Who here knows anything about cars?
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Sometimes when it will not start and makes no sound at all it could be a completely dead battery. Mine has done that. Started all day long and then nothing. It was the battery.
All the dash lights and the radio comes on when I try to start it. Would they still come on if the battery was totally dead?
I have had dash and head lights come on but the battery was still dead. I thought I had battery power with the lights on but I did not have enough battery life to jump it. I think I had 2 cells completely gone.
Oh wow, well I guess that's somewhere to start then. I wish I had a manual for it to see what the dinging is coming from.
If you're getting dash and interior lights, but no click or sound of the engine turning over, I would check the following, in this order:
1. Battery. As stated above, it's possible if the battery is all but stone dead or has some cells that are bad, it may have just enough juice left to turn the lights on, but not to turn the engine over. Plus, if it's the original battery in a 2006 vehicle, it's more than served its expected tour of duty. Average life on a battery is 4 years.
2. Starter *and* the connection to the starter. If you have a friend who is halfway mechanically inclined or just adventurous, have them crawl under the car and lightly tap the body of the starter with a **small** hammer. If there is a bad spot on the armature, this will help advance it to a potentially good spot and allow the car to turn over. If they agree to this, have them check to make sure the connections to the starter are secure and not corroded.
3. Factory security system. Unfortunately, you're dealership bound on this one.
1. Battery. As stated above, it's possible if the battery is all but stone dead or has some cells that are bad, it may have just enough juice left to turn the lights on, but not to turn the engine over. Plus, if it's the original battery in a 2006 vehicle, it's more than served its expected tour of duty. Average life on a battery is 4 years.
2. Starter *and* the connection to the starter. If you have a friend who is halfway mechanically inclined or just adventurous, have them crawl under the car and lightly tap the body of the starter with a **small** hammer. If there is a bad spot on the armature, this will help advance it to a potentially good spot and allow the car to turn over. If they agree to this, have them check to make sure the connections to the starter are secure and not corroded.
3. Factory security system. Unfortunately, you're dealership bound on this one.
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I'm trying to figure out a way to have the battery tested. I'm here by myself right now so I'm not really sure how to go about that.
I checked a Saturn Ion website and apparently a lot of people have had trouble with the security system incorrectly thinking the car is being stolen and not starting.
I still can not find anything that explains what that dinging noise is. It's not like the regular indicator noises.
I'm trying to figure out a way to have the battery tested. I'm here by myself right now so I'm not really sure how to go about that.
I checked a Saturn Ion website and apparently a lot of people have had trouble with the security system incorrectly thinking the car is being stolen and not starting.
I still can not find anything that explains what that dinging noise is. It's not like the regular indicator noises.
Getting it tested when you are by yourself is sorta hard. You have to have a battery tester or take it to Auto Zone or take it out and take it to a repair shop. None of those ideas you can do being along. Can you get someone to try to give it a jump to get to a shop? Trouble with that is if it is dead it will either not jump or will start but die everytime you stop at a light. A dead battery is one of the things that it is almost impossible to deal with alone.
zlinedavid is absolutely right that battery life is around 4 years, and it does not matter really how many months the battery is warranted for. The newer batteries go dead without the nicety of forewarning (in the old days, rev up the engine while the car is in park and if the headlights got brighter, your battery was likely on the way out).
One thing you might check is to look at the battery terminals on your battery. If there is excess corrosion, carefully remove the battery cables and pour Coca Cola over them. The soda will soften the goop so you can wipe it off with a rag. The second thing to check is that your cables are snug. If you can turn them with your hand they are too loose and need to be tightened. I am a scardy cat with that and make sure I tighten using an insulated tool because I'm not fond of the image of accidentally hitting both poles and being a conduit. Also be careful you use a tool that fits properly because the nuts are a soft metal and you don't want the tool slipping and rounding them.
Does your auto insurance have road service with it? If so, you can have them come give you a jump start and possibly even follow you back to their shop for a replacement battery and/or battery test.
One thing you might check is to look at the battery terminals on your battery. If there is excess corrosion, carefully remove the battery cables and pour Coca Cola over them. The soda will soften the goop so you can wipe it off with a rag. The second thing to check is that your cables are snug. If you can turn them with your hand they are too loose and need to be tightened. I am a scardy cat with that and make sure I tighten using an insulated tool because I'm not fond of the image of accidentally hitting both poles and being a conduit. Also be careful you use a tool that fits properly because the nuts are a soft metal and you don't want the tool slipping and rounding them.
Does your auto insurance have road service with it? If so, you can have them come give you a jump start and possibly even follow you back to their shop for a replacement battery and/or battery test.
When mine died, it was time for a new battery, which triple A put in on the spot.
Live consciously....
Saturn had a recall on neutral safety switches. Set the parking brake, turn the key on, move the shifter to neutral and then turn the switch to the start position. It is more than likely the battery but, this gives you something to try...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
Thanks for all the help.
I was hoping it was just the battery, that seemed like the easiest option. It is seeming like it is a faulty security system. I was able to talk to someone at GM who said the dinging noise I hear when trying to start it is the alarm going off. Ugh, the battery would have been much cheaper.
I was hoping it was just the battery, that seemed like the easiest option. It is seeming like it is a faulty security system. I was able to talk to someone at GM who said the dinging noise I hear when trying to start it is the alarm going off. Ugh, the battery would have been much cheaper.
Sorry for your trouble I had my fingers crossed it was the battery. I assumed you were in your drive of at the house when it would not start.
Good luck with the cost, Hope it will not cause you a arm and leg.
Good luck with the cost, Hope it will not cause you a arm and leg.
Thanks,
apparantly if it needs a new computer system, that is $600. I'm still hoping there's an easier explanation.
apparantly if it needs a new computer system, that is $600. I'm still hoping there's an easier explanation.
lisams901 Wrote:
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> Thanks,
> apparantly if it needs a new computer system, that
> is $600. I'm still hoping there's an easier
> explanation.
If it's replacement of the PCM/BCM, that's about average.
-------------------------------------------------------
> Thanks,
> apparantly if it needs a new computer system, that
> is $600. I'm still hoping there's an easier
> explanation.
If it's replacement of the PCM/BCM, that's about average.
This car has so many weird parts. That sounds weird, but it really does. It is one of a few models that for a few years the placed rubber or plastic control arm bushings on. As expected, the rubber/plastic pieces really do not hold up well and need to be replaced every year or so.
As for the current problem, I'm still trying to find the battery. Seriously, I haven't been able to find the battery yet. It is somehow vented to the exterior of the car through the trunk. I'm beginning to discover why Saturn is no longer cranking out vehicles.
As for the current problem, I'm still trying to find the battery. Seriously, I haven't been able to find the battery yet. It is somehow vented to the exterior of the car through the trunk. I'm beginning to discover why Saturn is no longer cranking out vehicles.
Try the trunk under the mat next to the spare...
Shopping Bama and parts of Georgia.
I'm still learning 24/7.
I'm still learning 24/7.
Haha I haven't come to the spare yet. I pulled up all the upholstery, but there's just molded plastic.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2011 04:58AM by lisams901.
Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 10/11/2011 04:58AM by lisams901.
I cannot the battery is so hidden you can't find it. Another way to get you to the dealership. We had a car once that the spark plugs had to changed from under the car. There was a shade tree machinic on every corner and the car companies thought they would stop folks working on their own cars.
Wish you good luck.
Wish you good luck.
I think that's what it is with this car too. You have to bring it in to have everything done. Even the dipstick for the transmission fluid is hidden.
I know it is not funny but I have to ask. Is there anything that has to with maintance of the car that is not hidden? I needed a good laugh, after part of today, and the hidden dipstick gave it to me.
Pretty much, no. When you pop the hood there is really nothing visible there.
lisams901 Wrote:
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> This car has so many weird parts. That sounds
> weird, but it really does. It is one of a few
> models that for a few years the placed rubber or
> plastic control arm bushings on. As expected, the
> rubber/plastic pieces really do not hold up well
> and need to be replaced every year or so.
>
Rubber, plastic and polyurethane control arm bushings have been used for decades.
-------------------------------------------------------
> This car has so many weird parts. That sounds
> weird, but it really does. It is one of a few
> models that for a few years the placed rubber or
> plastic control arm bushings on. As expected, the
> rubber/plastic pieces really do not hold up well
> and need to be replaced every year or so.
>
Rubber, plastic and polyurethane control arm bushings have been used for decades.
lisams901 Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pretty much, no. When you pop the hood there is
> really nothing visible there.
Have you junked it yet? I would hate to think about even thinking about do I need to think about a different car.
I was really just checking on you.:-)
-------------------------------------------------------
> Pretty much, no. When you pop the hood there is
> really nothing visible there.
Have you junked it yet? I would hate to think about even thinking about do I need to think about a different car.
I was really just checking on you.:-)
zlinedavid Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> lisams901 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This car has so many weird parts. That sounds
> > weird, but it really does. It is one of a few
> > models that for a few years the placed rubber
> or
> > plastic control arm bushings on. As expected,
> the
> > rubber/plastic pieces really do not hold up
> well
> > and need to be replaced every year or so.
> >
>
> Rubber, plastic and polyurethane control arm
> bushings have been used for decades.
I'm not that most familiar with these things, so I'm sure they have been used for awhile. There is something with these certain bushings though, which GM said were only used in Ions, G5s, and Cobalts which wear out instantly and needed to be replaced around once a year.
-------------------------------------------------------
> lisams901 Wrote:
> --------------------------------------------------
> -----
> > This car has so many weird parts. That sounds
> > weird, but it really does. It is one of a few
> > models that for a few years the placed rubber
> or
> > plastic control arm bushings on. As expected,
> the
> > rubber/plastic pieces really do not hold up
> well
> > and need to be replaced every year or so.
> >
>
> Rubber, plastic and polyurethane control arm
> bushings have been used for decades.
I'm not that most familiar with these things, so I'm sure they have been used for awhile. There is something with these certain bushings though, which GM said were only used in Ions, G5s, and Cobalts which wear out instantly and needed to be replaced around once a year.
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