Electrical Problems!
Hi guys, sorry if this has been posted (or something similar) but I really need some help fast.
My car, as is, will not start. Will not turn over, barely makes a sound when i try to start her up.
I left my work's parking lot with everything fine and peachy; car started up without a hitch, no indicator lights, nothing. I drove home (about 15 miles) and parked my car right in front of my garage. I went inside to open the garage (garage opener is busted). Got back into my car, and it wouldn't start. Not a sound, just key turned all the way and... nothing.
First I suspected the battery. Even if it had been driven 15 or so miles, maybe the alternator belt was loose and the battery wasn't getting a charge. (Note, I don't think the belt is loose at all, this was just my first assumption). I grabbed my car jumper (a little self contained battery starting unit), hooked it up, and tried to start. Noise, lots of it. Even some sparks from the block where I attached the ground of my starter. I double checked the instructions and connections and everything was fine. Still, no start.
I grabbed my multimeter to test the charge of the battery. 12.4 volts. That might have been a surface charge, but I'm really doubting at this point that the battery is bad.
Now I start to poke around. When I open the door of the car, the interior lights come on just fine. The 'security' light blinks just fine. The door ajar light is on just fine. The other interior lights in front of the moonroof operate just fine. The power driver's seat operates just fine. Put in the key and turn and:
All the lights of the dash light up like they normally would. The light from the radio and the climate control blink on, then off, then flicker back to off. I try the headlights with the car off. Nothing. I try the highbeams... takes a second and then the headlights flicker on and off with very little brightness. Oddly enough, there's a little clicking sound right by the interior fuse box when I hold the highbeams on. I think this is probably just the relay that's flickering. When I try the emergency lights there's initially some noise behind the dash, then they work just fine.
I'm really out of ideas here. I'm not much of a mechanic or car electrician, so I'm imploring all of you to lend me your wisdom!
Please help!
My car, as is, will not start. Will not turn over, barely makes a sound when i try to start her up.
I left my work's parking lot with everything fine and peachy; car started up without a hitch, no indicator lights, nothing. I drove home (about 15 miles) and parked my car right in front of my garage. I went inside to open the garage (garage opener is busted). Got back into my car, and it wouldn't start. Not a sound, just key turned all the way and... nothing.
First I suspected the battery. Even if it had been driven 15 or so miles, maybe the alternator belt was loose and the battery wasn't getting a charge. (Note, I don't think the belt is loose at all, this was just my first assumption). I grabbed my car jumper (a little self contained battery starting unit), hooked it up, and tried to start. Noise, lots of it. Even some sparks from the block where I attached the ground of my starter. I double checked the instructions and connections and everything was fine. Still, no start.
I grabbed my multimeter to test the charge of the battery. 12.4 volts. That might have been a surface charge, but I'm really doubting at this point that the battery is bad.
Now I start to poke around. When I open the door of the car, the interior lights come on just fine. The 'security' light blinks just fine. The door ajar light is on just fine. The other interior lights in front of the moonroof operate just fine. The power driver's seat operates just fine. Put in the key and turn and:
All the lights of the dash light up like they normally would. The light from the radio and the climate control blink on, then off, then flicker back to off. I try the headlights with the car off. Nothing. I try the highbeams... takes a second and then the headlights flicker on and off with very little brightness. Oddly enough, there's a little clicking sound right by the interior fuse box when I hold the highbeams on. I think this is probably just the relay that's flickering. When I try the emergency lights there's initially some noise behind the dash, then they work just fine.
I'm really out of ideas here. I'm not much of a mechanic or car electrician, so I'm imploring all of you to lend me your wisdom!
Please help!
- Akui
- Just Licensed SolaraGuy
- Posts: 39
- Joined: Thu Oct 30, 2003 6:47 pm