Car not starting

PCULQUI

MEMBER
1999 BUICK REGAL
3.5L
V6
2WD
AUTOMATIC
110,000 MILES

When I turn the ignition key the lights go on, radio, headlamps, everything but the car doesn't go on. I'm thinking the starter because the lights go on.

Tuesday, December 8th, 2020 AT 4:47 AM

5 Replies

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello, I'm Danny.

Does the car crank over and not start or not even crank over at all? Here are tutorials about not starting:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-cranks-but-wont-start

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/starter-not-working-repair

Get back to us and we'll go from there. Hope this helps and thanks for using 2CarPros.

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Tuesday, December 8th, 2020 AT 9:31 AM

PCULQUI

MEMBER
354 POSTS

I was able to figure it out. It was the battery. My neighbor had a digital multimeter and checked the battery and jumped it. It turned on. Now, since I'm not using the car on a regular basis, how do I avoid the car battery from draining out all the time? I really don't drive it at all. I have it as an emergency vehicle in case my other vehicle goes into repair or something else happens.

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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 9:43 AM

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello again.

You might want to by a car battery tender. They attached to your car battery like a charger and provide a small charge constantly to keep the battery fully charged at all times. They are small enough to fit somewhere under the hood so the hood can stay closed. You just plug in with an extension cord to a house outlet. I've attached a picture below of one from Walmart for $20.00. Hope this helps and thanks again for using 2CarPros.

Danny-

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Wednesday, December 9th, 2020 AT 12:38 PM

PCULQUI

MEMBER
354 POSTS

I won't be able to use that since the car is parked outside in the street and not in the driveway.

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Thursday, December 10th, 2020 AT 11:22 AM

DANNY L

MECHANIC
5,648 POSTS

Hello again.

If you can't use a battery tender then the best thing you might want to do is every other week go out and start the car, let it run for 15 minutes, and maybe drive the car a few miles to keep things running smoothly to avoid the battery from draining and the engine oil and transmission fluid circulating. Hope this helps and thanks again from using 2CarPros.