I'm going to try to be VERY clear on what happened to best help you guys help me diagnose it. I left the lights on in my car 2 days ago, but not for very long and the battery wasn't dead because I cranked it. Woke up the next day, drove to work(40 miles away) and worked for 8 hours. Went back out to my car, cranked it up, drove about a mile down the road to a gas station. I filled the gas tank up while cleaning out my car. Got back in my car and tried to crank it and it wouldn't crank(didn't even really attempt to roll over) and the steering wheel and everything locked up on me. I tried the gas reset button and that didn't work. I popped the hood and got a jump from a friend but as soon as he took the cables off, it went dead. If I continued to rev it, it would keep going. It died on me twice while driving back because of stopping issues, but I finally got on the bypass and was able to keep it going all the way back home with the check engine light on and every few minutes i'd hear a weird clicking noise, usually two at a time every 12 seconds or so. Got it back to the house and it ran without revving for maybe 30 seconds before it died. Wouldn't crank again until I got a jump. Was told to take it to autozone for a diagnostic test. On my way there, it was kinda dark so I tried my headlights and they came on but then I hit a bump at a stop sign and they went for a second and all my dashboard lights flickered(as they kinda did while I was trying to crank it) but then just kicked right back in when I hit the gas.
Diagnostic test said something about all 4 ignition coils being out. My brother(who is helping me on the car) says thats not right and the car wouldn't run if all 4 were out and they're just trying to get more money out of me. He says if it's a coil issue then it's more than likely just one coil....but then said he isn't sure it's a coil issue.
Anyway, i'm relying on you guys. Does this sound like anything to you? I know very little about cars but I have kept it up very well as far as oil changes and what not. Please help in anyway you can. I NEED this car for work and I have a young family. It's my birthday today and it's been a pretty crappy one worrying about this so i'm hoping you guys will make it better.
Thanks in advance!!!
Nic
Just as a quick add in...first of all, I appreciate all the help guys. 2nd, my brother was fairly not happy with the autozone people when we got back, but I guess they just ran that test quick because I had to keep revving the engine, but he said they shouldnt do that test while the car is running anyway, so it was a wasted trip. He started to fear it might be an electrical issue when I told him about the lights flashing on that bump and then started working again, and that bummed me out, but if you guys are saying its a battery/alternator problem then that makes me feel better. There was a bit of corrosion on the battery but he did some things that made him think it was something different(took the battery off and it ran while being revved, some other things I didn't really understand). I was kinda just looking for clues to what it might be and you guys have helped a lot. I'll make sure they check the battery this time, haha!
Diagnostic test said something about all 4 ignition coils being out. My brother(who is helping me on the car) says thats not right and the car wouldn't run if all 4 were out and they're just trying to get more money out of me. He says if it's a coil issue then it's more than likely just one coil....but then said he isn't sure it's a coil issue.
Anyway, i'm relying on you guys. Does this sound like anything to you? I know very little about cars but I have kept it up very well as far as oil changes and what not. Please help in anyway you can. I NEED this car for work and I have a young family. It's my birthday today and it's been a pretty crappy one worrying about this so i'm hoping you guys will make it better.
Thanks in advance!!!
Nic
Just as a quick add in...first of all, I appreciate all the help guys. 2nd, my brother was fairly not happy with the autozone people when we got back, but I guess they just ran that test quick because I had to keep revving the engine, but he said they shouldnt do that test while the car is running anyway, so it was a wasted trip. He started to fear it might be an electrical issue when I told him about the lights flashing on that bump and then started working again, and that bummed me out, but if you guys are saying its a battery/alternator problem then that makes me feel better. There was a bit of corrosion on the battery but he did some things that made him think it was something different(took the battery off and it ran while being revved, some other things I didn't really understand). I was kinda just looking for clues to what it might be and you guys have helped a lot. I'll make sure they check the battery this time, haha!