Car wont start...What's wrong?

Question

My sister is selling me her car (95 Olds Achieva) but she lives 92 miles away and I can't diagnose it until I get it. I am trying to budget to pay for it, pick it up, and get it fixed... That's why I'm asking this before I get it. I'll give "symptoms", please help me figure out what could be wrong.
It will turn over but won't start, the lights and radio work, she said the battery is low and when she tried to jump start, it wouldn't work. Could it possibly be the starter, alternator, or battery???

Thanks for any advice!

Sorry, I kind of thought we all knew that "turning over" means cranks but engine doesn't start up.

It isn't making any noises, it hasn't been sitting for an extended amount of time. It just doesn't start up anymore.

And it was jump-started via another vehicle.

Thanks everyone, I'll just get tow it someplace to have it looked at when I get it over here.

Answer 1

"Won't start" is pretty vague. It could be hundreds of posibilities.
Dead battery, Low battery, bad ground wire to engine, bad power wire to starter, bad power wire to battery, bad connection at battery post or terminals, blown fuse, bad key switch, bad starter, bad fuel pump, bad injectors, out of gas, neutral safety switch, seized engine, broken connecting rod, no compression, no spark, bad oil pressure switch, broken timing belt, plugged fuel filter, bad starter solenoid, bad starter, broken rotor, cracked distributor cap, Anti-theft device, water in/on engine, out of gas, vacuum leak, bad gas, bad ignition coil, blown computer, faulty cam or crank sensor ...

I could list 50 more things easiy...

If you could give a more detailed explanation of what is happening when you turn the key to start your car.
1) Nothing happens?
2) You hear a "click", but nothing else?
3) You hear the starter turning, but the engine doesn't turn?
4) The starter turns the engine, but the engine won't start up?
5) The engine turns over, but very slowly.
6) the engine turns, but there's an awful banging noise?

Lastly:
What happened last time you drove it?

1) Drove home fine last night, just won't start today?
2) Was driving fine, and it just died on you?
3) You haven't driven it in a while. It's been parked in storage?

Answer 2

Well, that's not enough "symptoms". It will turn over, I have to assume means it cranks but will not start. That will indicate the starter is ok, the battery is strong enough to crank it and the alternator doesn't keep anything from starting it only recharges the battery after it is running. She said a jump start wouldn't work. Does that mean it didn't crank or it just didn't start?
Does it have gas in it? Does the fuel pump work and if so does it work enough to have the proper fuel pressure to start the engine? How long has it been sitting? Is it firing? It could be the coil pack or modulator is bad if not.
You see, there are so many things and the symptoms you gave are too general to determine anything at all. Find out some more details and let us know.

Answer 3

Battery age? sounds like the battery is going bad, dead cells is why it won't take a jump. Alternator maybe but I wouldn't worry about it now, start the car first. Coil or coil wires/cable bad. How are the plug wires? Check spark by pulling one plug with the wire still on (Might want to get a mechanic friend to do this!), crank the engine with the plug close to the valve cover or head, watch closely for spark. Is there coming through the (Carburetor/injectors)? When you bet the engine started and running then teat the alternator (12V to12.5V from the battery, engine not running, 13.6V to 14.4V alternator output to the battery with the engine running).

Answer 4

We can eliminate the starter right away. We can also eliminate the battery and the alternator; "jump staring", whether you mean boosting or pushing with another car in the case of manual cars should have at least started the car, if only temporarily if it were the alt. More than likely it is either a fuel or electrical problem eg.spark plugs, wires, coil, etc. or fuel is not being fed to the injectors because the fuel pump is no longer functioning, or a clogged fuel filter or the injectors themselves. or possibly out of gas?

Answer 5

There are way too many things that could cause a car not to start but if as you say it 'turns over' then I would have to say No it is not your starter,alternator or battery as these are all things that would cause it not to turn over. You more likely have no fuel pressure or no spark that is causing your no start. Sorry to say but you will need to have it checked out to find the cause. Good luck it might not be anything serious but find out whats wrong and don't throw a lot of parts at it as you will be told here most likely.

Answer 6

A battery that will no longer hold a charge in the plates is useless and should be replaced. Replace the battery and see if you are receiving spark to each sparkplug. If it turns over and fails to start have the ignition checked and please check your fuse box it could be something that small and cheap. Test the alternator and check for open shorts. Normally they are found by having a short within a bad starter.

Answer 7

examine the battery terminals. examine Ignition fuses interior the fuse block. may well be a foul starter. If the solenoid is undesirable on the starter then it wont work together. it will make the sound like a lifeless battery yet won't turn the motor over. a million) I trust the different answer. examine Battery terminals. 2) examine the fuses and solenoids interior the fuse blocks. (one below the hood and one below the sprint). 3) try the starter. Take a screw driving force and go the effective and unfavorable wires on the starter and notice if it engages or not. If it do not then you definately've the respond.

Answer 8

Sounds like a carb or injector problem. If the car has been parked for a long period of time that could be the problem. Have your sister spray some carb/throttle body cleaner into the intake and see if this helps. If not the car may have serious problems. To do this the intake hose which connects the air filter to the intake must be removed first, then spray into the intake.