'00 SL1 won't start

Hi, I am new here.

I scanned the archives and didn't see a thread dealing with my issue. So I apologize if this has been covered before.

I own a 2000 SL1 with 29K miles on it. I have had it serviced regularly and aside from a manifold gasket leak, I have had no major issues - until today.

I just went to start it and NOTHING.

I have had dead batteries before (other cars) and usually I get the engine TRYING to start. Not this time.

I checked and the headlights are off, the dome light was off, the battery looks clean and the connections appear tight.

When I turn the key there is no sound at all - no clicks, or whirs or grinds. The dash lights and instruments light up and CLICK LOUDLY like a blinker signal, but no sound at all from the engine compartment.

The radio works, the dome light lights up steady and bright as do the headlights.

This morning as very morning my car started fine and there were no signs of trouble, at least none that I noticed.

The ONLY thing I can think of is that I hit a bump on the way in to work this morning, one of those that appear when the new pavement meets the stripped/prepared roadway.

I hope it might be as simple as a loose wire but then again I am thinking it might be the solenoid or the starter motor.

I am currently waiting to get it towed to the service station.

Any advice or opinions that might save me unnecessary repairs/expenses?

BTW - I am the original owner and the car is a 20 minute commuter car - thus the low mileage.

Oh, and I do LOVE my car!

it may be the battery is so dead it can even try the engage to starter, it only has enough power to engage the solenoid, making the clicking nosie.

was the car acting at all wierd when you turned it off last?
do the headlights dim at all when you turn the key to start?
do you have a multimeter?

try jump starting before you have it towed off, if it starts and dies again a few minutes later, the alternater may be bad.

The Tow Truck guy said it was the battery when he tried to start the car.

Turns out it was more than a dead battery. He towed me over to Sears Automotive.

See, the Positive Terminal was leaking a tiny bit of acid. The weird part of it is that looking at the terminal, it looked clean and in good condition. The acid was hidden by the battery cable being a side mounted terminal.

The Sears guy showed me the old battery, the Positive Terminal had corroded completely through and had all but fallen off the battery itself!

When I asked him about this, he said he has seen it several times before, always a Delco battery and always the positive terminal.

Everything else checked out ok - starter, alternator etc.

So, I will simply say I got lucky this time!

i have heard of that happen twice before(never seen it myself), but i don't know what types of battery they were.