Im in deep ****, I think I just lost my alternator....I Bought a battery thinking that was the issue and its not....the car won't start for ****. what could be the issue, the car makes no noise when trying to start..more bills here I come

 

Check all the fuses?

 

do the dash lights come on? check battery connections as well at the spade connector on the starter solenoid from the ignition switch. you should be able to get to it from the side with the right wheel turned

 

There's really not many things. If the battery is good, it's either a loose wire or a bad ignition switch. Starter failure is a possibility too, but pretty rare. You could try tapping the starter with a hammer to see if it's stuck or dirty. Works better if one person taps the starter while another hits the key. Also check the main 80A fuse located under the hood, by the passenger side fender.

 

all the lights come on , but when I turn the key nothing?
the batteryconnections seem in order....this moring I tried starting it, it was like starting a car that has'nt been run in a hot minute , I got it to turn on for like 30 seconds and then It shut off....tried turning it on and nothing,zip,zilch,NADA! I missed work today and Im afraid to miss any more time in fear of losing my job

 

oh, maybe the clutch switch. jump it and try again.

n/m it ran for 30 seconds then shut off? ignition switch or main fuse

 

Rican, confirm that the engine does not turn over at all. You turn the key to start and literally "nothing happens", ie dead silence.

I'm pretty sure when you turn the key to "start", you should hear a "CLICK" coming from somewhere under the dash when the starter solenoid activates. No "CLICK", might be bad solenoid.

Get somebody to push it down the street and clutch-start it. If it will run, then you can rule out ECU or major damage. If the battery has a fresh charge, the car should still run for awhile even without the alternator, right?

If the battery is new, the lights come on, all fuses are good, and you can clutch-start it, my vote is for starter solenoid, verified by no "CLICK".

 

Did you install the battery backwards?

 

LOKI Don't be mean

 

Its a legitatment question. He could have blown a fuse.

 

Maybe its the same person that stole your oil messing with you again.

 

rican...same **** happened to me. Theres a fuse under the hood. huge fuse. Mine looked fine however i replaced it. as soon as i replaced it the car started working fine

 

I 2nd the main fuse in the engine compartment. You should be able to look into it to see if it's blown though. Common part at any autoparts store.
Getting a push start is a good way to rule out other options as well.

 

calm down calm down.. just check the fuses.. it obviously ran for a little so you know your engine is not seized.. everything else is replacable at a fairly cheap rate (compared to a whole new engine)

 

Probably not the alternator man. You'd get a light as your battery ran down, then no electronics. Happened to me last summer.