car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake light and ABS lights are on?

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car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake light and ABS lights are on?

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Chevrolet Forum >> Past Vehicles >> Cavalier >> car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake light and ABS lights are on?

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car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake lig... - 1/1/2008 8:04:08 AM

bibilulu

Posts: 1
Joined: 1/1/2008
Status: offline

Greetings all,

I have a '98 Cavalier that died on me last night, went to the store came out and "click" nothing. AAA came out and gave me a jump this morning the guy said it was the battery which I got less than 2yrs ago. Driving back to the house, the parking light and ABS lights were on. Any ideas what is going on with my car? Three weeks ago, check engine light, two days ago, new tires...the car is falling apart!

Thanks for any feedback!
-R

Post #: 1

RE: car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake... - 1/20/2008 3:03:27 AM

dirt_cavi_54j

Posts: 8
Joined: 1/20/2008
Status: offline

Is the alternator charging? an easy way to check this is start the car even if u do need to jump it. Leave it running and disconnect the hot wire off the battery. if the car stalls out after a few seconds/ minutes the alternator is toasted ...u can get it rebuilt or just go buy a new one ..as for the lights ....check all the fuses for the abs brakes ...if nothings blown take it to ur local garage and have them run a scan tool on it and see wat code its throwing ..they might b able to erase the code and it might never come back...this kinda stuff happens because of all the sensors on the car ...might of just had a miss reading..

(in reply to bibilulu)

Post #: 2

RE: car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake... - 1/20/2008 9:39:32 AM

shawnvw

Posts: 611
Joined: 1/18/2008
Status: offline

That is not a very good\safe way of checking the alternator, and most new cars will stall regardless of whether the alternator is working or not.
The easiest\safest way would be to just read the voltage while the engine is running.put a voltmeter on the battery. A perfectly working alternator will run at 14.4volts. But with a half dead battery, or accessories running it may go down to 13volts, but revving the engine a bit should cause it to go to at least 14volts.

(in reply to dirt_cavi_54j)

Post #: 3

RE: car won't start unless jumped and now parking brake... - 1/25/2008 9:09:13 PM

golfer

Posts: 600
Joined: 10/8/2006
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: shawnvw

That is not a very good\safe way of checking the alternator, and most new cars will stall regardless of whether the alternator is working or not.
The easiest\safest way would be to just read the voltage while the engine is running.put a voltmeter on the battery. A perfectly working alternator will run at 14.4volts. But with a half dead battery, or accessories running it may go down to 13volts, but revving the engine a bit should cause it to go to at least 14volts.

Ditto

(in reply to shawnvw)

Post #: 4