Car won't start

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Jan 29, 2009 | 09:46 AM

#21

SOHCmyDOHC

Joined: Apr 2003

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From: SF Bay Area and Sactown

Quote:

Originally Posted by Burgman' date='Jan 28 2009, 04:34 PM

You can check to see if the fuse is getting power with a test light or a multimeter. On the end of the fuse next to the 7.5 lettering you will see two small areas where you can touch metal with a multimeter probe.
Touch one multimeter probe to the fuse and the other to a good electrical ground on the car. If the ignition switch is good then you will have power at the fuse when the switch is in the on position.

Ok. Gonna have to find my test light!

Jan 29, 2009 | 07:37 PM

#22

damuho

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Joined: Jul 2008

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From: East Bay

Quote:

Originally Posted by SOHCmyDOHC' date='Jan 27 2009, 01:46 PM

can you simply unplug the alarm?

Aftermarket alarms have a wire harness plugged into the main unit. Try unplugging it and starting the car. If there are more than one wire harness, try unplugging only one at a time - my guess is that the starter kill wires would be thicker than the rest. Also try tapping on the alarm module while starting the car. When the car does not start, try to feel/hear for clicking inside the alarm module while trying to start the car.

The symptoms I experienced with my car are exactly the same as the OP's - first was intermittent non-starts until eventually, it would not start at all.

Jan 29, 2009 | 08:07 PM

#23

tekstar

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Joined: Jul 2005

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thanks damuho, i hope this works!

just out of curiosity, how did you fix your problem? brand new alarm?

Jan 30, 2009 | 08:02 AM

#24

tekstar

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okay there were two harnesses plugged into the alarm. i tried unplugging each one, then both, and car still has same symptoms. thanks for the suggestion though.

Jan 30, 2009 | 08:18 AM

#25

dhayner

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Joined: Jun 2001

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From: Bellingham, WA

It sounds like you're past this point, but I'd say it's not your battery.
1) Things work normally after waiting a while. Batteries don't suddenly come back without charging.
2) Jumping with cables didn't help.

Jan 30, 2009 | 11:07 AM

#26

bposeley

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Joined: Mar 2005

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From: Sunnyvale

[quote name='Burgman' date='Jan 28 2009, 02:11 PM']Under the dash is a fuse box with 2 rows of fuse.

Jan 30, 2009 | 11:15 AM

#27

tekstar

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I remember checking that fuse, and it did look fine. Did not bother to swap it though, will try that next. Thanks for the suggestions guys

Jan 30, 2009 | 12:29 PM

#28

damuho

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From: East Bay

Quote:

Originally Posted by tekstar' date='Jan 29 2009, 09:07 PM

thanks damuho, i hope this works!

just out of curiosity, how did you fix your problem? brand new alarm?

I ended up totally removing my aftermarket alarm. I'm sorry it didn't work for you.

I read your original post again and I wonder if it's an important clue that the car shut off while you were parking.

Jan 30, 2009 | 07:16 PM

#29

tekstar

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Joined: Jul 2005

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took the car to a local member's shop tonight and he found the culprit right away!

it in fact was the alarm

good call on that one damuho.

when i checked the alarm this morning i only noticed two wire harnesses coming out of it... both of which were fine. local member noticed there was a smaller third wire harness that had fried. rewired everything up and now everything is good to go