ugh.. car not starting but radio and lights work fine

[03gxeco]

so my alero decided it was cool to just not start. radio/lights come on, but no noise from the starter and no turn over. this couldn't have happened at a worse time. right now my checking account is negitive due to a car insurance payment and i have no money for a new battery. right now the battery is in my house warming up, im hoping that maybe it has gotten to cold and just needs some heat. i do not have a battery charger and idk where my jumper cables went.

it is also about 5 degrees outside.

[Shiwnath]

Check the battery terminals for corrosion... The battery might just no be making proper contact with the power wires. Also if you do find corrosion, I hear you can use baking soda and a hard tooth brush to remove it.

[Nas Escobar]

Hmmm, if the battery thing doesn't work, then it's going to be your starter. This of course if you hear no cranking or anything at all.

[JLw7123]

How many miles on the alero. I had the same problem with my car and it was the battery. Now did you open the Hood to see if you can hear the starter clicking. How old is the battery. If you have a digital multi meter you can check the battery. But worst case senerro it is the starter.

[zzyzzx]

http://www.aleromod.com/forums/showthread.php?t=35034

[Greencoupe2.2]

I had a similiar issue last year turned out to be a faulty ignition switch, but charge the battery first, most likely not a passlock issue because the car would still crank, try to rule out the starter as well before u go ripping the dash apart

[03glgold]

if it is a servicable battery remove the covers and make sure that the battery is full of fluid. If it needs filled then add distilled water and find a way to jump it to charge the new fluid. You use distilled water because it is 100% neutral and easily turns to an acidic state when added to the acid.

For cleaning corrosion yes a solution of baking soda and water works and I have used it many times

[03gxeco]

if it is a servicable battery remove the covers and make sure that the battery is full of fluid. If it needs filled then add distilled water and find a way to jump it to charge the new fluid. You use distilled water because it is 100% neutral and easily turns to an acidic state when added to the acid.

For cleaning corrosion yes a solution of baking soda and water works and I have used it many times

I will try this. I pulled the battery to warm it up in the house. i figured it was hella cold and junk. right now its dark as a black man out so i can't do anything until tomorrow.

[tw0123]

my van has done this a few times in the last couple of weeks... I wait about 5 minutes and try it again and it fired up like there was never a problem... have yet to figure out what the cause is, simply because it still starts a couple minutes later!

[rustyballs_69]

Sounds like the starter to me. Try tapping on the starter with a hammer, if it starts after that then its the starter.

[xXManwhoreXx]

my van has done this a few times in the last couple of weeks... I wait about 5 minutes and try it again and it fired up like there was never a problem... have yet to figure out what the cause is, simply because it still starts a couple minutes later!

Happening to me as well....

[Nas Escobar]

Sounds like the starter to me. Try tapping on the starter with a hammer, if it starts after that then its the starter.

That doesn't always work. I tried that on an Infiniti, and nothing happened. It had me puzzled for a day until I noticed something was off about that starter.

[03gxeco]

i tapped the starter, and tried starting her after a few days of the battery warming up in the house. it was full of liquid so i had no reason to add water. car still wont start. it probably don't mean anything but when i turn the key the service engine light is on. the car shouldnt be doing this, it only has 100K on it now and was purchased only 6-7 months ago from a dealership

[03gxeco]

bought a new battery and attempted to start the hoe, and once again nothing. no noise at all when i turn that key other then the fuel pump. could my passlock be fukcing me over?

[Nas Escobar]

Dude, it's the starter. I'm about 90% sure it's the starter. That sounds exactly like the Infiniti I was driving for a bit. The starter was gone. Wouldn't make any noise or anything of the sort.

The only way passlock messes you up is if it says "SECURITY" on the dash. The SES light is irrelevant when you have it on the "ON" position. All cars trigger that light for some reason. Not sure why.

[RalphP]

The only way passlock messes you up is if it says "SECURITY" on the dash. The SES light is irrelevant when you have it on the "ON" position. All cars trigger that light for some reason. Not sure why.

Because the motor's not running, and the monitors are all failing.

Which kind of makes sense :p

[03gxeco]

it was passlock! i left the key in the on position for 15 minuites, removed the key then turned the car back on and bam started right up.

[Nas Escobar]

WOW. Well I'll be... I always though "Security" would light up when that happens.

[03gxeco]

i found a website of a passlock bypass. the guys said if you "lucky" the security light will not come on but that hardly ever happens.

[Nas Escobar]

So you were the needle in the haystack then... haha

[03gxeco]

I guess. LOL either way im replacing my passlock/ ignition lock cyl asse. ASAP. Id prefer having a key that doesnt fall out while im driving anyway!

[Nas Escobar]

Man, I haven't had that issue happen to me since I had Toyotas lol. They're infamous for that.

[03gxeco]

LOL i know.. my 87 supra did it

[zzyzzx]

I have the Security light on mine, but (so far) my car works just fine!

Should I take this as a warning to disable Passlock my earliest convenience?

[zzyzzx]

I have the Security light on mine, but (so far) my car works just fine!

Should I take this as a warning to disable Passlock my earliest convenience?

I can answer this already! I need to disable Passlock ASAP! Now I have to wait 10 minutes when starting the car. If i were dictator I would execute whomever thought this Passlock was a good idea.