Car trouble help?!?

Question

My car won't turn over, but the battery is charged. I have a 95 Mazda 626. What could the problem be and what's the cheapest way to fix it? Thanks!

The lights all come on, the windows work, the radio works, and yesterday when I turned the key there was a clicking noise, but today there isn't. We've checked all the fuses and they work. We've tried jump starting it, but it doesn't change anything.

Answer 1

It's most like the starter or electrical problems. Check the starter first. Pop your hood, and ask someone to listen for a clicking when you turn the key. If they don't hear anything you need a new starter.

Answer 2

If your battery is truly charged to full capacity, then it will start the car regardless the condition of the alternator, assuming your starter is good too. But it won't be recharged once started because the alt. is bad. Then you'll have a dead battery too.

Same as above but the alt. is good too and stater is bad: you'll probably hear some clicking, ticking, clattering noise. And your engine won't budge, no turning.

If all 3 are good and still no start, it could be any number of things, spark, fuel...etc.

Answer 3

Many times, especially in cold weather, dirty or corroded cable connectors and battery posts cause a poor electrical which leads to poor or no starting. Even though they aren't corroded or covered with filth they may be coated with oxide which will not conduct electricity. Remove first the negative cable and then the positive cable from the battery posts. Use a wire brush or a knife and brush or scrape the posts and the inside of the connectors until they are shiny bright. Your local auto parts store carries a brush which is specially made for this job. Once they are good and clean replace and tighten the positive cable and then the negative cable and try cranking the engine again. If the connectors and posts show signs of corrosion (green and white powdery buildup) remove it with baking soda and water prior to using the brush. If that doesn't cure the problem and the battery is good then you need to have the strter checked.

Answer 4

If it isn't the battery and the car won't turn over you probably have an electrical problem or you starter is broken. What I would do is call around and see who gives the cheapest diagnostic test and when you find out what is wrong, then I would price different places for that problem. Sorry dude, I've been there! Good luck!

Answer 5

that could be a lot of things
I need more info
does the engine turn over but won't start?
do you get nothing when you turn the key?
is there a clicking noise when you turn the key?
how do you know the battery is charged?

Answer 6

Sometimes in my car, the connection to the battery comes loose, maybe that's your problem. What other kind of problems did you have before, did this just happen one day?

Answer 7

Starter, fuel pump,clogged fuel lines, or the alternator
Find a person you trust or a friend of a friend to look at it for you. A lot of people know someone who may be good with fixing cars.

Answer 8

oh god... it could be a loose connection to your coil. could be the starter gone.... could be something as simple as the ground coming loose.... hard to tell... but it sounds like you may just have a loose connection somewhere.... is it turning over at all or is it just *clicking* when you turn the key... it could also be an ignition modulator fuse... mine did that once had me stumped for days

Answer 9

Definitely the starter

Answer 10

check all cable connections at the starter as well as the battery. clean and tighten.