Intrepid won't start $#@*&%&!

[Peter Zm]

I am having a probelm starting my 1998 Intrepid. The battery seems fine, but when I turn the ignition key, there is absolutely no response. This is the second time this has happened. The first time, I somehow started it and got it to a garage where they couldn't reproduce the problem (i.e. it started everytime).

My car is now sitting in my driveway.....dead. Any advice?

[theFREAKnasty82]

First thing, do you have a check engine light? If you don't next thing you can do is when you turn the key on, listen towards the back of the car for a humming sound when you first turn the key on. If you don't hear that sound, you have a bad fuel pump. If you do hear that sound, then it's ok. But first things first, see if there is a check engine light on.

[Peter Zm]

Thanks for the advice. I'll give it a try. I can remember the fellow at the garage saying something about a possible "flat spot" on the starter??? Is there any magic way that I can start my vehicle to drive it to the garage or do I need a tow?

[AWP9521]

When it does it, does the Starter work at all?

[Peter Zm]

All I can hear is a clicking sound.

[theFREAKnasty82]

A clicking sound can be one of two things, a weak battery, which you said was OK, or you have a bad solenoid. You might get lucky one time and be able to start it up. A little trick I use to use is to get a hammer and lightly tap on the starter until you can get it to make contact. Otherwise, you will have to get it towed if it won't catch at all. Push starting a vehicle w/ an automatic transmission won't work.

[Century 2000]

Sounds like the starter. The starting problem will continue to deteriorate. When my starter was going bad, it would take several tries before the car would start -- but it did. If you find yourself stranded, I would be very persistent before calling a tow. Turning the key very rapidly usually got it to work for me.