QuestionI've had a check engine light on for about 3 months. I assumed it was just a sensor for awhile as I've gone without a gas cap several times but have had one on there for the last couple months since that happened and it was working fine. This morning my car would chug and power up my radio and lights, but it wont roll over to start. The oil was very low on the dipstick, so I added oil and added gas to the gas tank just to be sure it wasn't that. It still won't turn over. It's sounds absolutely normal trying to start, no weird sounds. It's at about 120,000 miles. I'm a broke college student without much $$. What should I do?
AnswerHi Shane,
If the engine will not crank (e.g. the crank shaft doesn't rotate, but the starter motor appears to be trying to do so) then it is probably a too low charge on the battery. You need to recharge the battery with a charger, or if the battery is beyond its warranty period consider replacing it.
If the engine will crank but won't start then I would try to get a trouble code readout. Try turning the ignition key:
"on-off-on-off-on and leave on" doing this within 5 seconds or less elapsed time. Then watch the check engine light to begin flashing, pause, flashing, pause etc. Count the number of flashes before each pause, combine those numbers in pairs to form two digit numbers that are the trouble codes. Then write back with the numbers for advice. If the check engine light doesn't do the flashing, then try it again only this time watch for numbers to appear in the odometer window that may be four digit and write those down.
It is possible if the engine won't crank though the starter motor is trying, that the crank is frozen from running too low on oil, but it you can see the pulleys move on the drive belts, then that is not the problem. It is likely just your battery is weak.
Roland
