I have been driving a 2003 Chevy Blazer. For the past few days I noticed it took a few seconds to crank up when I started it. Well this morning it won't start up at all....it just clicks over and over when I turn the key. The lights will come on, radio, etc.. so I'm not sure it is a problem with the battery. Another problem is that the car is parked in my garage, and I'm unable to even get it put into neutral in order to roll it into the driveway and attempt to jump it. Anybody know why I can't get the damn car out of park? Do you have to actually start it to change gears, or is there a way to bypass that? Any ideas on what the problem with the car could be?
Sounds like either: 1. Battery is low - enough to power interior lights and radio but not enough to crank the car over - turn on the headlights and see how dim they are to diagnose. 2. Starter is going out - sometimes the teeth or gear on the starter goes out and it will not engage the flywheel to start the car -- but that generally has more of a whining sound. I would guess it is number 1 based upon what you are describing, hook the battery up to a recharger and see if it will crank. DD
A recharger? Where do I get one of those? I work in IT man. I'm a complete noob when it comes to cars. Any ideas on how to get it in neutral so i can back it up.
Hmmm. Even if you have the key all the way in the on position, you cannot disengage the tranny? That's odd. Clean your terminals. It may help, but it sounds like just a dead battery. From my experience, a bad alternator could cause the dead battery cells. After you crank it up, remove one terminal. If the car dies, change the alternator. If not, it's just a bad battery.
... which then does have a lot to do with starting the car. I dont know... when I read this, "Well this morning it won't start up at all....it just clicks over and over when I turn the key. The lights will come on, radio, etc.. " I thought of the alternator because I had similar problems last year. But I knew it wasnt the battery because I had just bought it, so I don't know.
BTW, it doesn't take a lot of juice to bring on the radio/lights/electronics, but there is a HUGE draw of amps to turn the starter. A battery doesn't have to be completely dead to not turn an engine over.
GO to AUTO ZONE and buy a new battery. You need only a spark to start your car, so attach the new battery ONCE and remove it as soon as you start your car, and then return it to Auto Zone if this is NOT the problem. Either way, take the car to them or your favorite battery place once it's on. EVERY car has a way to put it in neutral and push it down (no effort if it's a good steep incline) to a place where you can get a jump start. Have you NOT read your manual? There's a way to bypass it, man. Nature finds a way. In the past few days, there was enough juice to start it, but now there's enough "juice" to only turn the lights on, but not enough to crank the starter. It could also be the solenoid (spelling?). DaDa Da, aren't you going to say: "Say Uncle and buy a new BLAZER"?
Tried it, I can't move it from park. Tried turning the key backwards, forwards, break down, etc. Nothing will get it to move.
1) Turn the key as far right as it will go without cranking. Make sure you can turn the stearing wheel back and forth. 2) Put your foot on the brake. 3) Put the car in neutral. 4) Push the car out and jump start it 5) Take it to Auto Zone or Advanced Auto or... Tell them you want to check out the battery (though if it's over 6 years old I'd skip this part and just buy a new battery). They should be able to tell you if it's your battery (75%) or alternator (20%) or starter (5%). I doubt it's the starter though unless your car is real old or has a ton of miles on it. Starters usually outlast most cars. It could be just that you need to clean the terminals (they don't have to look that dirty to need cleaning) so you could start there first but if you don't want to mess with it just do 1-5 and get the new part they tell you.
take a hammer to the starter. for serious. a couple of taps and see if you can start it. if so, it could be the solenoid.
Yeah! I had an '88 Camry in High School I would have to do this to!!! Oh man... that was embarassing because I never got it fixed and every time I would have to turn the car on I would have to do that.
