Worst week of my life.

[Morphius289]

This has officially been the worst week of my life. So I get a ticket, and I'm thinking, "no big deal, I'll just fight it and get it to go away". Well, since I'm 17 and live in Texas, apparently I can't go to court without a parent/guardian. And all of a sudden my mom starts PMS-ing. She never see's my brother because he's in college, and even when he comes back in town he stays with my dad. My mother and father have been going through a divorce this year and it's been hard on everyone, so I can understand my mom breaking down from time to time. But this didn't help it at all. Not only do I feel like crap because I made her upset about it, but today, when I go out to start my car, what do you know. It doesn't start. It's not even turning over. When I try to start it, my voltage is fine, but it won't turn over. There is a clicking noise coming from behind the radio, and I was wondering whether this has happened to anyone else.

I don't have money to fix it, and I'm thinking that it's a problem with the starter. Does anyone know if this would be it? I was also thinking it might be some kind of anti-theft thing that just won't let my car start. But the weird thing is that the car doesn't look like it was broken into. Locks are fine, windows are fine, nothing is damaged inside the car. If ANYONE has information about fixing this on a very very limited budget, please tell me. If this were not a desperate situation, I wouldn't be asking this. Any help would be gladly appreciated, and any advice on my family matter would help too.

Thanks,
David

[3000-G_T_S_L]

I had something like that happen once. It was my starter, as far as costs. I got a new starter for $140, and got $40 back when I brought my old starter back. So, I'm not sure what kind of a budget you're on, but the starter is easy enough to replace on your own. I got that starter from Advanced Auto Parts, and it my not be the best, but it does it's job. I'd prob start there....

[3000-G_T_S_L]

Also, as weird as it it, since my 3k is the ONLY car I had, a friend of mine father (who is an old mechanic) said to get someone to turn the key while I give the starter a tap tap using my tire tool...it cranked, and got me to the auto parts store. Had to do it again at the store to get home. But if you have another way to get there I'd prob use it instead, just in case. Just a weird peice of info....

[Bansheewild88]

Yeah it is either your starter, or ur solinoid (dont know if i spelt it right). I have had some issues like that on my ford bronco. the solinoid was bad and would make a clicking sound. so i replaced it and the bad boy started up. i miss that bronco. but yeah im kinda in ur predicament to dude. Im 17 also and i got 2 speeding tickets already but my parents were kinda cool wit dat and then its hetic over here cause my cousin is going to be moving in soon and my moom is wigging out and i get punished from even touching my 3000gt cause my grades went down lol. Not punished cause of the 2 wreckless tickets nooo because of the grades lol. but check your solinoid or ur starter.

[AutostradaVR4]

BEFORE YOU TRY ANYTHING ELSE!!! check your battery terminals. take off the terminals and brush off any corrosion on them and the posts, put them back on, make sure theyre nice and snug. try and fire it again. if that doesnt work, go from there.

had the same thing happen to me, a month after i got the car. damn near put my elbow through a window. turned out to be the simplest fix ever!

[sLADe781]

That sucks bro...hope you get it fixed soon. I feel like this "bad luck" thing is kinda taking another wave on us 3Sers. We're in the same situation--my car's down due to the whole clutch deal, my mom's defroster/fan/AC/etc is out and the shop wants $375 to fix it because they say the whole dash has to be taken out, and my sister's CEL is still on (yes guys, if you remember, it's still the same one from last year that I posted about and no mechanic has been able to fix it)!!! The only car that seems to be functioning half way properly is my dad's 4Runner...

[liquidPunk]

That sucks all around man! I feel your pain! But the car is the easy part to deal with sadly... but here in Virginia minors also must be accompanied with a parent< and they also make anyone under 19 take an eight hour driving school (gayest, most mind numbing thing in the universe!).

But honestly this is the point in your life that you are going to start realizing that your parents are real people! It sucks and it gets really weird but it happens. So your going to actually have to be there and try to comfort your mom and possibly your dad also. Id try to sit her down and have a deep conversation with her and tell her that your there for her and such.

Trust me; it is going to be stange for both of you, I didnt have it too bad (my mom just had some empty nest syndrome) but my best friend still has it bad, his parents have even come to him complaining about their sex life! That sucks!!!

Alright man good luck to you, tell me if yo9u need more help, ohh, and im 21 by the way.

peace out, Adam

[SHO411]

I agree with Blink, clean the terminals, and retry. I had the similar problem, I got into my 99 SL which I just bought and two weeks after, I get into the car and turned the key..........Nothing, no click no nothing, so I checked the terminals, they were OK, so I slip into Neautral, don't know why, maybe it was the violent spasm, and IT STARTS!!!!!!! Some weird security system. Can't understand it, but try slipping into Neut, and then start, if nothing, the starter could be bad, whack it a couple of times with a wrench and see if it starts, if no, you might need a new starter or a relay as they said.

On the family part, I know you are going through a difficult time, but unfortunately, sometimes even at a young age, we are given a heavy burden to cary along. Your mom I'm assumming has been with your father for over 17 yrs (before you were born), and now they split, it's hard on you, but trust me, it is even harder on her, just be there for her, give her a couple of hugs for NO apparent reason, and tell her you'll be there and everything is gonna be fine. What she is scared of is being alone, you are grown, and the one person she was going to end up with is also gone, but as long as she knows you'll always be there for her, it will make a huge difference.
Whether she pisses you off or looses it from time to time, we do meaningless things when we are afraid. Just be there, it's not an easy tusk especially with you being young and having your own things to deal with on top of the current situation, but Just be there for her, it will make a world of difference on how she deals with the situation.
Hope it helps........................wonder if there any qualified Shrinks in an automotive web site. Sorry dude, wish I knew more, but that's my

Wow, just read Liquids' post, said the same thing. I agree with Liquid, be there for her.

[Igovert500]

Sorry to hear that man. Hope your weekend improves.

[Morphius289]

Thanks for the support guys. I just got home from hanging out with another 3000GT guy, and we ended up having a lot of fun. Nothing like 3 hours of touch football to take your mind off the burdens of life.

Back to the car part. When I got out of school today, I decided to go to the parking lot on a whim, and check to see if my car wanted to start(I must have tried at least 200 times yesterday and a few times this morning). All of a sudden, it fires up No comprendo, but I'm not complaining. My friend and I ended up working on our cars for a good 2 hours tonight, taking off both the intake resonator(I think thats what it was) and the license plate. And guess what. My bumper has a big dent in it from someone backing into my car and hitting the license plate

But it's running. And I figured out why my mom went nuts. She stopped taking her hormone pills(or something of the sort) and ended up getting sent home because she freaked out at work But at least it's an easy fix.

Once again, thanks for the support,
David

[SHO411]

Those hormone pills work wonders, wish my mom beleived in medicine...............

[liquidPunk]

HAHA, how are women so mucked up, guys can be heartless bastards but at least we are consistent!

[Igovert500]

Originally Posted by liquidPunk

HAHA, how are women so mucked up, guys can be heartless bastards but at least we are consistent!

Yeah, like when somebody starts a thread about how they are having the worst week of thier life...and another guy comes along and tries to make a joke of it.

[Morphius289]

Originally Posted by liquidPunk

HAHA, how are women so mucked up, guys can be heartless bastards but at least we are consistent!

[liquidPunk]

My bad guys! not trying to make a joke about it, its just my girlfriend is the same way! she just flys off the handle for no reason sometimes,

Maybe just stress I guess, my point is who knows,

But also perhaps she thinks the same of me and i just dont know it... hmmmmm...