Okay, quick question for people who know more about cars than I do.

[apocalypsos]

Which isn't hard to do, honestly.

Anyway, I stopped at the car before I made a run to the minimart to try to start it again. No luck this time, but when I tried to start it, the radio wouldn't even light up.

So, new battery, yis? Please tell me that probably just means a new battery. Just buying new parts is a hell of a lot better than, "You need to take it to a mechanic."

***

In other news, I'm currently downloading all of Battlestar Galactica up to the beginning of season three. Yeah, because what I need is another fandom. On the other hand, I can put it on the Zen and then go for walks while watching the episodes. See? I'll get exercise AND catch up on fannish pursuits. :)

Comments

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

The engine doesn't do anything. The last thing it did was when I tried to start it this afternoon. It went rur-rur-rur three times and then stopped.

Then, the lights on the dash and the radio turned on. This time when I tried, it was just the lights on the dash.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__tiana__/]

Hmmmm. Well, I'm no expert, but I've been coached by my Dad on many occasions when I am trying to diagnose a car problem. It sounds most likely that your battery is dead. Were you able to figure out if you left anything on that might have drained it? I once left an interior light on overnight and that did it. If you didn't, it might be totally dead/need replacing. Which isn't AWFUL, in the scheme of things. It also could be your alternator, which kind of controls how power gets to things in your car. Once it goes, the power is a no go and it will also drain your battery.

You could take the battery to a place like Advance AutoParts (which you might have in Pa? I live in Va.) I think they will test your battery for free to see if it's dead. If you are able to remove the battery yourself, etc. Have you tried jumping the car yet to see if the battery will charge back up?

[apocalypsos.livejournal.com]

I haven't tried jumping it yet, but that's mostly because my dad's the only one I know who can do it and he was working most of today. He should be able to tomorrow, hopefully.

And yeah, we've got an Advanced Auto Parts in the next town over, so that's helpful.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__tiana__/]

Hopefully, it just needs a jump. That would be ideal. I'd try that, then taking the battery to Advance. They check it for free, which I think I forgot to mention! Definitely don't worry about other issues unti you try those things I'd say. I am a veteran of cars that need a little TLC, so I feel your pain. :)

good luck!

[corruptedjasper.livejournal.com]

Incidentally, if you've got a car that needs regular TLC, especially if this kind (or you're just a dork who regularly leaves a radio or lights on in the parking lot, like my mom) -- buy a few jumpleads[1] and keep them in the car. Getting a jump from a random passing stranger is a lot easier when you've got the equipment for it. If possible also learn how to do it -- it's not rocket science.

[1] Spring for the slightly thicker ones rather than those really thin ones, especially if you've got an engine that's bigger than a 2 liter fourbanger and/or a diesel.

[http://users.livejournal.com/__tiana__/]

Oh, and BSG is SUCH a good show. A bit rough emotionally sometimes, but so engaging. Just don't go to it for laughs. :) Hope you like it!

[kurukami.livejournal.com]

Definitely sounds like the battery to me. If it was a bad alternator -- something that's happened to me -- the entire thing just seems pretty dead. It wouldn't even turn over.

Stick shift or automatic? If it's a stick, you could possibly get it running with a pop-start. I had to do that with the aforementioned defective-alternator-car for the better part of several months.

[corruptedjasper.livejournal.com]

Sounds like the battery is dead. Start by jumpstarting the car[1], and see what happens. If it goes dead again tomorrow, you need a new one (if the battery is more than say 5-7 years old it could be a good idea to do so anyway -- drained flat is bad for a car battery's capacity, and so is old age).

If the car won't keep running well after you jumpstart it, ie it dies when or soon after you remove the jumpleads, then your alternator or something in that circuit is bad and your engine simply doesn't generate any current to recharge the battery, so you're using the electrons up simply by running the engine. That isn't really a car-phobe DIY job. However, that's a fairly remote possibility, especially if you happen to know you left your lights on somewhere.


[1] Take two jumpleads and park the two cars with their engine bays close enough together. Keep the other car running. Then connect the black wire to the negative side of both batteries. Connect the red wire first to the positive terminal on the car to be jumped, then to the positive terminal on the good car. If possible, have someone in the drivers seat very gently touching the gas or there's a remote possibility the good car may stall. Keep them like this for a minute or two. Try to start the car to be jumped. Usually if all else is good and you just left your lights or radio or whatever on, you're now good. Then take the to be jumped car for a ride of at least half an hour, preferably at highway speeds. That should charge the dead battery enough again that it will hopefully turn over next time, at least if you don't wait too long.