1997.5 Regal LS Won't Start!

[wet architect]

My Regal has treated me very well for the better part of 4 years. I've never had this problem before, but this morning when I went to start my car to go to work, it wouldn't start. I'm thinking that it might be a dead battery, but I have a feeling I might not be so lucky.....

There was a quiet click, click, clicking and as soon as I engaged the key, the steeing wheel unlocked and no starting sequence was initiated. The clicking is not mechanical, but seems electronic. Clicking continued to occur even without the key in the ingnition. A strange thing i noticed was the guages went all the way up to max and down again to nothing. This happened just once.

The interior lights don't work. The power locks don't work. When the doors open, a clicking noise occurs. When I try to turn on the stereo, a slightly louder clicking noise. The glove box light flashes.

I had to run to catch a ride to work, so at home it sits. I talked to my old mechanic (I moved) and he thinks that it may be the factory panic alarm. I don't have the keyless entry remote anymore. He advised me to charge up the battery and try locking and unlocking the door with the key. He'll advise me from there. Another friend thinks that my car is going to burn down because there is a breach, which doesn't bode well for my car or my apartment building! Any ideas?

Please Help.

[wet architect]

Additionally, in regards to the starting problem, I have not tried to jump start the car yet since I was late for work, so I will post more information as soon as i try. Thanks for reading! I have two other problems as well:

1) My passenger side break lamp circuit is out. the running light in the same bulb works, but the brake light doesn't work. The bulb is new. the first time I replaced it, it worked for a couple of weeks but now the circuit seems like it is out. Know of a quick fix?

2) My cigarette lighter doesn't work and when I replace the fuse, I blows immediately.

[ponchonutty]

1st, sure sounds like a bad battery, battery cable, or something else with the charging system like the altinator.
2nd, just take another look at the socket and bulb. Any dirt or corrosion will screw things up. If you know about electronics, post back that you do and we'll try to work it out.
3rd look into your cig. lighter socket itself. Most commonly, I find that someone had dropped change or some other medal thing that is shorting it out.

[wet architect]

you were right- the battery was dead. Replaced it last night and all is well. I'm pretty stoked that this worked out.

As for the tail light, I'll check the bulb socket again. The weird thing with the tail light is that the same bulb, a 3057 i think (with 2 filaments and the same socket) is both a running light and the brake light. the running light works, not the brake light. Should I try to find and hook up a new socket for the bulb?

I've checked the cig lighter for loose metal already. Should I try to take it out to make sure it is clear?

Thanks so much for your help.