What's wrong with my car?

Question

My car went insane. It didn't want to start right up the other day and the battery light was on and I was going to take it to check the battery when while I was driving the air bag light came on, the radio kicked off and wouldn't come back on, then all the lights came on to check oil, check engine, check gauges, check coolant, check brakes, then it was making a clicking noise like I had put on the turn signal but the drive marker was flashing. The milage thing was rolling with 8's. Then when I pulled it into my friend's driveway and tried to start it later it would not start at all. It's completely dead. We tried to jump the battery but it won't even turn over. It's a 98 Chevy Cavalier. Everyone is saying it sounds like the computer went out. Just wanted to know what others think. Thanks.

Went back out to car later and tried two times to get it started. It almost turned over two times and lights were really good but then got dim and now it's still not starting just making clicking noise. Managed to push the car out of my friend's driveway cause I had her blocked. Am going to try to jump it again today and if possible put another battery in it and take it to Auto Parts store to check alternator. I don't think her boyfriend knew what he was doing when he tried to jump the car. Hopefully, we will get it working today.

Answer 1

Its not your computer. If your computer goes the outright shuts down and doesn't do anything.
First thing, your alternator has died. That's the part that recharges your batter and powers your lights and all while the car runs.
Secondly, you probably killed your battery as well running as long as you did.

I Recommend:
1. If you have a guy friend or father (or girl or mother) who is car savvy, have him/her replace battery and alternator. (Remember to take the old one off first so you don't get a "core" charge for the parts. That will save you $40-60) The alternator is about $100-150. Battery $60-70
2. Find a shop you trust to work on it. Most shops will fix this. Pepboys, Midas, Etc are generally trust worthy, but more expensive than a "Joe's repair shop." However, Joe probably is cheaper and can get it done sooner. Consequensely if you don't know much about cars you got a 25% chance of getting swindled.
Best of luck.
***IF you don't know jack about cars, DO NOT try to fix this. It most likely invovles the belt that runs most of your major parts of your car and you can KILL your car in 10 secs if you mess it up. (I know I killed one when i ran the belt wrong, cost another $660.

Answer 2

Forget this garbage about "it is a Cavalier", - even though I am not a "fan" of this praticular car, -you have an electrical problem that can happen to any car!

You have lost electrical power to al these things that you mention, though partial power is still getting to the computer, - (or the engine would have stopped).

I am going to make a basic assumption, such as you have checked to make sure that the battery connections are good, and that the cables are not burned. Also, if you have those "repair terminals" bolted on end of cables to connect to battery, check and see that these are not corroded (these cables make it possible for you to have four corroded connections on the end of the two cables, instead of one on each!). If you hooked the booster cables on the connectors, and the wires going into the terminals are corroded, you aren't going to get any electricity to flow to car! Note: soaking terminals in a cup of water with a couple teaspoons full of baking soda really cleans them up, - when it stops "boiling"-(not hot) as soda and acid/corrosion are opposites!

First check turn on headlights, if they are real weak, -or not turning at all, obviously yau aren't getting any power into the car!
If you have bad coonections (or dead battery), the headlights will go out as soon as you trun the key to start!

Next check to see that all the fuses are good. Also look for "fuesable links" They look like regular wires, but will be burned, or all "wrinkleish" looking if they have burned out.

Also you might consider going to the car parts store, and getting a Haynes repair manual that includes your car! It will show you where all the fueable llinks are (if it has any). It also has wiring diagrams, and information about just about everythign on the car! It also has a troubleshooting list that might come in useful many times.

As for the computer, it is probably the only thing you don't need to suspect (just yet), - because the car would not have ran (before you stopped it by turning car off), -if computer was indeed bad!

Don't start replacing battery and alternator, till you at least have them checked to see if they are bad (I doubt they are!) And when you get done, you may have a new battery and alternator all-right, but you still have the origional(real) problem yet!

Answer 3

Check the ground straps, if one of these is broken; the car will have the symptoms that you describe. These usually live between the engine and body and help to keep this from happening. These look like braided, bare wires that could be broken. If this doesn't solve the issue, take it in as the computer could get wrecked and this is a expensive. Electronics are in excess of $5000 for the average car, not counting deployed air bags. Disconnect the battery before doing any electrical work on your car.

Answer 4

I had a similar problem with my 2002 Suburban, If you have any aftermarket electronics etc. check that the wiring is proper and none are exposed. A short in one component can cause a chain reaction. I suggest you take it to Chevy for a diagnostic. My SUV had a DVD installed by the prior owner and the problem was an exposed wire shorting out on the DVD casing. $65.00 later it was fixed... by Chevrolet! FYI... if by chance it is the PCM (power control module) GM covers it for 8 years or 80,000 miles (little known fact) regardless or transferred if your still under the mileage and manufacture date. Regardless, have Chevy do the Diagnosis. Good Luck.

Answer 5

This is easy it is not as complicated as everyone else is making it. It is the cables going to the battery terminals. After a couple of years of wear they tend to build up with junk. This explains why charging your car didnt help because the power was not getting to your motor since the connection is bad. Just take some sand paper the the terminal cables and you will be set and if it does happen when you are out somewhere just wiggle the cables some and it will start up.

Answer 6

Like Mikey and frank f have suggested. You did no longer get the full tale. there is not any way the police or absolutely everyone however the owner of the vehicle is going to could pay for damages and prefer suggested this is why. If spikes are used on a vehicle, it replaced into maximum possibly in a pursuit. this suggests that the motive force is breaking the regulation for no longer pulling over. (in spite of if it replaced into the incorrect vehicle) At this element the motive force is going to be arrested and is committing a criminal offense. The police use spike strips to give up the vehicle, and motive force is arrested. Any injury to the vehicle it is led to is the duty of the motive force or proprietor at this element.

Answer 7

Replace the altenator....I just went through the same problem on my 1998 Grand Am

Answer 8

Sounds like its either the computer or a major electrical short in the wiring.

Answer 9

Bad ground-either frame to engine-engine to frame or BODY to Frame.

Answer 10

Walk around it 7 times and rebuke them demons in the Name of Jesus !