I turned in my 2000 GLE on Friday (end of lease). I had very few problems with this car over the past 4 years other than some oxygen sensors and other little stuff. Anyway, it was fine on the way to the dealership, and we left it after signing for the new vehicle. Apparently the car will not start now. There is no starter noise, nothing. The battery appears to be providing power, but the fuel/temp. needles jump around rather than rising and staying in one place.

Does anyone have any idea what could be causing this? When the lease company comes to get the car, they're going to think I'm pulling a fast one. Does a drained/almost dead battery cause these symptoms?

I think the car committed suicide at the dealership, and I'm sure to get a fat bill for it.

 

maybe the starter took a sh*t

 

..well if you drove the car there, it obviously worked BEFORE you dropped it off....

 

Right, it was flawless for 4 years. Then it refused to start after I signed the papers on the new car. Like I said, no starter noise, and the gauges sort of jumped up and down. It could just be the battery, but in any case it's bad luck.

The lease company has not picked up the car, so I'm sure I'm on the hook for this. It was leased through an independent company.

 

Sure some guys at the dealer didn't tweak around to pull a fast one on you?

 

wow, talk about coming at a bad time. I don't know, that's a bit unusual for a needle to jump around, it can't be the battery. All I could probably think would be the fuse. Who knows.

 

Sounds like it's not your problem anymore. F*** it.

 

Papers are signed.....not your problem any more!

 

i'm guessin if you signed the papers for the release you are not responsible for the car anymore

 

yep. once you sign the papers you sign over the responsibility to the dealer.

 

Maybe they are using the wrong key, and they are trying to pull a fast one on you?

 

I think the car is just mad at you for leaving it

 

Not necessarily. You could still be charged for excess wear and tear and over mileage. The fact that you bought another vehicle from that dealership should help you out and they will probably take care of whatever is wrong with the lease turn-in as long as it's not major.

 

Separation anxiety.

 

It sounds a little shady to me. How did you find out about the car not starting, did they call you after you have already left the dealership?

 

I dont know. Ive seen batteries cause some pretty wierd ****. Wouldn't count out the alternator either.

 

The alternator hsa nothing to do with the car starting. It's only in use (power wise) when the car is running...

 

Sounds EXACTLY like my friends' Chevy.

It would just make a clicking sound, even when being jumped/charged for 20mins. by the tow truck double battery system.

Ended up being a bad cell in the battery...just out of the blue.

 

If your alternator is not working properly then your battery may not have the power required to start the car now will it.

I work with someone who's lexus had an alternator problem, and her gauges started acting all sorts of wierd.

 

Thanks for your responses, guys. It's been 4 days without any word from the dealer, so I'm assuming everything is ok. That is, until I get that big end-of-lease settlement paperwork from the leasing company.

 

That is an odd situation. Be glad that it happened AFTER you dropped it off. Also, what is the new car? New Maxima?