Car won't start, no power at all...need immediate help for my daily driver

[GinNBoost]

I really need someone's help on this. My car will not start at all. The only thing that works are the interior lights on the sides of the doors and the reading lamp lights. It can't be jumped, the alternator fuse is still intact, the alternator itself is not due for any change, the battery is only a year old. I have no idea what the hell it can be.

This all started immediately following an exhaust job. I noticed that my second 02 sensor was completely wripped off with only the threads remaining, could this affect something? I need some quick help fast, this is my daily driver and it's finals week. These cars really pick the worst time to take a crap on you.

 

[2.4 turbo Hyped]

Go back to the basics, fuel, spark, compression, and timing. If you have all 4 then your motor should theoretically start. Take some time and check it out.

 

[krummel45]

This happened to me check the battery for charge if its to low you can not even jump it but it sounds like a battery problem.

 

[Jetblack]

If its manual tranny try push starting it

 

[GinNBoost]

Yeah the battery won't charge at all. I hear this strange whining coming from my alarm system. My friend thinks I may have shorted out my alternator because the ground wire on my exhaust was ripped off while driving. But the car can't even be jumped, and it doesn't even seem like the battery on the other car was being drained...almost like there was no connection between the jumper cables.

 

[GinNBoost]

Go back to the basics, fuel, spark, compression, and timing. If you have all 4 then your motor should theoretically start. Take some time and check it out.

I know I have fuel because the car has half a tank of gas. Spark is still a mystery. Compression has to be fine because the car ran with no problems following the exhaust job. Timing I'm sure is not an issue.

 

[blue92laser]

well, just because you have a half a tank of gas doesn't mean you have fuel going to the motor. Alternator checks are free, why not go get one done. Nothing can be harmed by that, especially since the car is not going anywhere. Check the battery as well, thats a free test too. Are you sure your getting spark? Just pull off the boots one by one and see if they are arcing, that will atleast show that there is a spark, weather or not it is enough that will be the mystery. There is a way to tell, the spark should be strong, blue? color i think. If it looks weak and orange than go back to the coil pack and have that checked out. If it happened after an exhaust job, did the car start up after the exhaust was on? or did it not start after the job? If you got a downpipe put on, it is very very easy to hit that alternator with a wrench, well atleast on a 1g it is, and short that out. Shops will not say weather they did it or not. Confront(sp?) them about it.

Also about the fuel, take the spark plugs out of the wells and have someone crank while you smell for a rich gas smell, it might even shoot out a bit, then you know you have fuel.

I would say check the crank sensor right? Do the 2g's have them?

 

[GinNBoost]

Ok I will check for all these signs. Thanks alot....well me and my friend did the exhaust job. It was just installing a new catback for my car, as my old one was pretty beat up. However, my second 02 sensor was knocked out, so for the meanwhile we just unscrewed the old and put it onto the new one (whatever was left of the 02 sensor that is). The car started up fine and ran strong with no signs of problem UNTIL I went to stop for gas. I was low and I got some gas, and then the problems started happening. Immediately after i pulled out of the station several dashboard lights came on like "check battery." At first I thought the guy may have given me something other than premium, but I doubt it wouldn't cause the car to start. Thanks for your help though man, I dont know if what I just told you will eliminate some factors.

 

[realhp=turbo]

When my car died like that it wouldnt take a jump, I couldnt roll start it, and it threw no CEL. It was my starter had gone out with out any type of preliminary warning what so ever. The only way to test that theory (for me) was to take the starter off and have it tested. Get a new O2 sensor and replace it. That could have everything or nothing to do with your problem. It certainly dosnt help.
mike

 

[GinNBoost]

And the thing is, the car won't even turn over. It won't crank or anything. Just dead silence and the beeping when the key is in the ignition.

 

[BuckNasty]

this is not my account, im on a friends account at school

i do not own a dsm or know much about them

buutttt

i rememeber a few years back when i was a tike my dad got a new exhoust done on his pick up, i dont know how far back they started from, but all i know is the following morning the truck wouldnt start. turns out they ran it by the started, and on the way home the heat from the exhaust overheated the starter and fried it.

just an idea...

 

[realhp=turbo]

^^^ That would be a good solution if the exaust was anywhere near the starter BUT its on the opposite side of the motor hidden away from the exaust. If all it does is click, then Im more apt to say that it is your starter. Pull it and have it tested.
mike

 

[Irrational]

Try just banging the starter with a wrench. Some times if u do that the solenoid that is taking a shit will work. Also when yer down there make sure the + and - r tight with no corrosion.
EDIT: if its manual try bypassing the clutch safety switch to.

 

[realhp=turbo]

NO dont bypass the clutch switch. And tightening the terminal on the starter generally just twists the terminal thus breaking the connection and ruining the starter. Take the old starter out, have it tested, replace as neccesary. The amount of physical labor that it takes to do all that other crap, you could take the starter out and do things the right way the first time. My advice, dont half ass if you dont have to. It'll save you time and headache in the end.
mike