i tried to start my car just now and it wouldnt crank. i drove it yesterday and it started and drove just fine.

now i dont really know how to diagnose the problem.. would a drained battery cause the car not to crank? or would it be the starter? i really dont want to buy another one.

thanks

 

if your battery is dead yes your car will not crank... how to check??? turn your headlights on if they are on then u got enough juice so it should crank... if they are dim or not on battery is dead.

if its a stick why not just try to push start it??? if still no start bad battery

 

IF you don't get dash lights your battery is dead. Push starting is bad for the output shaft on the transmission. Check: your ground wires on the starter and alternator, or loose battery terminals.

 

TRY THE ACG fuse under the dash in the fuse panel. It is not in the line like all of the other ones such as radio, headlights i.e..... it is kinda beside the fuse fuller and in front of the S.R.S fuse...

and the best way to check for the battery being dead or alive, honk the horn... no honk, battery is dead...

 

dont forget to check that tranny ground... if its bad the car will not crank

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by neutron91 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">dont forget to check that tranny ground... if its bad the car will not crank</TD></TR></TABLE>

Grounds seldom "go bad" overnight. My money is on a battery or perhaps an alternator that killed the battery. Turn your headlights on, try to crank the car and see if they dim and/or shut off. If they do, then your battery is def. the culprit. If your starter makes a horrible noise instead of turning the car over, then the nose gear is probably broken.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Grounds seldom "go bad" overnight.</TD></TR></TABLE>

not necessarily "go bad", but they can come loose

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Archidictus &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">

Grounds seldom "go bad" overnight. My money is on a battery or perhaps an alternator that killed the battery. Turn your headlights on, try to crank the car and see if they dim and/or shut off. If they do, then your battery is def. the culprit. If your starter makes a horrible noise instead of turning the car over, then the nose gear is probably broken.</TD></TR></TABLE>


thanks guys. i was the original poster. i was just at my friends house.
anyway, where are the grounds for the alternator and starter?

crap, it did make some funky *** noise.

does this mean i have to replace the starter?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by SyDuck &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">thanks guys. i was the original poster. i was just at my friends house.
anyway, where are the grounds for the alternator and starter?

crap, it did make some funky *** noise.

does this mean i have to replace the starter?</TD></TR></TABLE>

If it makes a screaching noise that rises in pitch (kinda like - rrrreeeeeEEEEEEEEEEE!!!! ) whenever you turn the key to the "crank" position, then yes, it's time for a new starter. If it only did it once and now there's nothing, it might be a starter but it's more likely your battery. Starters aren't hard to replace on our cars.

 

Did it make like a kinda loud clicking noise? Do you dash lights seem a little more dim then usual? Why dont you try jump starting it off another car and see if its your battery or not... if its starts up that way pulle the positve off the battery if the car continues to run then its yours battery, if it dies its your alternator.