car not starting?

Question

i havent been able to get my car to start for two days. the engine does not turn over at all. the battery light on the display/dash board lights up but the i can turn the lights on..so the battery doesnt see to be dead. i have been having this problem on and off for a while now. i have took my car to the shop 5 to 6 weeks ago for the same problem and they told me nothing was wrong with my car. they ran a diagnostic test on everything related to why the car wouldnt start. they told me that the battery was defective, but i dont see how that could be when i just bought that battery two weeks prior to me taking the car to the shop, because i was having the exact same problem. so about 8 or 9 weeks ago my car was doing the same thing, and i went out and bought a battery immediately bc i thought that was the problem. anyways when i took the battery back to where i bought it from they told me it wasnt defective..and that it just needed to be charged. when i went back to the shop....

and told them that the battery is not defective..then they told me that it was the key that i had that was causing the problem. since its not the original key that came with the car. but they did get the car to start, but now we are back to the same problem...what the hell is wrong with my car? any suggestions?

i have a 2001 plymouth neon.

i dont think its the key, because the car usually starts and i have had this car over and year now and its been working fine except for the last 3 or 4 months.
wouldnt the shop have checked for all the other problems?

Answer 1

sadly sounds like a dealership issue...if you've had the other systems checked (alternator, starter, etc) and you've been told it's your key...just brace yourself- the repair can be very expensive...I had to have my car re-keyed and it cost 1200.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Assuming it is not the key it sounds like an electrical problem (of course). The starting system of a car is simple and only a few things can really go wrong. The battery goes to ground and the starter.

I would start by checking the battery and making sure it is good. If it gets drained that can kill it. Check the connections and make sure they are good. If the battery is good -

Check fuses (not likely the problem)

I would then check the solenoid which is likely connected to the starter. If it is bad it will usually just click once when you try to start the car and the car does not turn over. The best way to check this is to have your boyfriend replace it. If you replace the solenoid you should replace the starter. (good maintenance practice) If you don't have the money changing just the solenoid is ok.

Answer 3

Sounds like an intermittent problem with either the ignition switch ( the electrical part on the back of the key tumbler ) or a corroded wire on the starter solenoid. Have someone check the wire that comes from the ignition switch to the starter solenoid at the solenoid, with a test light to make sure you have voltage there when you turn the key to start.

Answer 4

I dont know if the neon has this but Fords do. The original key has a chip built into it so no one can start it without that key. A sort of anti theft device. Also your ecm may be going bad or have a bad or loose connection. ECM meaning the cars computor.

Answer 5

You could have gotten a lemon battery (bad from the get-go) I've heard that it happens sometimes. Did they check your alternator? Some Kragen parts stores have alternator and battery testers, so you could try that. Your starter might be gone as well, did they test that? Do you have the list of the things that they checked?

Answer 6

What kind of car is it? You may have a recall on it or a Technical Service Bulletin issued for it and the mechanic did not know about it. Its 1 possibility. You can check for Technical Service Bulletins here

http://www.allworldauto.com/tsbs/

and you can check for recalls here

http://www.allworldauto.com/recalls/

Good Luck