Help!

[SteppinRazer]

I know this is off-topic and I know I have not posted here long but I am desperate, I have been pasting this on the MB I go to . Thanks !


Does anyone know about cars???

Okay, so one day last week, I go to start my car and I get nothing (it is VERY cold here right now) It doesnt even try to turn over. Also I cant push the button down on the shifter (auto) to put it in gear or neutral. So I think it is something freezing in the ignition steering column area (?) After waiting a few minutes and trying over and over again it worked. . .

Now I am having the same thing again but can\'t get it to work AT ALL. I look under the hood and the people at Jiffy Lube lied and didnt fill my Anti-freeze. . . dry as a bone . . . could this be doing it?
But doesnt the anti-freeze only go in the radiator?

I am trying to at least avoid paying to have it towed to the dealer by getting it started one more time so I can drive it to the dealer.

Any ideas?

 

[vincegamer]

Can you push the car into a warm place like a garage? Otherwise can you borrow an engine blanket from someone (it\'s an electric blanket specifically designed for draping over an engine to keep it from freezing.
*Fill that radiator.
I\'m not sure what could have frozen, but it won\'t help keeping it empty.
There\'s lots of things you can check. I once got ice in my distributor cap so the spark plugs weren\'t doing anything.
I also used to have a faulty solanoid. If you had an old beetle I\'d tell you how to check that, but for your car I don\'t know where to look. Try searching the web for clubs that deal with that car or for a site with one of those self-help repair guides for your car that you can buy in NAPA stores.
Finally, is your battery working? Do your lights come on when you turn the key?
If not, check the fluid inside the battery. It\'s possible it\'s so cold that the air is dry enough to evaporate the water in your battery.

 

[Badaab]

It would be nice to know what type of car you actually have ( make, model, and year). Sometimes specific cars have interesting quirks that lead to larger problems...

For instance:

I used to own a 1991 Nissan Sentra SE-R. This is the sports model of the car, with a 2.0 liter DOHC motor, that puts out about 140bhp. One thing I didn\'t realize about the car when I purchased it was the engine oil pickup problem. Apparently this isn\'t a big deal in the later years of the car, but for the 1991 model (this being the first of four years the produced the SE-R in the b13 bodystyle with the SR20DE motor), the oil pickup didn\'t work so well. There was a little recall, but apparently the previous owner of the car didn\'t take his in. So now I have it... and two years later... the engine isn\'t getting enough oil, but the dipstick reads full. I\'m perplexed, and take it to my mechanic.

$3100 later, I have a new motor from a 1998 Infiniti G20 (both cars have the same motor), becaus of a warped crankshaft and spun engine bearing.

So, my advice to you would be to

A.) Run a vehicle history online (if you are no the original owner of the car).

B.) If its a newer model car, don\'t fiddle with it unless your REALLY know what you\'re doing. I know plenty about Japanese cars, but there are still some things I won\'t do (like replace moving parts).

C.) Stick with your preventative maintainance after you have the problem fixed. This will save you a lot in the long run. Change that oil every 3000 miles, keep the radiator full, have the transmission and brake fluids changed regularly, and get those tune-ups at the manufacturer\'s suggested times.

If it continues to be a problem, look to get something inexpensive and economical, like a Honda Civic. I had one, and after I did all the upkeep on it (from the previous owner), it ran very well, even through my high school years when I did all sorts of things to the car (the guy I sold it to still has it, and drives it like crazy, the odometer reads over 210K!).

And more on that...

I know that a car can be a statement about yourself, and what your priorities are. I love my car, and lavish attention on it. Not everyone is me, and I understand that. But it wouldn\'t hurt to learn the little maintainance jobs that can save you a bundle in the long run.

Joe

Oh, and never, never (NEVER) take your car to Jiffy Lube, Grease Monkey, etc... those people, well, most of them, aren\'t ASE certified, and don\'t know their asshole from their elbow. If you don\'t know where else to take it, go to the dealer. They might cost a little more, but will cover you if they mess up (most of the time).

 

[kannan_fodder]

Automatics have this nifty feature called a \"neutral safety switch\". Meaning your car has to be in Neutral or Park before things work right! (On newer cars, you can\'t get your keys out of the ignition if you leave it in gear!) I live in San Diego, and we pretty much have one long season here, so my experience with colder weather is nil. However, I\'ll add my 2 cents in case anything helps.

\"But doesn\'t the anti-freeze only go in the radiator?\" That\'s correct. It\'s supposed to keep your radiator water from freezing, and if someone is putting it anywhere else, you are in big trouble! On the off hand, does it look like your car is leaking from the radiator? Anti-freeze is typically toxic green, so a frozen puddle or residue on the radiator should be a little obvious.

I have an older muscle car, and I know that if you get water in the distributor cap, it will stop your car cold! And if your starter is going bad, you won\'t get the engine to turn over right away. Same with a faulty starter solenoid.

If you are experiencing chronic battery trouble, check the fluid level. If that is ok, or it\'s a maintenance free battery, you may have a bad alternator. An alternator is supposed to recharge your battery while you are driving around. A good indication of a bad or dying alternator is that your headlights will fluctuate in intensity and there will be a marked difference in your dashboard lights.

Also another consideration is fuel. If you are parked at an odd angle, your gas tank may be at an angle where the fuel pump is unable to get the gas to the engine. However, in this case, your engine will be trying to start.

I\'d look around for a reputable mechanic, Jiffy Lube isn\'t my idea of quality care! And a dealership will gouge you, unless your car is under warranty! (Speaking from experience with my last vehicle - Dealership wanted to replace the brake pads to the tune of $310 additional to the \"scheduled maintenance\" when they still had over 30% wear left on them!)

And if you are wondering what ASE means - Automotive Service Excellence. You have to take classes and be tested to be ASE certified.

 

[SteppinRazer]

Thanks all,

Just for the curious, it is a 1995 Jeep Cherokee.

And it needed . . . get ready. .
a starter . . . a water pump . . . and a thermostat. .

well that $800 molestation puts a dent in my mini budget . . . . You Bastards!