I have a 2002 Mercury Sable. It gave symptoms that led me to suspect the starter was not working. When I turned the key, lights would come on, the alarm would come on, but there was no click. The battery is only 2-3 months old. I got a guy who came out and he disconnected the battery and then took out the old starter. We took it to the Auto Zone and they tested it and it was indeed faulty. I bought a new starter from them with a warranty. The guy put the new starter in. The car started. He followed me to a convenience store where I could give him a bonus by withdrawing money from the atm. No sooner had I done that when the car would not start again. The guy was still there. He did something to the battery — like he was tightening something and the car started. I took it home. The next morning I took it to my treatment center. I tried to leave and the car would not start. The lights came on. I, therefore, popped the hood. I saw a thing of wires that lead to a loop that was disconnected from the battery and I reconnected it and lights came on and the alarm sounded. I went back to start the car and nothing happened. No lights, no alarm, nothing. I went back to move the part and lights came on and so did the alarm again. I tried to start it again and it did nothing. And it stayed at this nothing the rest of the morning. That is the last thing known.
I contacted the guy and he texted me and told me that the battery was corroded and that I needed to replace the terminals ? and that it was easy enough that I could do it myself.
Does this make sense to you ? Do you believe if I replace the terminals, I likely will have solved the problem or will more problems pop up ? Is it a different problem entirely and the guy is wrong ? What is your diagnosis given this information.
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019 · 9:20:03 PM +00:00
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Dem
Maybe because I am scared out of my mind that something else will go wrong or maybe I am simply sick or ate something bad, but I am vomiting. I can only pursue one more fix financially and that is only because of previous help I was given. I am terrified that this will not do the trick. I am so stupid about cars that I feel like I have to get a mechanical person to do it. I have bids of $40 and $50 (but this includes a ride there which would cost me $20 to get to my car) not including the part which I am told costs between $15 and $25. The first guy said $40 but I do not know when he could do it. The second person says he would give me the ride and do it for $50. I have some tutoring on Thursday so I will earn $60 then. I hope to tutor my precalculus student later this week as well. I am applying at fast food jobs. I am scared out of my mind at this point. I really needed the first guy to completely fix the problem and have the car running. I really could not afford to have to fix a second issue.
I have ulcers from the abusive relationship I was in. So, this could be it but I cannot move right now.
One thing I have absolutely have to say is how incredibly grateful I am to the people here who were kind enough to give me their best diagnosis with the admittedly limited information I am able to give. I will make a new diary and post pictures . I have to and then people can look at it. However, to get there is $20 and that is a serious investment for me in my situation.
Tuesday, Jan 22, 2019 · 10:20:47 PM +00:00
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Dem
It has been brought to my attention that my responses were sparse and that it feel to many or all that I was not grateful for the time that each of you took out of your day to help me. I am truly sorry. I am so ignorant about cars that I did not know what to say in response. I am very very very thankful for each and every person who tried to help me. Perhaps I am not worth helping . I was so worried last night that I was up all night. I wrote the diary around 4 or 5 am . I fell asleep around 630 or 7 am and woke up at around 820 am. I recommended comments and really was not sure what to say. The only thing I can think of is to say thank you !!! I became more and more sick and started vomiting and then I would suddenly fall asleep for some amount of time. The vomiting worsened. I tried to interact more, but clearly did not do a good job. I am extremely extremely sorry. I feel paralyzed by fear and am sick with vomiting.
I apologize to each and every person who was kind enough to offer their help and advice to me. Thank you so very much for your help!!! I am truly grateful to you !!!
I plan tomorrow on going to my car and I will take pictures and I will try to apply the advice I was given. I will not be able to upload the pictures using my cell phone to be able to put them in a diary and I need wifi to do that with my chromebook and so that will not be possible until some time later when I get to a place with wifi or when I get back to “home”.
I am deeply sorry for my faults here and I want to say once again how truly grateful I am to each person who was kind enough to try to help a lowly person like me with all of my faults. I am terribly sorry.