Urgent!!!, need your help

[wusuli]

Hi there,

Tonight, when I tried to use my Keyless key to open the doors of my car, a 2001 Oldsmobile Alero Sedan with 3.4L V6, the car lights only responded with a very weak flash. There was no any response as I tried again. I had to use my key manually open the door. When I started the engine, there was also no any response: anything that could sound cannot sound,including engine, motor and radio; anything that could be lightened cannot be lightened, including instrumental panel, car lights, roof lights, radio and climate controls. The pedal brake is so heavy that it is hardly pushed. At the beginning, a kind of weak heart beating sound was given from the shift box. In short, the car is just like a completely dead car.

I am a new driver. I am quite panic about this. Please help me diagnose my car. Your any input will be appreciated.

Robert

[MP3_SKY]

Sounds like the battery.

[15-20_God]

Sounds like the battery.

dead battery.

[porsche118]

u must have left something electrical on, usually the domelight or something.

[DragonZealot]

Get a battery charger to charge up the battery.

[wusuli]

Thank you all for your prompt responses. I will get my friend to use his car to boost my car. I hope the problem will be sorted out.

[Jucius Maximus]

Thank you all for your prompt responses. I will get my friend to use his car to boost my car. I hope the problem will be sorted out.
If the dead battery wasn't caused by some light or something accidentally left on in the car, then you should be considering replacing your battery.

[itsmypostoffice]

to ease your mind, take it to a mechanic who can perform a load test on your battery and alternator. if you don't like his advice then look for a second opinion - track down the culprit so you don't end up boosting your battery all winter.

[SkiD]

As others have said, check the battery first, hopefully it's just dead because the trunk light was on or something (Alero's have auotmatic headlights so it shouldn't have been them).

If it's the original AC Delco battery, it might need replacing (5 years is about the useful life on the original).

Also check the battery posts, they may be corroded and need cleaning (put some dielectric grease on after cleaning).

Worst case, your alternator is dead (therefore couldn't charge battery) and it will need replacing, if alternator is dead, make sure you replace the serpentine belt if it hasn't been done yet.

[sportmiester]

Depending on where you live and where you parked, the Canadian winter can be quite tough on batteries

[Spud72]

I am a new driver. I am quite panic about this. Please help me diagnose my car. Your any input will be appreciated.

Robert

Don't be in a panic. As mentioned it's your battery almost without question.

The real question though, as others have also mentioned, is "why?"

Did you just run it dead somehow? If thats the case, after a charge or boost and drive around for a while you should be fine and you can forget about it.

If not, it gets into other things like "Is the battery just not holding a charge?"
If not, Why? Is it just old? Did the alternator die? is your drivebelt broken? Is the alternator overcharging it and killing it? (less likely).

However, boost it/charge it/whatever. Good chance it won't happen again. If it does, it's a pretty simple thing to diagnose for any tech or reasonable back yard mechanic if you aren't comfortable, and it doesn't sound like you are.

Good luck.

[wusuli]

In short, I got a friend of mine to help me jump start my car. Then drove to a Canadian Tire store because my familiar garage is not open today.

At CT, first, had my car diagnosed. I was told that the battery did contribute to that problem. Thus, the a new one is installed. Details of the service and payment are attached as follows.

Thank everyone of you for you kindly response and advices.

Robot

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/977/scan0001kk7.th.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan0001kk7.jpg)
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7707/scan0003jb3.th.jpg (http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan0003jb3.jpg)

[DragonZealot]

You could have got a battery from Costco and put this in yourself for about $50 ~ 60. Oh well.

[sportmiester]

In short, I got a friend of mine to help me jump start my car. Then drove to a Canadian Tire store because my familiar garage is not open today.

At CT, first, had my car diagnosed. I was told that the battery did contribute to that problem. Thus, the a new one is installed. Details of the service and payment are attached as follows.

Thank everyone of you for you kindly response and advices.

Robot

http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/977/scan0001kk7.th.jpg (http://img163.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan0001kk7.jpg)
http://img186.imageshack.us/img186/7707/scan0003jb3.th.jpg (http://img186.imageshack.us/my.php?image=scan0003jb3.jpg)

Glad it all worked out for you