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What could be wrong with my 2004 Buick Rendesvouz?
I just got home from work. I stopped at the mail box. My car was fine - started fine, shut down fine. I just went out and now it won't start. When I put the key in the ignition nothing happens. No clicks like if the battery was dead. But when I turn the key back to take it out, all the tach equipment needles move back and forth below the guages. I don't see lights on the radio, etc. and there is a noise like a spring winding out. There is gas in the car and I had the oil changed recently. It's completly dead... Any ideas?
I've let it sit for a while now and there is more life. Some of the displays are lit, the red light on the dash is blinking and it will lock/unlock. Still won't turn over though.
I intend to call AAA first thing in the morning...
4 Answers
- moe fuggerLv 71 decade agoFavorite Answer
I'd suggest you have it towed to a shop tomorrow and have the charging system checked out
- Linda RLv 41 decade ago
Sounds like a charging system malfunction... From what you describe, it sounds, like a dead battery. The battery, can go, just like that. One time, it will start right up, next time, nothing, happens. This is the way a battery acts, when it is dead, or almost dead. No lights, on the radio, is another classic sign... A battery, has to be really dead, to not even light up the radio. I have had dead batteries, but the radio, would still light up, till I turned on the headlights, then, the radio lights, would go out, along with the headlights, as well. So, a dead battery, is your problem, I think. The noise you hear, like a spring winding out, is the solonoid. This item, engages the starter. It doesn't take much power, to engage the solonoid, though. As to what you have stated, in the Additional Details... Leaving the battery sit, for a while, will give it a small amount of life, as you have found out, but not enough, to start the vehicle, only enough, for some of the displays, to light, and, not for too long, at that, as well. It, no doubt, is the battery, but, there could be a issue, anywhere, in the charging system, as well. For example, the altenator, may be bad, the voltage regulator, may be bad and so on. One thing to keep in mind... The computer, for the vehicle, which, sendes signals to all the relays and sensors, takes a fair amount of voltage, from the battery, along with the accessories, espically the radio. The radio, takes its own share of voltage, as well. So, all the accessories, including the radio, and, the computer, take quite a toll, on a car's battery, and charging system. If either, is not perfectly up to par, problems will arise, as you have found out. If I were you, I would have the entire charging system, checked out. There may be issues, somewhere, in the system. And, then again, it may just be a old battery, and, it is time for replacment. But, have the charging system, checked out, first, before buying the new battery, in case, it is something more, wrong. Cause, if you just go and buy a new battery, and, there is more wrong, you risk the chance, of ruining a new battery, and, doing more damage to your charging system, and, also other parts, as well.
Source(s): I had a simular problem, like yours, only, with a 1994 Ford F-150 4x4. When I bought it, it started right up. Then, it sat, for about a month. I, went out, to start it, one day, and, the battery was dead. So, I jumped started it, and wemt on my way. it, started fine, all day, till I got home, then, it wouldn't start, again. The battery was dead, again. So, I bought a new battery, and, installed it. It started right up, then. So, back about my business, I went. It was fine, for about four months, or so... Then, same thing happened... Dead battery, again. So, I removed the altenator, and had it tested... It tested, fine, no problems. The voltage regulator, also testsed fine, as well. I took the battery, back to the store, where I had purchased it, and, they tested it. It turned out, that the battery was a dud, so, they gave me a new one. Four monthe later, same thing happened... I had everything tested, again, and, everything was fine. So, I pulled the battery, and, put it on charge, I, then installed a used battery, that I had, into the truck, and it started up. So, for some reason, I can't remember why, I had removed one battery cable, from the battery post, of the used battery, in the truck. Then, took the other battery, off charge, and, unplugged the charger and, went in for the night. Next morning, I opened the hood, on the pickup, and saw, I had removed one cable, from the battery post. So, I reinstalled it, and started it up. I have had that used battery, in the pickup, now, for three years, now, with no trouble. The only thing I can figure out, is that by taking one cable, off the post, you are not allowing power, to flow through to the computer, and to the other accessories, and, the radio, as well. I bought one more new battery, last week, only cause the used one, finally died, due to old age. And, I have had no problems, with the battery, since, I have removed one cable, from the post, when I park the vehicle, for the night. It, does seem like a lot of monkey work, removing one battery cable, from the post, but, it does work, and, it has worked, for me, since. By doing this, you also, don't have to worry, about a fire starting, due to a short circuit, anywhere, in the electrical system. With one battery cable removed, the power to the battery is not there. So, there is no way, a short cirrcuit, can happen. My grandfather, had one this, since 1961, when he bought a brand new 1961 Mercury car. Before this, he hadn't removed any battery cables, from the battery, but, one morning, he went out, to start the car, in the garage, and, the battery cables, were melting. So, he removed them, before the car caught fire. Since that time, he has always removed one battery cable, from the battery. And, I do the same, only, for a different reason.
