So last night i had to get to the grocery store and as i got back into my car it wouldn't start... all the ignition lights turned on but dimmed to off just as quickly as they turned on... so said a quick prayer and popped open the hood & as soon as I did a kind older man drove up next to me & helped me jump start my car he told me to put soda around the battery corrosion to loosen it up and then he drove off and I was able to go home...as i parked in my drive way I noticed everything getting dim again so I just parked and as i woke up this morning I went to see if my car would start and nothing happened not even a single light flashed on although the dome light flicked when I tried turning it on. Need help.. is it the battery?!! Best answer gets 10 pts. Thanks
NOTE: Battery is less then a year old
2007-12-05 00:06:44 · 9 answers · asked by Thanks.Alot! 2 in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
It sounds like the battery may have a loose connection, or is low on fluid/going bad. Is there white residue on the connectors? If so it needs to be cleaned off. Disconnect the cables then clean them with baking soda and water, using a stiff brush. While they are off check the fluid level, unless it's a sealed battery. Put them back making sure they are tight and jump start your car. If that doesn't fix it you probobly need a new battery.
Since the car runs after a jump your alternator is OK.
2007-12-05 00:19:46 · answer #1 · answered by artgrantz 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your battery is out of date, and probably needs replacing. As they get older, they start to corrode around the 'terminals' where the leads connect.
Firstly this means that your car's battery won't hold charge as well, hence not enough power to turn over the engine and start up. Until you can get a new battery, you'll have to bump start the car after long periods of it being switched off.
If you leave it off, say overnight, the battery is so old it will lose all it's charge. The only way to recharge a car battery is to drive around a bit.
The gentleman advised you to put soda on the terminals to help degrade the corrosion by neutralizing the battery acid, it's a temporary fix, you'll need a new battery. Depending on what part of the world you live in, that's about $60 (or £30).
Your battery is likely leaking because of it's age, especially if it's not been changed since new. Good luck.
2007-12-05 00:14:30 · answer #2 · answered by a_life_lessordinary 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It sounds like a bad cable end and corrosion build up.
However this condition can cause the battery to go bad prematurely. Remove and clean the cables, take the battery to be charged and tested. Then install a fully charged or new battery only.after cleaning the cables and putting some anti-corrosion grease on the terminals. This will help prolong your battery. Also you may need to have the alternator checked. Thanks Bill
2007-12-05 00:19:05 · answer #3 · answered by Bill B 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
take the old battery out and have it tested. many auto parts
services do it free of charge.
better yet, get it jump started, many auto parts stores
test alternator a batteries free of charge.have both tested.
your battery cables maybe rusty and in need of cleaning or
they maybe loose, and that would cause car not to start.
also, if your battery has compartment for water check the
level. chances are my suggestions will work.when i say get it
jump started i mean the car so you can drive it there. good luck.
2007-12-05 00:33:30 · answer #4 · answered by Jerry S 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Take your battery to a local auto parts store, ie Advance Auto, Auto Zone, and let them run a load test on it. If the battery is good then most likely you have a bad alternator. Shouldnt cost to much. Usually under 70$ for most replacements. Good Luck to you
2007-12-05 00:14:25 · answer #5 · answered by nonomadfornow 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
May be a faulty battery. I had one like that in a '98 Civic which was the original battery and not very old. Have the place where you bought the battery test it.
2007-12-05 00:13:39 · answer #6 · answered by whatever 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Did it just not want to start one day or were you doing maintenance and now it doesn't start? Re-post Also, is the exhaust working. Have an assistant try starting the car while you hold your hand over the tail pipe. If you don't feel any pressure build up, then you found your problem.
2016-04-07 10:17:34 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Try cleaning your battery connections. Remove them clean them & tighten them good.
2007-12-05 00:15:04 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like your alternator is dying, take it to a autoparts store and have them test it.
2007-12-05 00:15:55 · answer #9 · answered by loonatic72 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋