I ran out of gas a few days ago. Completely, out of gas. This is the chicago winter keep in mind, and when I ran out of gas I was lucky to have been literally 2 feet from the parking space outside of my garage.

This is when the problem started...


So after putting 5 gallons in the tank via a gascan, i tried starting it. At first I got this alarming metal sound. I likened it to that of a garbage disposal having trouble turning, or getting stuck or something. It was an odd metally noise.


Afterwhich for the next two days, I'd get the same fashion of noise everytime i first tried starting my car. Like something trying to turn but not quite being able too, coming into contact with something else, a very alarming metally noise. After trying 1-2 times the car would start without the noise at all...

This morning it happened again. At first I heard the noise and stopped trying to start it. after 2 times it started but quickly shut off. The next time it turned on after a little bit of effort from the starter... then after stopping to get gas it turned right back on no problem.

Then i let it sit for 3 hours. I went back to the car and the battery is dead. And by dead, i mean nothing in the car that was power works... Not even the power locks, which have NEVER gone out even if there wasn't enough juice to start the car. Basically, there's now no click or any noise from trying to start the car. It DOESN'T go into accessory. and Everything that was power now doesn't work, not even the power seats.



I'm panicking, that car is really the only thing i have. I have more car then money too... Really, this is an emergency, if anyone can help me, please do. PLEASE.


As of right now I have only a few guesses as to what happened: 1 - my Alternator died. 2 - Somethings up with the fuel pump (doubt it). 3 - My battery is just bad.

4 - somethings just plain f***ed in my engine compartment.

Thank you.

 

is this the noise you're talking about?

http://youtube.com/watch?v=iytzacTFLn8

If so, that's just your starter vibrating/grinding because the grease that was in it has dried up/ caked up. You need to take the starter off of the car, open it up and clean it really well, then regrease it.

As for the battery dying, are you sure you didn't leave something on when trying to figure out what the sound was? IF that is the sound you are hearing, just stay calm, grease the starter and charge up your battery and go from there.

 

Well, This computer doesn't have sound. So I don't know if that's the sound or not.

It's definately a grinding noise that I'm hearing, a metally grinding noise.

And as for the battery, I turned off the car completely, took out the keys, locked it up, and now there isn't even a click when i go to start it. Nothing that requires even a smidget of juice is working now. It's terrible!

I have a '90 nissan maxima gxe.

 

Make sure the connections on your battery are secure and not corroded, If needed clean up connections on the battery. Also check to make sure the wire harnesses on your alty are plugged in.

I assume the grinding noise is coming from the Engine bay? If so, when you recharge the battery, have someone start the car while you listen really close to the starter to isolate where the noise is coming from.

 

My GFs 89 was having a similar problem EXCEPT there was no metal sound from the starter. It would just have a dead battery unexpectedly, warrantied the battery but still had the same problem. Even after two alternator replacements the problem was there. The seems to have fixed itself as this was in late summer and to this day after the car being parked for weeks probably months without driving and it starts just fine at first crank!

I really wanted to clean and file all the ground connections to be sure it wasnt just dirty, to be honest I dont remember if I did it or not...damn medication has made me forget a damn lotta stuff lately.

 

the sound is somewhere around the front left wheel. sounds kind of low in the engine compartment.

 

Then its definately your starter as that the exact location. If its grinding that might not be good for the flywheel.

 

Walk through the logic of this:

Running out of gas probably has nothing to do with your current condition.
You have a metal type grinding noise at start-up (occasionally) and now your battery is dead.
The advice given so far is sound. If the grinding is only at start-up, starter seems most logical. Take off and regrease. Hope you don't have busted gear teeth on the starter or flywheel.
Dead battery...how old and how's your alternator and belt tension? Recharge and see if she starts.

This was a trick question throwing in the "ran out of fuel"...right. Just make sure the grinding sound is from the engine compartment and not from the rear where the fuel pump is.

Good luck.

 

(general noise related)my 92 ve makes a wierd (1 second)sound only the first 1 or 2 starts in the morning i have determined it to be the water pump by taking off all the belts
and spinning each pulley by hand(alternator,steering,ac,idlers,water pump)
and the water pump groans a little(also when starting w\ no water pump belt to test
there is no noise)guess my USED water pump only lasted like a year., not threadjacking
here ,im just sharing a way to rule out all pulleys as noise reasons

 

Yes, but a water pump/power steering pump will usually be more of a whine, rather than a grinding.

 

I had a similar grinding noise from the starter. It would be a grinding screech when I turned on the starter. It would happen once or twice and then the car started. I pulled the starter (easy, one quick connect, one bolt and one nut) and took it to be tested. It worked O.K. but the guy noticed that the pinion gear hung up on the way out to engage the ring gear. This allowed the starter to get going too fast for the gears to mesh. I replaced the starter with a rebuild and never had another problem.
Just a guess but is the starter relay frozen or stuck and that's discharging your battery? Is the place where you park heated or not?

 

Thanks a lot for the advice, I'm having someone come over and look at it tomorrow morning.

 

you live in chicago and the COLDEST day of the year you let the car run out of gas???

 

dude, do you know what its like to pump gas in the cold Hell I just got home and my needle was on E...effffffffffff that, no way in hell am I pumpin gas at -18 degrees.

 

i doan wanna pump at +18, eff eff eff eff!!! pumpin at -18.
they should have heated gas station garages up there

 

it's called set it, and run back into the car.

 

Pff Its called set it, go in car and get static electric charged, go out and discharge it near fuel..now that will warm you up

 

touch the glass noob

 

shhh I know its just an excuse to stay not go! btw dont you have to like touch something metal?? today im gonna go put gas since i got work tomorrow. Its warmer today

 

by touching the glass you typically avoid the shock

 

I always keep my hand on the top of the door (metal part) when I am getting out of the car so I don't build up a big charge, that way there is no spark / shock when I touch the door to close it. I also stay outside when I am pumping gas, because I don't want to be the next idiot to set a gas station on fire.

 

I usually do everything tquick mentioned as well. I just feel safer