Comments on: Non-Starter http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/ Life in the Flood Zone Thu, 08 Jan 2009 18:49:29 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7 hourly 1 By: craig b http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-163468 craig b Fri, 08 Feb 2008 19:02:48 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-163468 the problem sounds like the ignition switch , everything works but veh won't start . veh computer thinks veh is being stolen and shuts down works fine in warmer climates but in cold climates this happens frequently if this helps ,, u r welcome .. i no because same think would happen w/daughters saturn ion2 .. took to dealer & that was the problem .. so it is a problem not only w/your vehicle but others .. and the manuf/dealer know about this but no svc.bulletin yet .. they would rather u pay for fixing this than them .. ( check federal law : magnison/moss act ) or ask if any svc-bulletin ref.this prob. the problem sounds like the ignition switch , everything works but veh
won’t start . veh computer thinks veh is being stolen and shuts down
works fine in warmer climates but in cold climates this happens frequently
if this helps ,, u r welcome .. i no because same think would happen w/daughters saturn ion2 .. took to dealer & that was the problem ..
so it is a problem not only w/your vehicle but others .. and the manuf/dealer know about this but no svc.bulletin yet .. they would rather u pay for fixing this than them .. ( check federal law : magnison/moss act ) or ask if any svc-bulletin ref.this prob.

]]> By: Joe http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-163403 Joe Fri, 08 Feb 2008 06:35:51 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-163403 It may be that the ground cable (battery to engine or body) is not making a good connection, intermittently. This can happen in wet climates. To test this, connect a jumper cable from the negative post on your battery to something metal on your engine block. This will provide a different path for the starter to get grounded. If the car starts this way you know you'll need to disconnect the grounding strap and grind it off for better conductance. Auto electric problems are incredibly frustrating. Congrads on the pregnancy. Joe in Boise It may be that the ground cable (battery to engine or body) is not making a good connection, intermittently. This can happen in wet climates.

To test this, connect a jumper cable from the negative post on your battery to something metal on your engine block. This will provide a different path for the starter to get grounded. If the car starts this way you know you’ll need to disconnect the grounding strap and grind it off for better conductance.

Auto electric problems are incredibly frustrating.

Congrads on the pregnancy.

Joe in Boise

]]> By: Avocado Tom http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-163006 Avocado Tom Tue, 05 Feb 2008 04:17:57 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-163006 The rain + no turn-over is weird. My thoughts would be: - clean your battery connections, check that they're tight - do the same with where the ground strap from the battery connects to the chasis Next, I'd second the stuff above checking the battery itself: - it's probably sealed, but if it's not, pop the caps and see if it needs topping off - take it to <insert auto parts store here> and have them "test" it (a friend had power but not enough juice to turn over - I thought it was the starter and it just needed a new battery, to my surprise, hence the above suggestions) If it turned over but didn't start (which doesn't sound like your scenario, but...), I would suggest: - change the spark-plug wires, cap, rotor, distributor Good luck! The rain + no turn-over is weird.

My thoughts would be:

- clean your battery connections, check that they’re tight
- do the same with where the ground strap from the battery connects to the chasis

Next, I’d second the stuff above checking the battery itself:
- it’s probably sealed, but if it’s not, pop the caps and see if it needs topping off
- take it to <insert auto parts store here> and have them “test” it

(a friend had power but not enough juice to turn over - I thought it was the starter and it just needed a new battery, to my surprise, hence the above suggestions)

If it turned over but didn’t start (which doesn’t sound like your scenario, but…), I would suggest:
- change the spark-plug wires, cap, rotor, distributor

Good luck!

]]> By: lemming http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162918 lemming Mon, 04 Feb 2008 12:54:02 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162918 Actually, Tom & Ray DID have a question very like this... I just can't remember the answer. I've heard it within the past year, if that helps at all. ;-) Actually, Tom & Ray DID have a question very like this… I just can’t remember the answer. I’ve heard it within the past year, if that helps at all. ;-)

]]> By: rickngentilly http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162679 rickngentilly Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:41:45 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162679 p.s. they did a free computor check when my dashboard check engine light came on. turned out i just needed to change my fuel filter. with the cost of the manual and the filter i probably saved a couple of hundred bucks doing it myself instead of had i taken it to the dealer. p.s. they did a free computor check when my dashboard check engine light came on. turned out i just needed to change my fuel filter. with the cost of the manual and the filter i probably saved a couple of hundred bucks doing it myself instead of had i taken it to the dealer.

]]> By: rickngentilly http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162677 rickngentilly Sat, 02 Feb 2008 06:08:54 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162677 if it's the original battery that came with the car they are notorius for being cheap and dying young. go to autozone and buy a new expensive one. keep your reciept. i once got a bad one and they exchanged it with a new one at no charge. another time i got one that died before it's warrenty and they swaped it out with a new one minus the charge for the time i had the old one. plus the people at auto zones on broad and the one on gentily blvd. are locals and friendly and actually know what the hell they are talking about. they have been a real godsend since katrina ran off my old mechanics and forced me to do my own minor repairs. also like lee said get a chilton or haynes type manual it takes a lot of guess work as well as trail and error out of the equation. if it’s the original battery that came with the car they are notorius for being cheap and dying young. go to autozone and buy a new expensive one. keep your reciept. i once got a bad one and they exchanged it with a new one at no charge. another time i got one that died before it’s warrenty and they swaped it out with a new one minus the charge for the time i had the old one. plus the people at auto zones on broad and the one on gentily blvd. are locals and friendly and actually know what the hell they are talking about. they have been a real godsend since katrina ran off my old mechanics and forced me to do my own minor repairs.

also like lee said get a chilton or haynes type manual it takes a lot of guess work as well as trail and error out of the equation.

]]> By: roxfan http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162550 roxfan Fri, 01 Feb 2008 08:07:09 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162550 A couple of thing you might try before you start spending cash. Turn on the headlights and try to start the vehicle if the lights go out with the key turned to start you most likely have a bad/dirty connection at the battery terminals. Loosen then clean the battery terminals and connectors to the battery with a small wire brush. My van did what your car is doing last summer and that solved my problem. Be very careful, take the negative (-) terminal loose first. If the lights stay on and it still fails to start move the gearshift to N and back to Park see if it starts. If it starts then or after a couple of trys then the switch that will only let the car start in Park or Neutral might be going bad. Good Luck! Rox Fan A couple of thing you might try before you start spending cash.

Turn on the headlights and try to start the vehicle if the lights go out with the key turned to start you most likely have a bad/dirty connection at the battery terminals. Loosen then clean the battery terminals and connectors to the battery with a small wire brush. My van did what your car is doing last summer and that solved my problem. Be very careful, take the negative (-) terminal loose first.

If the lights stay on and it still fails to start move the gearshift to N and back to Park see if it starts. If it starts then or after a couple of trys then the switch that will only let the car start in Park or Neutral might be going bad.

Good Luck! Rox Fan

]]> By: David http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162538 David Fri, 01 Feb 2008 05:42:11 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162538 Lee, I thought it could be the starter, but here's why I think it's the battery. When a starter's going bad, they tend to work when they're cold and not when they're hot. Vice versa for batteries, which are the symptoms Bart's experiencing. Auto Zone can test that quickly. Lee, I thought it could be the starter, but here’s why I think it’s the battery. When a starter’s going bad, they tend to work when they’re cold and not when they’re hot. Vice versa for batteries, which are the symptoms Bart’s experiencing. Auto Zone can test that quickly.

]]> By: Mark Folse http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162515 Mark Folse Fri, 01 Feb 2008 01:41:25 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162515 Clearly the Ion is suffering from Vehicular Sibling Envy. It knows that once the baby comes, it will no longer be your baby. The fact that you're not the kind of guy who thinks his car is his baby doesn't matter. Cars are stupid. It doesn't know that. Engage the car in planning for the new baby. Show it the new car seat, and let it help you install it. Give it a nice paste wax job and a tank or two of Premium. Don't let it feel left out. It might also be preparing for the Big Moment in it's own special way. Our car wouldn't start the night Killian was born, which also happened to be the night of a snow storm in D.C. Hint: Do not tell the cab company you call that your wife's in labor. Or the second one you call. They will not tell you they're not coming, but they won't show up. Clearly the Ion is suffering from Vehicular Sibling Envy. It knows that once the baby comes, it will no longer be your baby. The fact that you’re not the kind of guy who thinks his car is his baby doesn’t matter. Cars are stupid. It doesn’t know that. Engage the car in planning for the new baby. Show it the new car seat, and let it help you install it. Give it a nice paste wax job and a tank or two of Premium. Don’t let it feel left out.

It might also be preparing for the Big Moment in it’s own special way. Our car wouldn’t start the night Killian was born, which also happened to be the night of a snow storm in D.C. Hint: Do not tell the cab company you call that your wife’s in labor. Or the second one you call. They will not tell you they’re not coming, but they won’t show up.

]]> By: Lee http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-162504 Lee Thu, 31 Jan 2008 23:40:59 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-162504 B, if I know anything (and you know a lot of what I know) it's cars. It's a possibility that It's the ignition switch (not likely), battery (not likely, you even said it), a fuse under the hood (possibly) or the starter. When starters go bad, sometimes they will act up just like your talking about. There is some news, and some bad news though. The part that's acting up on you is called the "bendix." It moves back and forth when you turn the key. On fords they are external and can be replaced quite easily. But for the rest of us you have to replace the entire starter. Autozone's price for the part is $177 with a $32 core charge. Most places will charge around $100 to $200 to install (Mr. Fancy Pants). If you're somewhat mechanically inclined, buy a repair manual on the car. It'll walk you through this process. I never buy a vehicle without at least 1 repair manual on it. When you own a vehicle over a year, they are worth their weight in gold - as in the money you save! I hope I've helped! B, if I know anything (and you know a lot of what I know) it’s cars. It’s a possibility that It’s the ignition switch (not likely), battery (not likely, you even said it), a fuse under the hood (possibly) or the starter.

When starters go bad, sometimes they will act up just like your talking about.

There is some news, and some bad news though.

The part that’s acting up on you is called the “bendix.” It moves back and forth when you turn the key. On fords they are external and can be replaced quite easily. But for the rest of us you have to replace the entire starter.

Autozone’s price for the part is $177 with a $32 core charge. Most places will charge around $100 to $200 to install (Mr. Fancy Pants). If you’re somewhat mechanically inclined, buy a repair manual on the car. It’ll walk you through this process.

I never buy a vehicle without at least 1 repair manual on it. When you own a vehicle over a year, they are worth their weight in gold - as in the money you save!

I hope I’ve helped!

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