Car Problems

TehSpectre · September 2007

So, apparently my car doesn't want to start.

It has been needing an extra second or two to turn over and have the engine start over the past few months, but I hadn't thought much of it, until now. 2 days ago, I tried to start my can and it chugged once or twice, made a horrible grinding noise, then didn't start. Did this twice more and then it started.This of course, started happening over the weekend, so I couldn't get it into a mechanic.

It's gotten progressively worse...and now I am at work...and it wont start.

It chuggs then fails. Chuggs then fails. Chuggs then fails. Then, it doesn't do anything when I turn the key.

What is wrong with my car?

wasted pixels · September 2007

Tried jumping it?

TehSpectre · September 2007

See, I've had battery problems before.

Sans the horrible grinding noise.

Which leads me to believe that this isn't a battery problem.

wasted pixels · September 2007

Has the battery completely drained like this before?

TehSpectre · September 2007

Generally, I get some chugs out of a batter or nothing at all.

I don't get chugs followed by the grinding.

But yes, I have had a battery die before.

Drakmathus · September 2007

sounds like you need a new starter. It's a small motor that has enough torque to start the engine turning until the engine can handle turning on its own. It has a little gear on a shaft that moves forward to engage the flywheel then it starts turning.

Looking at about 200 bucks total for remove and replace. What kind of car is it?

TehSpectre · September 2007

What...they just break like that?

I know people who's cars take a few tries to get started....and they've been like that for years.

My car's just ups and breaks?

The hell?

Drakmathus · September 2007

the few tries deal can be anything from fuel delivery issues (carburated engine, weak/leaking fuel pump) to a weak battery. Horrible grinding noises and an okay battery (light still turn on and such right?) indicate a failed starter.

TehSpectre · September 2007

Lame.

EclecticGroove · September 2007

It happens. I've had several starters go (on the same damn car) and it does suck, because unlike a failed battery there is no good way to get the car going again easily (at least with an automatic).

Just take it to a reputable place, I had some issues with a poorly rebuilt starter at one shop I went to that died on me again like 2 months later, and they wouldn't compensate me for it (hence why I stopped going to that place).

HadjiQuest · September 2007

How much does it cost to buy and have a battery installed at a dealership?

I'm using the family honda, and we've had it for 6 or 7 years without swapping the battery. My father says it should really be switched out, but the audio system in the car requires the entry of a security code after a battery replacement, and only a dealership can decrypt the code from where ever it's hidden. Unfortunately, my dad's pretty cheap, and refuses to take it in, so I'm thinking I may have to do it myself with my own cash.

I'm not sure if the car is in warranty anymore. It's out of the initial warranty, but it's covered under an extended warranty provided under a recall that I'm not sure it's qualified for.

EclecticGroove · September 2007

HadjiQuest wrote: »

How much does it cost to buy and have a battery installed at a dealership?

I'm using the family honda, and we've had it for 6 or 7 years without swapping the battery. My father says it should really be switched out, but the audio system in the car requires the entry of a security code after a battery replacement, and only a dealership can decrypt the code from where ever it's hidden. Unfortunately, my dad's pretty cheap, and refuses to take it in, so I'm thinking I may have to do it myself with my own cash.

I'm not sure if the car is in warranty anymore. It's out of the initial warranty, but it's covered under an extended warranty provided under a recall that I'm not sure it's qualified for.

WTH?

I've never heard of such a thing. You can swap out a battery on your own in like... 5 minutes tops. I can't imagine it would be more than a few dollars for a dealership to do it (on top of the battery cost itself that is), but if it requires some code deal, who knows what price they charge for that.

DrZiplock · September 2007

http://forums.penny-arcade.com/showthread.php?t=35636

Check it out.

If it's your starter, yea..it's going to need to be replaced. If you drive a stick, there is a glimmer of hope. If it's dead an it's an automatic? Yeeeeaaa....less of a glimmer.

a penguin · September 2007

EclecticGroove wrote: »

HadjiQuest wrote: »

How much does it cost to buy and have a battery installed at a dealership?

I'm using the family honda, and we've had it for 6 or 7 years without swapping the battery. My father says it should really be switched out, but the audio system in the car requires the entry of a security code after a battery replacement, and only a dealership can decrypt the code from where ever it's hidden. Unfortunately, my dad's pretty cheap, and refuses to take it in, so I'm thinking I may have to do it myself with my own cash.

I'm not sure if the car is in warranty anymore. It's out of the initial warranty, but it's covered under an extended warranty provided under a recall that I'm not sure it's qualified for.

WTH?

I've never heard of such a thing. You can swap out a battery on your own in like... 5 minutes tops. I can't imagine it would be more than a few dollars for a dealership to do it (on top of the battery cost itself that is), but if it requires some code deal, who knows what price they charge for that.

I'm pretty sure they're supposed to give you those codes when you buy the car. I know my VW's have them in the Owner's Manual.

Drakmathus · September 2007

a penguin wrote: »

EclecticGroove wrote: »

HadjiQuest wrote: »

How much does it cost to buy and have a battery installed at a dealership?

I'm using the family honda, and we've had it for 6 or 7 years without swapping the battery. My father says it should really be switched out, but the audio system in the car requires the entry of a security code after a battery replacement, and only a dealership can decrypt the code from where ever it's hidden. Unfortunately, my dad's pretty cheap, and refuses to take it in, so I'm thinking I may have to do it myself with my own cash.

I'm not sure if the car is in warranty anymore. It's out of the initial warranty, but it's covered under an extended warranty provided under a recall that I'm not sure it's qualified for.

WTH?

I've never heard of such a thing. You can swap out a battery on your own in like... 5 minutes tops. I can't imagine it would be more than a few dollars for a dealership to do it (on top of the battery cost itself that is), but if it requires some code deal, who knows what price they charge for that.

I'm pretty sure they're supposed to give you those codes when you buy the car. I know my VW's have them in the Owner's Manual.

yep

if you don't have the owner's manual or it isn't written down you can get around the radio going dead if you're sneaky/dangerous. I think you should take it to the dealership and get the code so that you have it for future reference.

HadjiQuest · September 2007

Drakmathus wrote: »

a penguin wrote: »

EclecticGroove wrote: »

HadjiQuest wrote: »

How much does it cost to buy and have a battery installed at a dealership?

I'm using the family honda, and we've had it for 6 or 7 years without swapping the battery. My father says it should really be switched out, but the audio system in the car requires the entry of a security code after a battery replacement, and only a dealership can decrypt the code from where ever it's hidden. Unfortunately, my dad's pretty cheap, and refuses to take it in, so I'm thinking I may have to do it myself with my own cash.

I'm not sure if the car is in warranty anymore. It's out of the initial warranty, but it's covered under an extended warranty provided under a recall that I'm not sure it's qualified for.

WTH?

I've never heard of such a thing. You can swap out a battery on your own in like... 5 minutes tops. I can't imagine it would be more than a few dollars for a dealership to do it (on top of the battery cost itself that is), but if it requires some code deal, who knows what price they charge for that.

I'm pretty sure they're supposed to give you those codes when you buy the car. I know my VW's have them in the Owner's Manual.

yep

if you don't have the owner's manual or it isn't written down you can get around the radio going dead if you're sneaky/dangerous. I think you should take it to the dealership and get the code so that you have it for future reference.

Any idea how much it would cost just for the code? Once again, I want to take it in, it's my father who doesn't.

RNEMESiS42 · September 2007

I've replaced car batteries millions of times...it will cost you about $115 bucks, and the hardest part is lifting the 50 pound battery into wherever it goes. Go to Sears and go to their automotive section. Find the car batteries, look up your car make and model, and you'll find what batteries will fit your car.
I don't have that new of a car, and put in my audio, so I don't know about the code thing, but like others have said: shouldn't the dealership have given it to you when you bought the car?

Pheezer · September 2007

HadjiQuest wrote: »

Drakmathus wrote: »

a penguin wrote: »

EclecticGroove wrote: »

HadjiQuest wrote: »

How much does it cost to buy and have a battery installed at a dealership?

I'm using the family honda, and we've had it for 6 or 7 years without swapping the battery. My father says it should really be switched out, but the audio system in the car requires the entry of a security code after a battery replacement, and only a dealership can decrypt the code from where ever it's hidden. Unfortunately, my dad's pretty cheap, and refuses to take it in, so I'm thinking I may have to do it myself with my own cash.

I'm not sure if the car is in warranty anymore. It's out of the initial warranty, but it's covered under an extended warranty provided under a recall that I'm not sure it's qualified for.

WTH?

I've never heard of such a thing. You can swap out a battery on your own in like... 5 minutes tops. I can't imagine it would be more than a few dollars for a dealership to do it (on top of the battery cost itself that is), but if it requires some code deal, who knows what price they charge for that.

I'm pretty sure they're supposed to give you those codes when you buy the car. I know my VW's have them in the Owner's Manual.

yep

if you don't have the owner's manual or it isn't written down you can get around the radio going dead if you're sneaky/dangerous. I think you should take it to the dealership and get the code so that you have it for future reference.

Any idea how much it would cost just for the code? Once again, I want to take it in, it's my father who doesn't.

Call the dealership. Odds are they'll just look it up in their records and give it to you if you ask. Maybe you'll need to present ID, who knows. If they have to look it up inside the car, it won't likely take more than an hour and you shouldn't be paying more than $30 an hour or so.

At least I'm pretty sure that's about what I paid last time I had to have work done. I don't know, just call the damned dealership and they'll tell you. Why are you derailing this thread anyways? Stop doing that.

Seriously.

Re: the starter thing

A re-built starter was about $60 the last time I had to get one, and they're apparently not particularly hard to replace on older cars. I wouldn't have any idea about a more recent car though.

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