I have a 99 Pontiac Sunfire. It's never given me any problems until now. Yesterday I was driving home and my break light and ABS light came on. I checked my parking break and it wasn't on. I parked my car at home and shut it off. I tried to restart it to see if the lights went off but it wouldn't turn over. It just whined for a half a second and then the ignition clicked. I tried again and it didn't crank at all, the ignition just "clicked." I thought maybe it was the battery or alternator but I turned the key backwards and I still had dashboard lights and the radio. Is it a power issue, and if so what does that have to do with the brake light coming on and me still having power to listen to the radio? Is this going to be an expensive repair?? Uggh.... I hate this stuff.
For now you could jump start the car and at least test the charging system. If battery is old (over 3-4 years) it has past its dependable life. This should have nothing to do with the brake lights you noticed. If the red brake light is on this must be tended to at once. Check the brake fluid level. That could make the brake light come on if too low. Bigger problem is why is it so low?? It could be normal if the brakes are at the tail end of their wear life so they must be checked.
It's possible that if they are at the end a regular brake job as found needed would correct both but the anti-lock could be a separate issue,
T
_________________________________________
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston
http://acsource.net/acforum/index.php
WOw... so it could be two completely different things malfunctioning at the same time (battery AND brakes!)? That sucks. I really want to hold onto this car a little longer, I'm enjoying not having a car payment and it just makes sense to pay the cost of repairs on occasion than to buy a whole new car. I just hate not having a dependable car. It has 96,000 miles on it. I'm really not very mechanically inclined so I'll probably just have it towed to a shop. Thanks for your info!
If you are in a car club AAA or other just have them jump it. There are tests you could do from there. Again, if battery is old it's got to go just because. I've seen them actually last 7 years but that is my all time record and of course it leaves you stuck. What's worse is if they short out they take the alternator out and can cause other problems just for trying to sqeeze the last useful life out of them -- a faulse savings,
T
_________________________________________
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston
http://acsource.net/acforum/index.php
Car Repair | Car Diagnosis | Brake Repair | Transmission Repair | Trouble codes | car repair problems | auto insurance question | Car Logos Pictures |
For now you could jump start the car and at least test the charging system. If battery is old (over 3-4 years) it has past its dependable life. This should have nothing to do with the brake lights you noticed. If the red brake light is on this must be tended to at once. Check the brake fluid level. That could make the brake light come on if too low. Bigger problem is why is it so low?? It could be normal if the brakes are at the tail end of their wear life so they must be checked.
It's possible that if they are at the end a regular brake job as found needed would correct both but the anti-lock could be a separate issue,
T
_________________________________________
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston
http://acsource.net/acforum/index.php
WOw... so it could be two completely different things malfunctioning at the same time (battery AND brakes!)? That sucks. I really want to hold onto this car a little longer, I'm enjoying not having a car payment and it just makes sense to pay the cost of repairs on occasion than to buy a whole new car. I just hate not having a dependable car. It has 96,000 miles on it. I'm really not very mechanically inclined so I'll probably just have it towed to a shop. Thanks for your info!
If you are in a car club AAA or other just have them jump it. There are tests you could do from there. Again, if battery is old it's got to go just because. I've seen them actually last 7 years but that is my all time record and of course it leaves you stuck. What's worse is if they short out they take the alternator out and can cause other problems just for trying to sqeeze the last useful life out of them -- a faulse savings,
T
_________________________________________
Tom Greenleaf - MetroWest, Boston
http://acsource.net/acforum/index.php
Car Repair | Car Diagnosis | Brake Repair | Transmission Repair | Trouble codes | car repair problems | auto insurance question | Car Logos Pictures |
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