Comments on: Non-Starter http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/ Pronounce the dot. Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:42:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: b.rox » Blog Archive » Battery Follies http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-481811 b.rox » Blog Archive » Battery Follies Sat, 28 May 2011 05:02:57 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-481811 [...] The antitheft indicator was blinking, even after I locked the car up, and I had a flashback to the huge aggravation of our previous car. I started to get the chills. We never were able to fix that [...] [...] The antitheft indicator was blinking, even after I locked the car up, and I had a flashback to the huge aggravation of our previous car. I started to get the chills. We never were able to fix that [...]

]]> By: b.rox » Blog Archive » Non-Starter http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/comment-page-1/#comment-481784 b.rox » Blog Archive » Non-Starter Fri, 27 May 2011 20:50:27 +0000 http://b.rox.com/2008/01/31/non-starter/#comment-481784 [...] with the non-starting car. I think this is the second time since I wrote about this problem back in January. Plenty of power, but no engine action. We both tried it repeatedly. Xy was about to get a ride to [...] [...] with the non-starting car. I think this is the second time since I wrote about this problem back in January. Plenty of power, but no engine action. We both tried it repeatedly. Xy was about to get a ride to [...]

]]> 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.

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