Car Dead: Left Stranded 100 miles from home..
 

Hi All,

Wondering what the issue might be. My 1995 wagon (77k miles) is completed dead parked on the Upper East Side in NYC. The lights and stereo work fine (battery is good) and jump starting is ineffective. Engine will not even turn over. No life in engine whatsoever.

Any ideas. Also, I note that last weekend the climate control unit fan speed pushbuttons stopped working. The temp wheel works and the directional buttons appear to work. However, defrost will direct air upwords but only on lowest fan speed. I suspect that low fan speed (bottom speed button) was set last time the unit worked.

The two might be independent, although I have heard that ignition coil failure sometimes result in high voltages damaging other consumers.

Any ideas? Car will be towed to MB of Manhattan, who I suspect will get to by the end of the month. Meanwhile, gotta get home to Philly with family!

Thanks
farrukh

looks like the train or greyhound home for you... I'll come up and get you if you pay for petrol :)

That really sucks though, my car died on me just the other week, luckily only a block from my house though. Turned out to be the voltage regulator but your' sounds like a different matter since your stereo/lights etc are working. Good luck...

Check your connection at the starter, if all else fails, smack the starter a few times!.......That worked in th good Old Days!

What do you mean DEAD?
 

When you turn the key does it turn over? If the starter is not turning over the motor, then the motor might be absolutely fine and its just a starter issue.

Does the dashboard behave as normal? Lights come on and such when you turn key to on position? What happens when you turn the key to start? Do the lights dim, do you hear a click, or does the engine turn over?

If it is manual transmission and the engine is not turning over with the starter you can push it to running speed, pop the clutch in second gear and it will start so you can take it home. Then you need to get a new starter or figure out what is going on with the existing one.

Good luck!

-=>Raja.

Heres a simple attempt. Get in, turn key to start and hold with your left hand, take your right and slowly move the shifter into nuetral. It just might start. (sounds like a nuetral safety switch)

BTW, MB of Manhattan does good work at decent pices, they helped a client of mine out awhile back and charged him quite fairly for the repair. (fan bearing bracket let go on Throggs Neck Parkway)



Joe

DO NOT SMACK THE STARTER A FEW TIMES!!! You are looking for trouble - the innerds are epoxied in - smacking the starter could break the innerds loose and destroy the starter. May have worked in the old days but not now.

thanks all, it was the neutral safety switch or at least the bushings. Cant tell yet, but made it home just fine.

Definitely no smacking anything! :-)

Awwwwwwww, when in doubt, hit it harder! :D




Joe