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My GF has a stupid Saturn and the car "just died" She called me a little while ago to say that it wont start or even try to turn over when she turns the key. The only thing that happens is the radio comes on.

Since she is a girl is asked if it was in Park yup, it was..

So the only thing that I could think of is that I had a remote car starter installed 4 her at christmas time at a local shop. The only thing that I can come up with, is that the starter on the car (not the remote car starter or brain 4 it) is dead. It cant be the battery if the radio still works.

I wont be able to actually see the car until 5:30pm so I guess it will just have to sit at the tanning place for the next 4 hours. When I get there I will use my DMM to c what I can find out

Any suggestions on what to look/test 4? Thanks for all ur help

 
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if the car is anything like ours, I'd say check the ignition or starter fuse(s) under the hood. Good luck.

 
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Great idea! I forgot about checking that.

UPDATE: her dad checked the battery, alt, and starter and apprently "they are working just fine and it could only be the starter..."
Possibly its the starter solenoid

 
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Did he check the battery with a load meter? Sounds like a battery problem to me, you can have bright headlights and a working radio but it still might not start.

 
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um what does it do? nothing? clicking?

 
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I didnt check with a load meter...
NO clicking at all

after what happend on the way home last night I would have to say that its either the alt or starter solenoid.

I jumped the car and it worked for about 2 miles then it died on the on ramp of a highway. SO I pulled a U in my car and drove up to my GFs car (I was following her home) and I jumped it again but let it charge for almost 10minutes this time. THe car ran fine the rest of the way home (10 miles) and the car never died again whcih would leave me to believe that it wasnt the alt but then why would it die part way home???

The only think that I can think of is the starter solenoid or possibly a diode going bad in the alt? idk that much about mechanical stuff but lets here ur thoughts

Maybe even the part where u put the key in... maybe the ignition switch is messed up. I mean u can pull out the key in all of the positions when the car is off ( strange?)

 
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Ahh ............. more info good!!

Sounds like the alternator or a loose belt, also check to make sure the alternator wires are tight and clean. Your GF's car is running off the battery, once the battery dies so does the car, which 90% of the time points to a alternator or open voltage regulator, or loose alternator belt.

Make sure you charge the battery and check the water level in it after your repair.

 
Rep Power: 813

isnt the battery light on?

 
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The battery light doesn't always come on when the alternator is bad, on most cars the light only comes on when the regualtor is bad. Thing is, all newer cars have the regulator built-in the alternator so you have to replace the whole unit or have it rebuilt.

 
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NOPE... that light is off... the more I think about it the more that i think that your ^ rite... it prolly is the alt...

Thanks 4 u help I guess we wont know 4 sure till we can get it checked out at a shop

 
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yup my first thought is the alternator..when the car is running remove the positive battery terminal..if the car shuts down it the alternator