My car just wont start

[terragotti]

i drove it today and parked it and came back out like 20minutes later and it wouldnt even turn over, so i went to get a new battery and installed it and it acts like its not even getting any power, about to go back to it and see if it will start this time, its been a couple of hours now, if the alternator was out would it act like its not getting any power?

[Wes]

no not an alternator problem. sounds like a bad cable or bad starter. do the dash lights come on when you turn the key in the on position? if the dash lights get power but the starter doesn't, it's either a bad starter or bad cable going to the starter.

if nothing gets powered you might have blown a main fuse or have a bad battery terminal or cable.

[Nino418]

Originally Posted by terragotti

i drove it today and parked it and came back out like 20minutes later and it wouldnt even turn over, so i went to get a new battery and installed it and it acts like its not even getting any power, about to go back to it and see if it will start this time, its been a couple of hours now, if the alternator was out would it act like its not getting any power?

It could be your ignition switch. If it goes bad it would make your car act like it wasn't getting any power, that's what happened with mine. Check your battery voltage and see if it is putting out the correct about of volts.

[Aking]

It's not your alternator. Your car should have started with a Brand new battery. The alternator just keeps the battery charged. When you turn your key to start it do u hear a click and see dash lights? If your not getting a click or lights, u have a disconnect in a starter cable somewhere. Try wiggling the + battery cable and try and see if u get power. Check your fuses at well.

@Nino: when my ignition switch went out, my car still turned over and started, but as soon as soon as you take your hand off the key, it cuts off.

[terragotti]

so i went back and tried it again with the new battery and it still acts like its getting no power, example: like for minute the lights would be on and i have the key in the on position and it looks like its ready to start, then as soon as i turn the key to start all the power shuts off and it takes about 5-10 minutes before the lights would come back on and act like normal, now that was everytime we tried that. the battery is producing voltage and the fuses were fine as well, i think somebody might have tried to get my baby cause i had mad play on the ignition column and maybe i might have came out before they were able to finish it. (or those trees got me mad paranoid)

[legend93g2]

Originally Posted by Wes

no not an alternator problem. sounds like a bad cable or bad starter. do the dash lights come on when you turn the key in the on position? if the dash lights get power but the starter doesn't, it's either a bad starter or bad cable going to the starter.

if nothing gets powered you might have blown a main fuse or have a bad battery terminal or cable.

^ what he said.

[Wes]

Originally Posted by terragotti

so i went back and tried it again with the new battery and it still acts like its getting no power, example: like for minute the lights would be on and i have the key in the on position and it looks like its ready to start, then as soon as i turn the key to start all the power shuts off and it takes about 5-10 minutes before the lights would come back on and act like normal, now that was everytime we tried that. the battery is producing voltage and the fuses were fine as well, i think somebody might have tried to get my baby cause i had mad play on the ignition column and maybe i might have came out before they were able to finish it. (or those trees got me mad paranoid)

this sounds like your ignition switch is acting up. the fact that your dash lights work one minute and then not the next sounds like a corroded contact point on the ignition. i would still look at the battery cables too and make sure nothing looks funny there.

[robertstrendell]

sounds like you have one hell of a aftermarket alarm...but seriouly i would try looking at a few fuse's ... or the ecu i forgot what fuse i pulled but it would not let my car crank just the lights would flash on the dash also check yor ecu, bad ecu wont allow the car to start neither, but i doubt its the ecu rearly heard of 1 failing

[maxXspeed]

i had a very simillar problem. with my key resting in the ON position, no dash light would appear. When i slowly turn the key to the left and right it would turn on and cut off as soon as i release pressure from turning the key. Try you main relay. my only happen when it was very cold outside. Take it in the house for a bit and let it warm up, inspect for cracks ( i had several on the soldering), once warm plug it in and start right away. If thats the case, better check the DIY for the main relay.

[Alperovich]

okay, lets make sure something, maybe i'm missing it..

do u have power? ie, lights coming on when u open the door, etc or not??