2000 Firebird v6 won't start -- Please help!!

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 10:50 AM

Hi,

I've taken it to walmart for an oil change, when I got back, the alarm system seemed to be on, and the car wouldn't start. It doesn't even crank. It must have been something the guy made to the battery.

- I've bought a new battery, and checked starter and ignition relays.
- The security light is off, but the lights start blinking when I put the key in (or simply when I open the door).
- I hear a small "click" when I turn the key on, and I readed somewhere that this means the starter solenoid is good.

What else can it be?! The car was perfectly fine without any problems before going to this oil change.

Please help!!

Thanks.

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:03 AM

How much time was it between the oil change and the car not starting?

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 11:16 AM

Immediate.

I left it at the lube express, went to shop around, half hour later the car was in this state. I brought the car back home with a push start, still drove for an hour with all lights blinking. This was 3 days ago.

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:22 AM

So it started up fine, with no problems, when you drove off after they changed the oil, and then it began happening very shortly after?

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 11:25 AM

Not exactly.

When I returned, the walmart guy was telling me I needed to replace the battery. I think the battery "check" is part of the oil change service. Something happened when he did this "battery check". The car would not start at the walmart store. I ended up talking with the manager of the store (and so on and so forth...).

I've replace the battery on my own later on, but no luck.

Thanks for the help.

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:30 AM

You're welcome

Sorry about all the questions, but the more I ask the better idea of what is wrong with your car.

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:31 AM

How did you get it started at Walmart? Did you just have someone jump it?

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 11:34 AM

No problem, feel free to ask if it helps you help me :-)

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 11:35 AM

With a push start. The lights were blinking and all that, but with 2 other guys pushing the car started.

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:37 AM

And you put a brand new battery in since then?

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 11:42 AM

Yes. The battery gage on the instruments panel is on the yellow zone though. It got like that since it came back from walmart with the old battery. With the new one it remained on the yellow. Before the walmart thing the gage was fine on the normal zone (as I remember).

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:50 AM

Even though the battery is brand new, if it had been sitting on the shelf for a long time before you bought it, it's possible that it was nearly drained. You should hook up a battery charger/battery tender to it for a while and see if that fixes the problem. Do you have a charger or know of anyone that would let you borrow one?

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 11:59 AM

Here is the simple way to check if the battery is discharged: Turn the ignition on, with the engine off, switch the windshield wipers on. If they move way too slowly, much slower than usual, the battery is probably discharged.

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 12:01 PM

No :-(

The thing is that at walmart the guy tried to install a new one, and start the car. I check the gage at the time and it was also on the yellow zone. So I decided to not buy that battery at walmart and brought the car home. Then I went to pep boys and bought this new one. It would be two bad to have 2 new batteries in with this luck.

It must be something else.. (I hope).

(ok, going to check the windshields)

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 12:08 PM

Well.. I'm not sure if its moving slower... perhaps it is. I haven't turned them on in a while actually. Theres not much rain here in Phoenix. But I think the battery is fine.

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 12:33 PM

Since you don't have a battery charger to use, if you know someone that can just use jumper cables to start your car, you can leave the car running for a while and that will recharge your battery also (assuming your alternator isn't the problem).

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 12:53 PM

Thanks for helping.

But, why are the lights blinking all the time like some alarm setting is on?
And why won't the car even crank?

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 01:11 PM

You're welcome for the help

Everybody has needed help at some time; I've had problems in the past with autos and people helped me out so I'm just returning the favor

**jujofields** · 11-15-2008, 01:22 PM

Originally Posted by jpinto

Thanks for helping.

But, why are the lights blinking all the time like some alarm setting is on?
And why won't the car even crank?

The lights could be blinking because the alarm actually is going off. When the old battery was disconnected, it probably reset some of your car's settings...that would explain the alarm going off.

The car wouldn't crank at all because the battery doesn't have enough charge to allow the starter to crank over your engine.

**jpinto** · 11-15-2008, 01:22 PM

Update: I've taken the "ign" relay out of one of the fuse boxes under the hood. When I take it out, I hear a small noise of what it looks like it is taking out the fuel.

Without the "ign" relay, the car cranks, but I'm guessing there is no fuel to start.

Any hep appreciated (thanks jujofields)