What is wrong with my car??

[Sirrahsim]

We're moving sometime in the next 6 weeks.... We just need this stinking car to get us through till we are put into temporary quarters but noooooooo way, it decides that it wants to act up NOW

It doesn’t want to turn over, but if we keep pressing the gas while trying to start, it will start after about 30-45 seconds. Yesterday we had to get a jumpstart after being inside for less than 5 minutes

I'm hoping that it is something quick and inexpensive to fix, but you know how that goes Any ideas? I'm calling the auto hobby shop this afternoon because they are MUCH cheaper and just as licensed as the main car garage on base.

I need a hug

[BC_MoM]

I'm not a mechanic, nor do I have any knowledge about cars... but... (((HUGS)))!!

[moosmom]

I'm not a mechanic either, but it sounds like it has something to do with the fuel pump.

[Vette]

I need a hug

wish granted


my dad says it sounds like the fule-pump or the carburetor.

[Lady's Human]

It sounds like a bad battery or alternator (hence the need for a jump start) causing a weak spark (Trouble starting). I'm assuming from previous posts that it is a carbuerated engine (due to the age) as opposed to fuel injected.

[Sirrahsim]

It's a 92, I'm not sure if that is considered old or not
I will be taking it in to the shop later today or tomorrow and will mention what you guys have said.

[Catty1]

Is it fuel injected?

If so, get some good injector cleaner (STP, Quaker State, Pennzoil), and add it to a FULL tank of gas.

My car gets reluctant to start if I skip a dose (every other fillup).

Just a thought.

[Lady's Human]

A 92? Okay, it's fuel injected.

That means an electric fuel pump, and all the inherent issues that go with it.

On a fuel injected car, a bad battery can cause many, many things, but the battery and alternator are easy checks.

[Sirrahsim]

Ok, I'll have hubby take it in to have them check it out... Everytime that I have taken the car in, the estimates have been higher than when my husband takes it We took the car in twice for the same thing just to get estimates for both of us and his was remarkably lower

[Lady's Human]

Yeah, amazing, ain't it?

LOH took her car into the local ford dealer to get it inspected. At the time, the car had 35K miles on it, and was in excellent condition. No noises, squeaks, rattles, etc.

They told her it had bad front suspension end links, and it would cost almost $200 to repair. I was in OK at the time, she was in a dealership with 2 kids under 5 y/o with her, and they're talking suspension problems. Long story short, she had them fix it. There was NOTHING wrong with the car. I will never spend another dime at that dealership, even though they have had cars on the lot I would have liked to check out.

Smart dealership...............a $200 repair cost them thousands in business.

I guarantee if I had taken the car in they would have just put the inspection sticker on it and sent me on my way.

[Jessika]

Thats exactly why we fix things ourselves. And we have a mechanic friend we trust who helps us out for free. We just buy meat to BBQ

On my 92 Lumina I can't even begin to count how many times we've had to replace the alternator in that thing... Chevy's are notorious for that apparently

[Sirrahsim]

We went ahead and took it to the big garage because it ended up being cheaper. Turns out that the battery is just nearing the end of its life so they are replacing it for us. One shop would charge $81 total and the other was charging $85 total so we are paying the $85 because it is closer and more convenient. I'm SO glad that it wasn't something more expensive!!

[Lady's Human]

Jessika,

Yeah, mid '80s to mid '90s GM products had alternators with open bearings. The placement in some cars also gave the alternators heat issues. Both problems result in the bearings having a such shorter lifespan then would normally be expected.

[Randy_K]

Just a wrap up: The most important clue was the need to have the car jump started only after a few minutes after shutting the car off. All cars these days are fuel injected (a computer-controlled system that delivers the fuel in measured amounts to each individual cylinder) but for the injection system to work while starting the car the battery has to deliver at least 10.5 volts while running that incredibly power-hungry starter too. A weak battery just can't do all of this at once!

[davidpizzica]

Yeah, amazing, ain't it?

LOH took her car into the local ford dealer to get it inspected. At the time, the car had 35K miles on it, and was in excellent condition. No noises, squeaks, rattles, etc.

They told her it had bad front suspension end links, and it would cost almost $200 to repair. I was in OK at the time, she was in a dealership with 2 kids under 5 y/o with her, and they're talking suspension problems. Long story short, she had them fix it. There was NOTHING wrong with the car. I will never spend another dime at that dealership, even though they have had cars on the lot I would have liked to check out.

Smart dealership...............a $200 repair cost them thousands in business.

I guarantee if I had taken the car in they would have just put the inspection sticker on it and sent me on my way.

You're right, LH. Those dealerships LOVE to take advantage of women in those situations. I think if a woman comes in, those mechanics start to see dollar signs in front of their eyes!