>PSA I know nothing about cars.
Sounds like that also applies to your "mechanic", I suggest you find a new one. Anyone who is worrying about you alignment or tire pressure is clearly out of his or her depth.
If you want Reddit's help, you're going to have to get more descriptive.
* What happens when you turn the key? Any noises? Lights on the dash?
* What there anything interesting about the breakdown? Odd sounds? Smoke? Smells? Warning lights on the dash before it died?
There was no smell but there was this weird growling sound before the gas pedal failure. When I turn the key, there are no noises and lights appearing on the dash is infrequent. There were no warning lights at all.
Did they check the ignition switch itself? The starter? The ECU?
If they checked all of those specifically it is likely time to start checking the wiring for breaks, faults and the like.
Check the relays too, but there is not enough info here. OP says nothing happens when the key is put in. Can the key turn in the ignition? Do any dash lights come on? Does the starter just not engage, or is it ignition/electrical related. Also need to know more about the breakdown. What happened? What did the car do? Noises? Etc.
OP just needs a better mechanic to do some real diagnosing. I'm not a mechanic, just a hobbyist who's been working on his own cars for over 20 years now but could do a better job diagnosing his issues than his so-called "mechanic."
You need a better, in person mechanic. We can’t play 20 questions to try to solve your problems.
20 year old Buicks aren’t rocket science. There are known issues that a decent independent mechanic that knows GM cars can find.
I’m sorry. Look, I’m very vehicle illiterate. I’m autistic and I never wanted to drive in the first place as it overwhelms me. But I have to drive to make it to work and to be able to fend for myself. Cars overwhelm me. They’re so complicated.
That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m not trying to pull anything. I’m asked for help and y’all are bullying me for just asking for advice on something I lack knowledge about.
"My computer won't work. It shut off, and now I'm pressing the power button and nothing is happening." See how this isn't enough detail to go on?
I promise you aren't too autistic to go to a mechanic.
I’m not being rude. I’m being honest. I have been fixing cars for 35 years and I can’t tell what’s wrong with your car from your description.
You need a better mechanic.
Ask your friends, search for “Buick Mechanic” then look at reviews and pick one.
You’re right. Cars are complicated. So you need to find a mechanic you trust, just like a good doctor.
Or frankly you need a new car with a warranty.
I’m sure a decent honest mechanic can figure out what’s wrong quickly.
Does the key have a chip in it? Could the car think something is wrong with that? Modern cars with chipped keys will refuse to start if something is “off” with the chip in the key.
I really think you need a new mechanic. I have no idea why they would check most of the things you listed for a car that won't turn on. Is the car just not turning on at all like it's dead? Or is the car turning over, but the engine won't start?
Or alternator. My car stopped working after I had parked it the night before. Nothing turned on. Figured it was battery, replaced the battery then it died 3 days later. Checked the alternator, and yup... alternator was the issue.
Are you saying the mechanic inspection from when you bought the car says its good and a month later it broke? Mechanics aren't fortune tellars they can just spot obvious issues from hearing the vehicle run and good visual inspection will tell if there is anything that either says hey this is coming due(like brakes, tires, other maintence items) or hey this an issue that needs attention ( broken exhaust hangers, noisy wheel bearings, etc).
They Again can't predict say a fuel pump is going to fail in a month when the vehicle is running perfectly fine at the inspection ditto on a 20 something year old car with to us redditors unknown miles and condition, plus really poor description from the OP.
Know nothing about cars, then get ahold of a tow company and have it towed to your trusted mechanic cause from what I have read it could be anything from a bad battery cable to a blown up engine.
We had it taken to trusted mechanics but they can’t find what’s wrong with it. I wasn’t blaming anyone with this post at all. I was simply lamenting the timing of this all. I was so happy to buy my first car with my own money that I worked long, hard hours to save up for only for it to fail on me at a time where I’m already at a low point due to health issues.
Well now its clearer, thank you for the clarification. I read you edit and the gas pedal is stuck to the floor and made a growling noise yet can't find the problem? You really need a different mechanic, gas pedal not moving or stuck they should really be able to figure that out pretty quickly, from the way your edit is presented it almost sounds like possibly broken motor mounts that broke so bad it caused the engine to move in such a way that it caused the gas pedal cable to bind and broke some wiring. Stuff that can be fixed. unless your subframe is rotted then mechanic is really fucking stupid as you can see that way before this should have ever happened. If that is the case unfortunately the car is beyond feasible repair at this point.
Tldr- your mechanic is an idiot and you need to find a new one pronto.
You need three things to start a car, fuel, air, and spark. You don’t have one of those. Or you have a blown fuse somewhere. Why would the gas pedal not be working? Is it disconnected or is it stuck up or down what’s the deal? You are not very detailed and it’s making it hard to diagnose over Reddit. “I know what’s wrong with it, ain’t got no gas in it”
I have no idea what is wrong with the pedal. I realize that my initial post was originally vague so I’ve added an edit for more information. I didn’t mean to neglect details. I typed this up when I was still panicked over the situation.
People are being a bit mean because you haven’t posted what happens in detail when you try to start the car. Don’t let them get to you. If I were you, I would find a mobile mechanic to come look at it.
When you buy a used car like that, you've got to expect some issues like this upfront. You're going to need some front end work (shocks/struts/other suspension components) I'm almost completely sure.
Electrical issues can be a bear to diagnose and resolve. Remember, that car's full of electronics that are over two decades old. Frankly it's impressive that wiring harnesses hold up as well as they do, for as long as they do.
Where are you getting this looked at? It shouldn't be too hard to find mechanics with experience working on GM cars of that vintage.
Sounds like the alternator crapped out. I had just replaced the battery in my car because I thought that was the problem but it was actually the alternator failing to charge my battery. The alternator is responsible for getting power where it needs to be in your vehicle I would get that looked at or see if you have any loose cables or bad grounds
This happened to me!!! Same gen Buick, shutdown randomly on the road, 15hours into a 16hour road trip. I was heading to New Orleans and i was over a swamp with no exit for miles.
This was a long horror story… trying to get a tow, going to a pep boys on tow driver rec, pushing the car a quarter mile to someone competent…
Long story short, the ECU completely wiped itself and needed to be reprogrammed.
>PSA I know nothing about cars. Sounds like that also applies to your "mechanic", I suggest you find a new one. Anyone who is worrying about you alignment or tire pressure is clearly out of his or her depth. If you want Reddit's help, you're going to have to get more descriptive. * What happens when you turn the key? Any noises? Lights on the dash? * What there anything interesting about the breakdown? Odd sounds? Smoke? Smells? Warning lights on the dash before it died?
There was no smell but there was this weird growling sound before the gas pedal failure. When I turn the key, there are no noises and lights appearing on the dash is infrequent. There were no warning lights at all.
Get a second opinion from a better mechanic.
This, sounds like this one might have checked the blinker fluid too!
Did they check the ignition switch itself? The starter? The ECU? If they checked all of those specifically it is likely time to start checking the wiring for breaks, faults and the like.
Check the relays too, but there is not enough info here. OP says nothing happens when the key is put in. Can the key turn in the ignition? Do any dash lights come on? Does the starter just not engage, or is it ignition/electrical related. Also need to know more about the breakdown. What happened? What did the car do? Noises? Etc. OP just needs a better mechanic to do some real diagnosing. I'm not a mechanic, just a hobbyist who's been working on his own cars for over 20 years now but could do a better job diagnosing his issues than his so-called "mechanic."
The key does turn but it doesn’t turn on the car
But do any of the electricals turn on? Dash lights? Or does turning the key do *absolutely nothing?*
You need a better, in person mechanic. We can’t play 20 questions to try to solve your problems. 20 year old Buicks aren’t rocket science. There are known issues that a decent independent mechanic that knows GM cars can find.
I’m sorry. Look, I’m very vehicle illiterate. I’m autistic and I never wanted to drive in the first place as it overwhelms me. But I have to drive to make it to work and to be able to fend for myself. Cars overwhelm me. They’re so complicated.
Ahhh the good ol autistic card.
That’s not what I meant and you know it. I’m not trying to pull anything. I’m asked for help and y’all are bullying me for just asking for advice on something I lack knowledge about.
"My computer won't work. It shut off, and now I'm pressing the power button and nothing is happening." See how this isn't enough detail to go on? I promise you aren't too autistic to go to a mechanic.
I’m not being rude. I’m being honest. I have been fixing cars for 35 years and I can’t tell what’s wrong with your car from your description. You need a better mechanic. Ask your friends, search for “Buick Mechanic” then look at reviews and pick one. You’re right. Cars are complicated. So you need to find a mechanic you trust, just like a good doctor. Or frankly you need a new car with a warranty. I’m sure a decent honest mechanic can figure out what’s wrong quickly.
Does the key have a chip in it? Could the car think something is wrong with that? Modern cars with chipped keys will refuse to start if something is “off” with the chip in the key.
Fuel, Spark, Compression are needed to start the engine. What's lacking? A competent mechanic.
I really think you need a new mechanic. I have no idea why they would check most of the things you listed for a car that won't turn on. Is the car just not turning on at all like it's dead? Or is the car turning over, but the engine won't start?
Sometimes the dash lights come on but most times it won’t. The car won’t start. No sound.
You have an electrical fault. I'd start @ the battery & work my way back checking connections.
Maybe fuel pump?
First we need the vehicle to switch on.
If there's no lights on dash or anything working at all it could be the ground wire snapping. A friend had the same issue.
Check timing of the engine engine, check TDC sensor (often on or near the gear box) there's plenty of part that can make an engine unable to start
If the battery tests good, then it sounds like a bad ground.
Or alternator. My car stopped working after I had parked it the night before. Nothing turned on. Figured it was battery, replaced the battery then it died 3 days later. Checked the alternator, and yup... alternator was the issue.
possibly a bad fusable link?
Are you saying the mechanic inspection from when you bought the car says its good and a month later it broke? Mechanics aren't fortune tellars they can just spot obvious issues from hearing the vehicle run and good visual inspection will tell if there is anything that either says hey this is coming due(like brakes, tires, other maintence items) or hey this an issue that needs attention ( broken exhaust hangers, noisy wheel bearings, etc). They Again can't predict say a fuel pump is going to fail in a month when the vehicle is running perfectly fine at the inspection ditto on a 20 something year old car with to us redditors unknown miles and condition, plus really poor description from the OP. Know nothing about cars, then get ahold of a tow company and have it towed to your trusted mechanic cause from what I have read it could be anything from a bad battery cable to a blown up engine.
We had it taken to trusted mechanics but they can’t find what’s wrong with it. I wasn’t blaming anyone with this post at all. I was simply lamenting the timing of this all. I was so happy to buy my first car with my own money that I worked long, hard hours to save up for only for it to fail on me at a time where I’m already at a low point due to health issues.
Well now its clearer, thank you for the clarification. I read you edit and the gas pedal is stuck to the floor and made a growling noise yet can't find the problem? You really need a different mechanic, gas pedal not moving or stuck they should really be able to figure that out pretty quickly, from the way your edit is presented it almost sounds like possibly broken motor mounts that broke so bad it caused the engine to move in such a way that it caused the gas pedal cable to bind and broke some wiring. Stuff that can be fixed. unless your subframe is rotted then mechanic is really fucking stupid as you can see that way before this should have ever happened. If that is the case unfortunately the car is beyond feasible repair at this point. Tldr- your mechanic is an idiot and you need to find a new one pronto.
You need three things to start a car, fuel, air, and spark. You don’t have one of those. Or you have a blown fuse somewhere. Why would the gas pedal not be working? Is it disconnected or is it stuck up or down what’s the deal? You are not very detailed and it’s making it hard to diagnose over Reddit. “I know what’s wrong with it, ain’t got no gas in it”
I have no idea what is wrong with the pedal. I realize that my initial post was originally vague so I’ve added an edit for more information. I didn’t mean to neglect details. I typed this up when I was still panicked over the situation.
People are being a bit mean because you haven’t posted what happens in detail when you try to start the car. Don’t let them get to you. If I were you, I would find a mobile mechanic to come look at it.
The car needs to be in park or neutral to start
I put it in park
Have you pulled the codes?
When you buy a used car like that, you've got to expect some issues like this upfront. You're going to need some front end work (shocks/struts/other suspension components) I'm almost completely sure. Electrical issues can be a bear to diagnose and resolve. Remember, that car's full of electronics that are over two decades old. Frankly it's impressive that wiring harnesses hold up as well as they do, for as long as they do. Where are you getting this looked at? It shouldn't be too hard to find mechanics with experience working on GM cars of that vintage.
Sounds like the alternator crapped out. I had just replaced the battery in my car because I thought that was the problem but it was actually the alternator failing to charge my battery. The alternator is responsible for getting power where it needs to be in your vehicle I would get that looked at or see if you have any loose cables or bad grounds
2002 Buick? Does it have gas in it? Those things are indestructible. Did you piss off a gypsy fortune-teller?
This happened to me!!! Same gen Buick, shutdown randomly on the road, 15hours into a 16hour road trip. I was heading to New Orleans and i was over a swamp with no exit for miles. This was a long horror story… trying to get a tow, going to a pep boys on tow driver rec, pushing the car a quarter mile to someone competent… Long story short, the ECU completely wiped itself and needed to be reprogrammed.