery you're paying for a mobile service to visit, they can't tow you and your car still doesn't work.

If you buy a AAA menbership (Great investment if you have an older car that isn't starting reliably) you can call them same day. They'll come out to your car and try to charge the battery. If they can't fix it they'll tow you to a AAA authorized Garage. When AAA tows you to a garage they won't rip you off because getting reported to AAA will cost them a lot of business.

Answer 7

Why don't you call a Toyota dealer and ask them how much they charge for towing. If it's outlandish, take your chances with Pep Boys. Or, if you trust a neighbor, ask them for a jump. You don't say how old the battery is, but I'd start there. If the jump starts it, drive to the nearest battery place and have the battery replaced. Good luck.

Answer 8

Same happened to me a few times earlier in the year-- You need to get a jump from someone with jumping cables, if no one is available to do that for you or if u are parked in a way that no other car can give u the jump then do what i did, i went to a mechanic and had to pay $25 to have someone come to me with a portable jumper! (u can also purchase one yourself) and then get car checked it may need the battery replaced!

I ended up paying around $120 to get a new battery! --I have not had any problems since.

Answer 9

sounds like a dead battery. if you can get someone to give you a jump. if after the jump your car runs then you know it's the battery. just go to pep boys or wherever and tell them you want the battery changed. don't mention that it could be anything else. and don't tell them that you're not mechanically inclined. just say, 'my battery is dead. i had it jumped to get over here and i want it replaced.' don't let them talk you into anything else.
if you can't get a jump then have it towed but maintain the same stance. battery only, nothing else.

Answer 10

Take the battery out, walk over to Pep Boys, have them test it. If it's dead, get a new battery, take it home put it in, and go. If you think it's the alternator, drive directly to a trusted mechanic before your car dies again.