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Car wont Start

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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:37 AM
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From: collingswood nj
Default Car wont Start

I have a 99 manual trans i parked the car in the drive way went to start it a week later and nothing doesnt turn over i thought the battery but its only a little over a year old i tried jump starting it and also nothing Is there some kind of gatcha i dont know about
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:40 AM
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Are the interior lights coming on when you open the door? Is the SECURITY light on the dash illuminated when you are trying to start it?
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:42 AM
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Yes seems like all the lights and radio and security system works just when i turn the key to start get nothing
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:48 AM
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Could be dirty ends on the battery cables. Check those out. Even though there is no visable corrosion, they could still be not making good contact. Also take a pencil eraser and clean the pellet on your key. Sometimes a film will build up on those.

If those two do not work, it could be a dead cell in the battery. This means the battery will run radio, lights, etc, but when put under load(starting) it will short out.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by VinnyT
Could be dirty ends on the battery cables. Check those out. Even though there is no visable corrosion, they could still be not making good contact. Also take a pencil eraser and clean the pellet on your key. Sometimes a film will build up on those.

If those two do not work, it could be a dead cell in the battery. This means the battery will run radio, lights, etc, but when put under load(starting) it will short out.
Very good advice, thanks for posting
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:52 AM
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But if its a dead cell in battery i should still at least beable to jump start it when i try i get nothing cant even get it to turn over when i turn the key all i get is a click
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 08:53 AM
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Originally Posted by Black76
But if its a dead cell in battery i should still at least beable to jump start it when i try i get nothing cant even get it to turn over when i turn the key all i get is a click
No. Jump starting still will not turn it over if it has a dead cell. It does sound like the battery is shot. If you have an Autozone or Advance Auto parts, they will do a load test on the battery for you.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 12:59 PM
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If you have a good 12.5 volts on the battery and you get a no-turnover condition, do you hear the TDR relay in the passenger footwell click when you try to start? If you do hear it clicking, jack up the front of the car, get a rubber mallet and give a whack on the starter solenoid. If the TDR is working this tells you that its not the security system and assuming your battery is fully charged, its not that either (usually), but the solenoid will fail as you describe. If the whack works, buy yourself a new starter.
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 03:08 PM
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Thats exactly what I was going to suggest! If the whack works, it most like just a bad solenoid. You can replace just the solenoid for approx $40. IU did that to mine just reciently. Worked like a champ.

BC
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 10:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Bill Curlee
Thats exactly what I was going to suggest! If the whack works, it most like just a bad solenoid. You can replace just the solenoid for approx $40. IU did that to mine just reciently. Worked like a champ.

BC
You are the source of that one Bill. I remembered it from your posts!
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Old Dec 22, 2008 | 10:29 PM
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Is your clutch switch working? Is the clutch depressed all the way? Will it roll off and run? The starter won't turn over until the switch makes connection.
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Old Dec 23, 2008 | 08:02 AM
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Ok guys its not the battery i took the battery out of the vette put it in my truck and it started right up . Yes after i turn the key i can hear a faint clicking in the passeger foot area where the fuses are . so you think its the starter then
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Old Dec 23, 2008 | 10:32 AM
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Originally Posted by Black76
Ok guys its not the battery i took the battery out of the vette put it in my truck and it started right up . Yes after i turn the key i can hear a faint clicking in the passeger foot area where the fuses are . so you think its the starter then
Most likely the solenoid on the starter. Give it a whack!

If it starts, replace the solenoid or the entire starter. What ever one that you perfer.
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