Car help???

I am a GIRL who knows jack about cars. I went to start my car and it would not start. So I turned on the ignition and tried to jump it with a screwdriver. I touched the screwdriver to the battery and it sparked. Ever since then it has been starting and running fine. Any thoughts on why it would not start in the first place?? And why it's fine now??


PS, it's NOT the battery, starter, or the altenator!!
Car help???
The termimals might need a good cleaning. Take it somewhere that dose this type of service.
Car help???
if you jumped across the battery terminals and it started, then your battery terminals are either loose or dirty. clean them and tighten them.
Reply:Don't do that !!





You got lucky that you didn't damage your car.





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As to why it did not start and why it start may not be related to what you did with the screwdriver. It it was related, it was possibly because the terminal was loose (but that is a stretch).





Again, if you are not sure, just be careful, because you can easily damage the battery or worst the ECU (computer).








Good Luck...
Reply:Well sometimes the computer decides to do (not) funny things. I had a car that would turn over once and if it did not start, would do nothing for a few minutes then allow me to start it. Now what you did is dangerous, one had there been any battery vapors (hydrogen) it could have exploded. The best thing to do is, like another answer said, clean the battery posts and connectors there are inexpensive tools for that and you can use them many times. You can also use a small wire brush to clean the terminals. To do that you would first remove the negative connector it is black and has a – next to it, then the positive connector it is red and has a + next to it. This cleaning will do two things for you, one the terminals are clean and two the computer will reset to its original settings and if the starter has been disabled, this might reset it. Now once you are done with the “cleaning” attach the red one first and only tighten it snugly! The terminal is made of lead and that is a soft material that the threads can be stripped out in. then reconnect the negative and try to start it again. Hope this helps you out……………………