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How can I get my car to start?

  • My much-babied, recently inspected 2008 Scion xD won't start! When I got in the car yesterday morning and turned the key in the ignition, it made a buzzing/grrrr sound and some of the dash lights come on -- but that was it, the engine wouldn't turn over. I tried again about a half hour ago, and it did start up after a little hiccup, so I thought maybe yesterday was a fluke. But when I got in the car just now to actually go somewhere, it refused to start up again. Now the radio won't even turn on, though most of the dash lights still do. I tried rolling it down the hill, pumping the breaks, all the stuff non-mechanically-minded me can think of. Help! What can I do right now to get it to start and to get the engine to turn over? It only has about 40,000 miles on it. I got it new back in 2007, and it's the car I learned to drive on -- I love it! It's been completely dependable until now, and has only needed the most basic possible repairs -- to replace a blown tire, new brake pads, etc. It gets an oil change every few months, and I've only driven it about 1,000 miles since the last one -- in fact, I got the car inspected just a couple weeks ago to change its registration to my new location (it passed with flying colors). The only thing I've been putting off is pumping its tires for winter, but I can't imagine that's what's causing it not to start now! I've used it for commuting (mostly freeway) on and off, and crisscrossed the country in it a couple times. On a 4,000 mile road trip this summer it had trouble in the heat and through the Rockies, but it didn't even have a hiccup otherwise. The only thing I can think of is that I've had it out in LA for the past few years, and this is the first cold snap it's gone through since it's been back East (since this fall). But it's 50 degrees out today and it's been sitting in the sun, so what could be frozen? I have responsibilities that keep me from being able to rely completely on public transportation, and I am also pretty broke for the foreseeable, so a quick and cheap solution I can do myself would be the best possible answer...I'm hoping that's the case! What can I do to get my car to start?

  • Answer:

    Yeah, get a jump start and/or replace the battery. This isn't really an unusual situation - IME batteries only last 3-5 years so yours was right on schedule to die. If you can't jump it and replacing the battery doesn't do anything, you'll have to get it towed to a mechanic.

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Get a jump start. Sounds like your battery may be dead. That buzzing/grr sound could be your starter.

Rob Rockets

It's the battery. The reason some things work is because they have different draw requirements (current or load) and so some things can still function with a battery that is too flat to run the car. Cold kills batteries. You're over thinking it, so just get yourself a new battery.... In the meantime a jump start will get it going but it likely won't hold charge overnight again (even if you turn everything off) and start in the morning.

Brockles

Nthing a bad battery. Also, you should be aware that batteries can damage alternators as they die, and that bad alternators can damage batteries. Point is - be on the lookout for alternator trouble as well after you replace the battery.

Pogo_Fuzzybutt

Yeah, 5 years is about when batteries start to go. Batteries produce less current in colder temperatures, too, which can make them seem to "die" all of a sudden. Believe me, your local auto parts store has seen a ton of people replacing their batteries this month! Batteries aren't too expensive, but since you're on a budget make sure you bring back your old one after installing the new one. (There will be a "core charge" on your invoice, which is a sort of deposit you get back when you bring the old one in, to encourage you to recycle it rather than throwing it away.) If you can get the car to the auto parts store (a jump start will work), they will probably install it for you for free, and they have the tools for it too.

kindall

Car batteries typically die at about 5 years old. If you take your battery to an auto parts place, most will test it for free to see if it's bad. Car starters are also a common failure item that are generally not too expensive.

tylerkaraszewski

Make that some things can function but the battery is too low to *start* the car... if it ran after starting last time, and stayed running while you were driving it, it's unlikely to be the alternator. It might well start with a jump again - but then you'd be doing that every time you use it til you either replace it or it decides not to work. We were on the way to my son's Eagle Scout board of review last night when we discovered OUR battery was dead, thanks to my daughter not-quite-shutting the door... and were very thankful a potential jump-starter was very nearby. The most reliable thing to do is replace it ASAP. If you want to absolutely ensure it's the battery before doing so, take it to an auto parts store where they can test it. Now that I think about it, you might want to take a look at your connections and wires and just double-check that they are all connected tightly, don't have much in the way of corrosion, etc. Just in case. For future reference - starters and alternators are at the low-cost end of repairs, imo. They can also be tested, and the instructions for taking them out and replacing them are generally pretty easy to follow in the car-repair manuals. (These are often available as a free online database from your local library, if you don't have a book.) They're generally fairly quick for someone knowledgeable to do. It *is* something you could probably do yourself if you were *really* desperate - I have, and I am not at all mechanically inclined - but I'd much rather let someone else when possible. Just remember, if you ever do try this yourself - have the one you think is bad tested, because if you install a new one, and try it, whether it fixed the problem or not, you cannot return it at that point because it's an electrical component, and returns aren't accepted on electrical car components.

stormyteal

Yeah, it's time to get friendly with the neighbors and get a jump.

stormygrey

Thank you! I appreciate everyone's input, it helped me handle this with much less hassle and anxiety than I could have otherwise. I've used the bus, metro and cabs the last couple days, but today, I finally got a jump and took the car down to the service station. Turns out everyone was absolutely correct, it was a dead battery. Just as you'd predicted, the battery was due to die because of age, and the cold weather didn't help. They replaced the battery no problem, even pumped my tires, and all is well. Also, the emergency jump start battery is a fantastic idea -- I had no idea those existed. I'm going to pick one up ASAP to keep from getting stranded again.

rue72

445supermag

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