Yesterday I go to start my car, and it just made a clicking sound and wouldn't even try to start. I noticed the time on the clock was 1 00, it was 700 at night and the time was set right before. Today I noticed the theft system light blinking. All the lights and everything seem to work fine, it just won't start.

Could it be the starter, or is it more likely the theft system was engaged?

If the theft system was engaged, what could have caused it?

It's a 98 chevy cavalier.

How old is the battery?

Have you tried jumping it?

DT'S right check the battery

A little c4 under the gas tank will fix it.


But everyone is right check the battery, the average life of a car battery is 3 years.

I have someone coming out to look at it now. If it's a bad battery, would that engage the anti theft system?

You have to start somewhere. The battery sounds like the right spot.

(1) Battery

(2) Starter solenoid

(3) Starter

(4) Cabling

(5) Faulty 'neutral safety' switch

(6) Faulty ignition switch

Check the terminals for corrosion. A lot of times cleaning the corrosion helps but if the battery is dead it is dead. Most Kragens, Pep Boys, Autozones, etc. offer free alternator tests too. make sure your charging system is working properly after you get your car running again.

Again check the terminals for corrosion. If they are, sand paper! If the cables are really honked up they will need to be replaced unless you can replace just the bad ends but usually the clearances are too tight to allow any shortening of the cables.

I have worked on cars sine I was 12 and I made a lot of money doing the work even though I had no aspirations to be an auto mechanic.

Yup, it's the battery. I got it jumped. I'm at the shop now waiting for them to look at it and fix it.

The battery is clean, dosen't look that old, but may still be bad, it won't start up on its own.

The anti theft system won't work if the battery is dead!

The battery can look clean as a new-bathed baby, but if it has dead cells in it, you ain't goin' nowhere ... I've had brand-new batteries go dead on me after one day, so don't bet the rent on the 'new battery' thing ... doesn't matter ...

It was the battery cost damn near $200 for everything. WTF! I guess after the end of the month I won't have electric for a while.

Battery: $35.27
Labor: $100.00
Not knowing how to do this work yourself: $64.73

Yeah well, that doesn't help me now, does it? lol

I thought it was the battery, but I didn't want to think it was, get a new battery and find out it was something else then need to get it towed somewhere.

Atleast I shouldn't have any prooblems for a while though.

Still won't have electric after the end of the month.

I hear ya... I've been down that road so many times I wouldn't want to count them. Including having the electricity shut off... lol!

I just finished doing a load of laundry by hand in the bathtub. I got some hangers and clothespins and a plunger today. I used the plunger to aggitate the water to clean my clothes. It worked out well. I actually got blood stains out of a few clothes.

ummmm... better not ask...

I got bored.

And that's how you got bloodstains on the clothes?

Actually it is. I took a walk on the beach 'cause I was bored, and I cut my foot on a shell. My sock got bloody from the cut, and walking around kinda reopened the wound and blood got on some other socks. see? lol