Read!! Need help quickly diagnosing problem. Doesn't start

[drivemusicnow]

So I'm at work and i just got a call from my mom. she said she was driving her car, no idiot lights, no high temps. stops for about 10 minutes. Goes to restart her car, and all the idiot lights come on, the A/C is working, in the "on" position, she goes to start the car, nothing happened.. then she takes the keys out, trys again, and no lights, no engine, no nothing. Now, i'm trying to figure out what this might be, in order to decide to get the car towed to a subie dealer, or whether i should drive out and see what I can do. Shes about 10 minutes from a subie dealer and about an hour and a half from me. I had her check the battery terminals, fuses both underhood, and underdash, and so far haven't seen anything that would lead to the car not powering on at all.

Thanks for any and all suggestions

[SVXer95]

Sometimes the gear selector does not go all the way into park. Have her try pushing it towards the dash then start the car. If this doesn't work I have no idea.

[SVXer95]

Wait a minute, so now there are no idiot lights? This is very odd.

[Earthworm]

No click when she turns the key?
Do the warning lights come back on when she releases the key?
- if they don't it's a loose battery terminal

Possibly a dead battery/alternator.

[drivemusicnow]

it clicked when she put the key in the first time... but now it doesn't do anything. i had her look at the battery cables, and she said they were both on tight. other than that, it seems like almost like a dead battery, however, i don't see how this could be, seeing as how she had been doing highway driving, stopped, restarted fine, drove some more, stopped, and then no restart.

not to mention that the first time she tried, the car didn't turnover or anything... she pulled the "IGN' fuse under the dash, and she said it looked fine...

sounds like the alt is fine and the battery wont hold charge. or ignition is about shot.

[drivemusicnow]

well... she pulled the fuses, put them back in, and brushed some of the corrosion that was on the battery terminals off and it started...

so yeah.. i'm a bit confused. just think if I hadn't convinced her to try that... expensive tow, plus expensive dealer = mucho money

[kuoh]

Possibly a loose battery cable. It couldn't hurt to remove both cables, clean the posts and clamps, then reinstall and tighten the cables.

KuoH

Originally Posted by drivemusicnow

well... she pulled the fuses, put them back in, and brushed some of the corrosion that was on the battery terminals off and it started...

[black beast]

I had that problem (battery cables did it)