My car worked fine last night. Today it made a wierd noise (the warning beeps when I put in the key were sputtering) then stopped. Now nothing. No lights (and my lights were not left on last night) nothing when I turn the key. So I had my friend jump it and still nothing. The battery and alternator were both relpaced about 2 years ago, they should be fine. Battery has not been dying or anything. I need my car!!!
2006-11-18 03:50:12 · 15 answers · asked by apuleuis 5 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It's a 95 Grand Am
2006-11-18 04:07:10 · update #1
It is the battery I bet. Batteries can go bad even before they are a year old. Try jumping it again but use good jumper cables and make sure you have good connections. Could also be a loose cable connection on the battery terminals. Also check the terminals for corrision.
2006-11-18 03:53:39 · answer #1 · answered by Mister R 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
You have a dead battery OR VERY dirty and/or corroded cable ends that connect to the battery. Clean the battery post AND the inside of the cable ends. IF this doesn't solve the problem, look at the battery.
Battery can be bought bad and its not uncommon for a battery to "give up the ghost" long before it's supposed to.
As far a "jumping" the car off, even tho your friend had a very strong battery, a DEAD battery will suck ALL the power into its self and the starter still won't get enough to start the engine.
To get around this, disconnect the hot wire from YOUR battery and then have your friend connect his HOT jumper cable to your HOT cable. Then attach the Ground to ground. If the car starts you will KNOW it is the battery.
Another thought is that something in your car pulled the battery down even tho you had everything turned off. If you charge the battery back up and it starts the engine ok, I would take a look at the diodes in the alternator. Good luck. Pops
2006-11-18 11:59:37 · answer #2 · answered by Pops 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If your battery is low, then you need to charge the battery for about 5 minutes before you start your car. Be sure you connect the battery jump CORRECTLY and then start the jump car land let it run for 5 minutes. THEN try to start your car. If your headlights are not working, it's pretty certain that the problem is your battery.
You don't have to leave your lights on to kill a battery. If you left a door ajar and a dome light on, that could also do it.
Batteries can go bad anywhere from one year to six years, so a battery that was new a year ago may not be still good.
ALSO, just in case, make sure your alternator belt is properly adjusted.
Hope you get running again soon!
2006-11-18 11:59:36 · answer #3 · answered by Rainfog 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It still may be the battery or alternator. Just because you bought them 2 years ago, don't mean anything when it comes to them. They can last 2 months. or 10 years, just depends on the individual battery or alternator. Have the alternator checked by a auto parts store, and the battery also. You may have to replace one or both again.
2006-11-18 11:53:18 · answer #4 · answered by ? 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Something drained your battery over night. Check to see if a light was let on. Check to see if anything was left on. Possibly the door did not close all the way. Check the battery has water, and that the alt belt is tight. Have afun day.
2006-11-18 11:53:52 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
LOOK..........Your car needs 2 sources to be able to start up and run,fuel and spark.If you have no turn over,then consider a ground on the battery cable(s),or a bad voltage regulator.If you look on the battery whether side or top post,you will be able to tell if it is a ground by looking for broken wires or wires torn off.The cause of a broken wire is usually a loose battery not mounted properly.
2006-11-18 11:57:17 · answer #6 · answered by gibbyguys 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sometimes all that is wrong is a bad connection. Remove battery cables and make sure that they are clean, put them back on and make sure they are tight. If that does not work check battery to be sure it is not dead. If battery is good, then you probably have a bad solenoid. On general motors products the solenoid is on the starter, I would just put a new starter on It and not try to change just the solenoid.
2006-11-18 12:53:12 · answer #7 · answered by smoke 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
More than likely, there is corrosion between the battery terminals, and the battery post.
Remove, and clean the crusty stuff from them. Inside and out.
2006-11-18 11:58:50 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Starter motor does spring to mind after battery. Fuel pump follows after that perhaps. If it's manual, did you try bump starting as well? Also have you checked any relevent fuses/relays, just as a passing thought.
2006-11-18 11:54:46 · answer #9 · answered by karnautrahl 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
clean the battery terminals first....9 times of 10 its corrosion
2006-11-18 11:53:42 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋