1997 Lumina Problems (Major?/Minor?) Help PLEASE!!

[Lumina97MD]

I made this post about two weeks ago but I left out alot of details so I figured I'd make it again. Forgive my b****ing Im just pissed for being so stupid..

To make a long story short, I hit a curb going about 55-60 mph , destroyed my tire & rim on the driver front side and after sitting overnight, the car wont start...

Now for the perks..All Aux's work (Horn, Radio, A/C-Heat, Lights, Locks, ect.) But the car wont kick over and start. It makes a TICKING sound when turned from "On" to "Start" and the lights and everything flicker...

I've replaced the tire and rim but have yet to work on getting this problem fixed. I hit the curb with ONLY my driver's side - front tire. and thats where the battery is stored under.

Could ANYONE with decent auto-mechanic knowledge help me by giving me an estimate of whats wrong and/or a cost range of the work. (Jeff has been a big help so thank you to Jeff).

Thank you all for your patience through this post, its long I know..I'm just a lost and confused Lumina Owner..Thanks

[cadgear]

I think Jeff said this already, but there's a dist. center right behind the washer tank. I'm not sure if the starter relay is there or not, but check to be sure no wires are grounded out there. Also double check to make sure the starter isn't stuck, could you drive away from the wreck (I assume not) or did you have it towed? Mighta jarred a pos connection at the starter or jammed the pinion into the flywheel/into the solenoid housing.

[Lumina97MD]

I feel you. I drove away from the accident fine, and then I went to my boy's house afterwards to hang out and started the car to go home just fine. But after the car sat in my driveway overnight it wouldnt start, the car (unsure if its alt., starter or engine) would "tick" when the key was turned but everything worked fine. How much do you think I should save up to get this fixed?

[Manny_boy]

Check your ground wires in the engine bay, also check the positive auxillary terminal, near your washer tank, if it gets loose, for some strange reason, our cars will not start. Also, is the tick just a single tick with each key turn or is it continuous? If its continuous, your accessories may work, but you may still have a battery too weak to start your car. A single tick, check those wires. and like jeff and cadgear mentioned, you could have jammed the pinion gear (inside the starter housing).

[Lumina97MD]

The ticking is continious (tick tick tick tick), and I figured that was a dead battery. To check my grounds at my battery how would I go about tightening them? Should I just get a new battery? Or how would I go about getting my starter unstuck?

[Manny_boy]

You could try putting you car in gear and rocking in forward (no kidding). If the pinion is jammed, maybe your flywheel will move enough to let go.

Have your battery tested, somewhere that can put the battery under load (simulating starting a car). how old is your battery? Somepeople will disagree with me on this, but after two years, batteries lose some of their ability to hold a full charge. (especially if you live in a harsh winter climate). I very seldom keep a battery past three years.

You have several ground wires, in your engine bay. I'm not positive where all of yours are, since my car is a tad bit older than yours. But a close inspection of your engine bay and the surrounding sheet metal, should reveal a couple of thick (4ga or larger) black wires and some smaller ones attached to sheet metal. Over time these tend to get dirty.

Take a small wire detailing brush, remove the ground wire screws and brush them, including the bare metal they were attached to.