Car problems. Please help!?

Question

My moms car is having issues. It wouldn't turn over and we couldn't get it into neautrel. My moms friend came over to try and jump it but it didn't work. The lights started to come on and then won't anymore. The battery isn't old. We can't even take it to the dealership because its Memorial Day. Any idea of whats wrong and how to fix it? We need a car to use so please help. Thanks. Oh by the way if this helps its a 2005 Ford Escape.

The car is an automatic. My moms friends car is a large SUV. Bigger then our car.

Answer 1

I assume you pressed the clutch when trying to get the car into neutral? is it standard or automatic transmission? Look at the battery and cables attached, if there's lots of whitish powder, they need to be cleaned. When jump-starting, did the friend rev up their motor, or let it sit at idle? Idle won't charge it enough, and if it's a small car doing the jumping, many times they don't have a powerful enough alternator to do it, either. If you have REALLY cheap jumper cables, ie paid $20 for them, they're worthless, too. You need BIG cables, that are more like $50. Cheap ones won't push the amperage thru you need to jumpstart it.
So...check your battery cables for powder, take off and clean with scouring pad on battery and cables if they're coated. Retighten. Make sure you have a good set of jumper cables, and a decent car to jump it with. Sounds like you weren't getting a good connection with the jumper cables, so you need to work on that. Easy way to tell is pull your lights on, on the dead car, and when the connection is good, they WILL work. If not, you have a bad or dirty connection. Good luck!

Answer 2

For a fast answer...

Even if the battery isn't old, it still might be dead. You said the lights started to come on and then died, right? This tells me a dead battery is likely.

Try jumping it again with a bigger vehicle. If your neighbor tried to jump your SUV with a compact car, it might not work - not enough power.

Answer 3

Probably the cables just aren't making good connection. Or they are connected to cables which are not making good connection to the battery. try to twist the cables on your car. If they turn they're too loose--a likely possibility. Use gloves or wash immediately--battery acid! Also will rot you clothes. Get you Mom's friend to drive you around.

Answer 4

To quote Gremling,right above
:Sounds like you weren't getting a good connection with the jumper cables, so you need to work on that. Easy way to tell is pull your lights on, on the dead car, and when the connection is good, they WILL work. If not, you have a bad or dirty connection. Good luck!

This is the right answer

Answer 5

I'd start with shock absorbers or struts, depending on your car. If your car has more than 60-75,000 miles this would be a good starting point. Shocks and strut performance starts to deteriorate after this mileage.

Answer 6

If the battery is DEAD, it will take 20-30 minutes to get a fair amount of charge back into the battery.

Answer 7

Check to insure the battery connections are clean and the lead to the selenoid and starter is tight, then make sure the no fuses are blown

Answer 8

What gear is it in? If it's anything but Neutral or Park it won't start. Have you tried to turn the key all the way forward then put it in park?

Answer 9

Make sure the terminals are tight.
Sounds like they might have a loose connection.

Answer 10

use cables from the two cars