my car does not start?

[Subject]
my car does not start?
[Question]
so i try to turn the ignition..it turns..but the car does not make any noises....the car is kinda out of oil..but i dont think thats the problem..and the radio works..which means its not the battery..what could it be.. can anyone help asap?

sk-boii @ 2009-06-20 11:25:05

[All Answers]
Maybe ur starter?? does it try to turn over??

Ciko @ 2009-06-20 11:35:57

most likely it would be your starter you can test that by grabbing some sort of metal tool and giving the starter a couple of bangs not to hard not to soft? then try to start it should start? if its not that well you can try the batt next?

Handy me @ 2009-06-20 11:37:32

what kinda car is it ??? and there could be several problems such as fuel,fuses, bunch of stuff i would check fuel relay and pump and ecu fuse make sure both of the are in good state if not maybe something else such as the dizzy not giving spark maybe bad coil or bad igniter under the dizzy cap.... or could be as simple as not having gas. if it cranks and cranks good or normal its not ur starter if it TRIES to crack and cranks slow or none at all or click click click cheack batt. and starter but you said it did crank soo check one of the above ive listed..

Sok @ 2009-06-20 11:40:37

No, it's not the oil - unless you last drove it with no oil.

Just because your radio works does not mean that your battery is okay. It takes about 9.5 volts to start a car engine. Your radio, horn, headlights, etc., will all work because they don't require as much voltage from your battery.

You could have a dead cell in your battery. They are flaky and sometimes it will start and sometimes not. Take it to an Auto Parts Store and they can check that.

Now, this is probably what your problem is. Since it takes 9.5 volts to start your car, your battery cable connections may be dirty. DO NOT look at your battery cables and if everything is clean, that doesn't mean you have a bad connection.

Those terminals are made of lead. Lead is a real shiny metal. The darkness you may see on top of your battery terminals builds up between your cable connector and terminal. Get a good battery cleaner with the wires inside and take off the cables and clean them.

DON'T ever fall for the "Baking Soda" or "Coca Cola" routine. That DOES NOT clean your battery connections.

Joe @ 2009-06-20 11:41:26

check the cap and rotor on the distributor or if it is a newer car it might have coil packs for the ignition and if so they might need to be replaced
if it is older then 96 check for a distributor. it will have all the spark plug wires coming off it and if that is the case take off the cap and check to see if the connections under it are white or shiny and if they are white scrape the white of with a pocket knife until they are shinier or just replace it and make sure to put the plug wires back in the right spots. mark them with nail polish or some thing that will show up, no.1 plug wire will always go to the plug that is furthest forward on the motor and remember to change the rotor, it is the plastic piece under the cap

Nick @ 2009-06-20 11:42:31

in the first place fill it up with oil. check the battery terminals, they could be corroded and loose. it still can be the battery. it don,t take much juice to run a radio but it takes a lot to turn the engine over.

bandit_60 @ 2009-06-20 11:46:47

What do you mean, kinda out of oil? If there is oil on the dipstick you should fill it and then work on the no crank problem, but if there is *no* oil you may have a seized engine.
Assuming the oil isn't the problem, a stupid question: have you verified the auto transmission is in Park or Neutral? If a manual, never mind.

Michael @ 2009-06-20 11:47:55

Open your drivers door and turn your key. Listen for a click or thunk type sound. Even if your starter is bad you should hear the bendix kick in. It is controlled by an electro magnet that will work even if the starter motor is bad. If you don't hear that you should check your battery. Try jumping the car. The battery may be to low to turn the starter but still have enough power to play the radio. If the battery is good you should next check your solenoid. Depending on your type of vehicle it will either be on the starter itself or on the firewall under the hood. Take a large screw driver and use it to jump the solenoid by making contact between the two larger posts on the solenoid. If the starter turns while jumping the solenoid than your starter is ok and you should replace your solenoid. If it does not turn than you should take your starter off and have it checked at your local auto parts store.

rb4db @ 2009-06-20 11:52:00

[Subject]
i just got a 2007 trailblazer ss and its been pulling to the right.?
[Question]
so i got the tires alligned 3 times and its still pulling to the right. Its definitly not the allignment and definitly not the road im driving on. If i hold my steering wheel straaight my car goes to the right. In order to drive straight i have to hold my wheel slightyly to the left. Does anybody know what this could be? Thanks

Beee @ 2009-06-20 11:10:07

[All Answers]
Maybe the tire pressure isnt the same in all 4 tires?

SpaceBoy @ 2009-06-20 11:13:55

uneven tires? When was the last time you got them rotated?

Billy bob jr. @ 2009-06-20 11:14:18

take back to the shop that did the alignment and have them trouble shoot. If alignment was done correctly could be an out of balance tire or brake pad dragging a bit.

gary o @ 2009-06-20 11:15:48

you should go to the auto shop and have your tires fixed and aligned again because it sounds to me that your tires werent fixed enough and you should also pump your tires just in case.

shuhan91 @ 2009-06-20 11:18:05

This very common.
You prob have a bad tire.Sometimes the belt inside will come loose and will make the tire pull to the side.
I bet very very good chance this your problem.
You should be able to see some wear on the tire.
But just put your spare on the front to see if that stops it. you may have to try both front wheels.
very common problem. and the shop really cant see it.
But they should have told you what i just did. It is very common knowledge in the tire world.

Bandett @ 2009-06-20 11:20:15

You know, I hate to tell you this, but I am 100% position that you got some bent parts or bent sub frame or both. I had a mustang and hit a curb on the front passenger side. Guess what, the lower control arm, inner tie-rod, and strut, etc were all bent, and even the sub frame was pushed to the rear a little bit.
The repair shops did the computerized alignment, replaced four new tires, pull the frame forward, replaced tie rod, lower control arm, but car still pulls to the right if I don't hold my steering wheel slightly to the left. It has nothing to do with your tires unless they have excessive uneven worn, so stop listening to others who don't know a jack what they're talking about.
So, it sounds like..... you just got yourself a bad truck.
Sorry to hear this.

Bonnie N @ 2009-06-20 11:27:24

maybe you have a low tire. sounds like someone don,t know how to align cars. it,s out of alignment alright

bandit_60 @ 2009-06-20 11:55:37

[Subject]
Why is my car slow to start?
[Question]
Just bought a used 03 Honda Civic (100K miles) - the carfax checked out great. But, today it took a few tries to start. Could this be serious or just a fluke? It runs fine and starts no problem now. Is there anything I can look for myself? I did have my radio left on - does that matter? Do I just need a tune up?

melanie @ 2009-06-20 11:34:31

[All Answers]
It could mean your car battery is running low, this could happen from lights being left on or your radio being left on, another reason why could be because the car has been sitting for so long without it being used

Matt @ 2009-06-20 11:41:56

It should start first time, every time. The most likely cause is a dripping fuel injector, causing the engine to flood. That normally results in a small cloud of black smoke when it does start.
Anyway, a bottle of fuel injector cleaner in the tank can't hurt, might help. A few years ago I made a habit of putting mainly top tier gasoline brands (see Source) in the tank, and it really makes a difference in the number of hard starts, hiccups and burps.

Michael @ 2009-06-20 11:41:57

it could be a number of things but does not sound too serious. i would have the oil changed and have a tune up to be safe it maybe the spark plugs are dirty or need to be regapped i cant truly say without looking into the car.. good luck

corey @ 2009-06-20 11:42:48

the radio did,nt do it. it goes off as soon as you turn the switch off. you mean it cranks awhile before starting? it could be a dirty fuel filter. start by changing that.

bandit_60 @ 2009-06-20 11:44:14

if you left your radio on it no big deal just drive around for a lil bit or let the car run so the alternator can recharge the battery (the battery is just low on juice hope it helps}

Ciko @ 2009-06-20 11:45:15

TUNE UP flush all fluid oil,water,tranny and swap out spark plug wires and plug or even better change the rotor under the dizzy cap and the cap itself clean the battery terminal if it doesnt give you a better boost too start then your starter is just probably just ageing

Sok @ 2009-06-20 11:45:16

it is definatly going to be either the battery is going bad(they are only good for about 5 years and i am guessing that since your car is an 03 honda you probally have the original battery in it still and if so it will need changed. also an 03 is to new and there are not enough miles on it to say a dripping injector so please don't put anything in your newer car that you don't know for sure how it will perform, but do make sure to fill it with good gas every time from places other than AMPM or Safeway or any discount places like that and do ask your dealership about fuel injector cleaners that will not harm your car

Nick @ 2009-06-20 11:50:59

[Subject]
What's the best way to switch back to premium gasoline?
[Question]
I drive a 1988 Toyota Supra Turbo, the recommended fuel for this is unleaded supreme..but the previous owner started using regular because of the prices..
What's the best way to switch back from unleaded regular to unleaded supreme/premium?
I've seen and heard of some stuff that may happen when doing that..pistons lock up, stuff like that..just making sure. It's my baby and there isn't that many around anymore..

net_phantom16 @ 2009-06-20 11:16:55

[All Answers]
tell the guy at the pump filler up with the best!!

ken k @ 2009-06-20 11:21:57

It's not like changing a dog's diet where you should do it gradually, just fill the tank with premium fuel and feel the boost how it's supposed to feel.

Peter L @ 2009-06-20 11:28:28

ok what you want to do is drive the car until you are almost out of gas. once your light has come on put in a bottle of injector cleaner and run it for about 10 miles once that is done fill it up with premium and you will have no problems and should feel more power behind the wheel. and you need to do this asap..good luck

corey @ 2009-06-20 11:38:20

putting regular gas in a turbo car will hurt performance and may lead to knocking

the cure is high test, so just fill er up with the best.

Dave87gn @ 2009-06-20 11:48:55

All you need to do is start filling it with premium fuel. Run it low, then fill with premium. That's it. No injector cleaners, no Seafoam, no additives at all are needed. The people that say it could damage something don't know what they are talking about.

john @ 2009-06-20 11:51:25

just switch back.

bandit_60 @ 2009-06-20 11:51:32

[Subject]
cleaning car..maintanence..Help please?
[Question]
I just got a car..2000 volkswagen golf. The thing is that it has been raining like crazy in nj and I want to protect my car from this. What is/are the best towels out there that I can use to dry my car down without risking scratching the car. I also need to get a good cleaning kit for it. Thanks..

ReGgAe TiCo MaN @ 2009-06-20 10:57:12

[All Answers]
chamois are best

Murzy @ 2009-06-20 11:01:10

look up in the sky its a bird no no its a plane no no its the sun//wait till it stops raining/get car washed on rt46 at little ferry traffic circle car wash

ken k @ 2009-06-20 11:02:29

microfiber

chamois
tens to drag on the paint

as for making the paint look new/keeping it in good condition
i could give you 6 paragraphs on what to do
but i dont want to waste my time if you wont do it anyways

so..how good do you
want your car to look?

KB @ 2009-06-20 11:21:27

sham wow they are the best towels for anything and you can reuse them over and over and you dont have to do anything besides just put it on there you dont even have to rub you can actually pat dry if you want and they ring right out trust me they work i use them for everything..good luck

corey @ 2009-06-20 11:51:40

Rain does not have minerals in it like tap water, so you don't need to dry the car after it rains. If the car is dirty and it rains, well, you need to wash it anyway.

Terrycloth(cotton) towels, chamois, and synthetic chamois all work well and won't scratch the paint if everything is clean.

john @ 2009-06-20 12:00:52

you need something like terry cloth. maybe a bath towel or a chamois cloth

bandit_60 @ 2009-06-20 12:03:05