Stupid Car Question

Okay, so my car just won't start at all. Now there's a red light on that looks like a picture of an oil can? What does that light mean?

I told you it was stupid. I'm sure I should know this but I don't ?

Actually, the best place to look is in your car's owners manual. Depending on the make/model that light could mean any number of things.

What make/model/year is it, btw?

Car is low on oil.

That would be the best place to look, except I don't think I have it. I'm looking for it now.

It's a 96 Dodge Avenger

Something is wrong with the engine's oil supply or circulation. If you see or smell smoke, then oil is most likely leaking somewhere where it shouldn't and then burning off. Low oil pressure is caused by either a significant loss of oil or a problem with the oil pump.

found this in a auto forum

[quotedacfd54711]
On the Avenger, the oil light does not come on until it is almost completely dry. One possible problem but not likely may be that the cylinder head or gasket may have a crack in it. Check to see if there is any milky white in with your oil. Also check your radiator reservoir for oil. Check for fresh oil anywhere around the exterior of your engine. Your valve cover gasket may be leaking.
[/quotedacfd54711]

I don't smell smoke. So your saying the oil is low for some reason?

[quote39b0473cd8="agroman"]found this in a auto forum

[quote39b0473cd8]
On the Avenger, the oil light does not come on until it is almost completely dry. One possible problem but not likely may be that the cylinder head or gasket may have a crack in it. Check to see if there is any milky white in with your oil. Also check your radiator reservoir for oil. Check for fresh oil anywhere around the exterior of your engine. Your valve cover gasket may be leaking.
[/quote39b0473cd8][/quote39b0473cd8]

good shit, can you give me the link to that?

[quotebc700c5a57="Retro"]I don't smell smoke. So your saying the oil is low for some reason?[/quotebc700c5a57]

Yes, do you know how to check the oil?

[quoteb80e992284="Retro"][quoteb80e992284="agroman"]found this in a auto forum

[quoteb80e992284]
On the Avenger, the oil light does not come on until it is almost completely dry. One possible problem but not likely may be that the cylinder head or gasket may have a crack in it. Check to see if there is any milky white in with your oil. Also check your radiator reservoir for oil. Check for fresh oil anywhere around the exterior of your engine. Your valve cover gasket may be leaking.
[/quoteb80e992284][/quoteb80e992284]

good shit, can you give me the link to that?[/quoteb80e992284]

i could only find it in google cache. http//64.233.187.104/search?q=cachel_NJAEUenAUJwww.transmit.net/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.cgi%3Fboard%3Ddodgegripe%3Baction%3Ddisplay%3Bnum%3D1097635977+%22dodge+avenger%22+%22oil+light%22&hl=en&client=firefox-a

no ( I can find out though

Women....

;)

shutup!!! lol

at least I'm trying to find out as much info as possible so that when i talk to a real mechanic I won't sound like a little girl

Just take it to a mechanic. Either than or ask someone who knows about cars that is a friend. You may end up doing more damage than good.

[quote2e894beb4d="Retro"]no ( I can find out though[/quote2e894beb4d]

ok, you'll need
li Rag
li Hands
li Car keys
li Hood open

[img2e894beb4d]http/" alt=""/img203.imageshack.us/img="203/3492/p41700471hp.th.jpg[" alt=""/img2e894beb4d][=http//img="203.imageshack.us/my.php?image=p41700471hp.jpg][img2e894beb4d]http/" alt=""/img203.imageshack.us/img="203/3492/p41700471hp.th.jpg[" alt=""/img2e894beb4d]
lili DO THIS WITH THE CAR OFF, and the ENGINE COLD lili

1. Open the hood.
2. Pull the dipstick and wipe it off with a rag. Notice the meter at the end of the dipstick. Should say something like "2Q low" and have a line or something like that.
3. Re-insert the dip stick all the way.
4. Pull the dipstick out again and inpsect the oil on the end of the dipstick. It should have oil up to the "FULL" line. If it doesn't you'll need to add oil.

Good luck.

Definitely check the oil level, thats a very simple process. But often times a light like the one you are describing indicate an oil pressure issue and not oil level. So anyway, hopefully all you need is a simple oil change, although you might have a pump problem (but those are pretty rare)

[quote3d8f408417="bballp6699"]Women....

;)[/quote3d8f408417]

As we all know, men are born with an inherent ability to build and repair basically anything. It comes from our hunter/ gatherer instinct. roll

[quote65bcab959e="nicd.01"][quote65bcab959e="bballp6699"]Women....

;)[/quote65bcab959e]

As we all know, men are born with an inherent ability to build and repair basically anything. It comes from our hunter/ gatherer instinct. roll[/quote65bcab959e]

Remember when I gave you that custom title? Back when you weren't such a self righteous smart ass?

[quote084e110462="bballp6699"][quote084e110462="nicd.01"][quote084e110462="bballp6699"]Women....

;)[/quote084e110462]

As we all know, men are born with an inherent ability to build and repair basically anything. It comes from our hunter/ gatherer instinct. roll[/quote084e110462]

Remember when I gave you that custom title? Back when you weren't such a self righteous smart ass?[/quote084e110462]

Yeah, that was kind of a smart ass comment. No hard feelings, eh?

My friend wants to check my oil for me when she comes buy but she thinks it's the battery or something.

I'm gonna call a mobile mechanic soon.

when was the last time you had your oil changed.

Is the car not "trying" to start at all, or is it just not turning over? With little or no oil, the car would still (typically) start...the root of the problem likely lies elsewhere. Try turning on your headlights to be sure its not a dead battery, could also be a problem with your starter/alternator if it just isn't starting. Let us know what the dipstick tells you )

To check your oil, find the dipstick (mine's yellow at the top) near your engine.

Pull it out, wipe it clean, stick it back in where you pulled it out. Pull it back out after a couple of seconds, and if the oil is above a dot (may be a line or something like that on yours), then you're fine on oil, if it's not, get your oil changed.

[quote33a9287022="shortys408"]when was the last time you had your oil changed.[/quote33a9287022]

I had an oil change about a month and a half ago.

[quote33a9287022="FreeOffersNow"]Is the car not "trying" to start at all, or is it just not turning over? With little or no oil, the car would still (typically) start...the root of the problem likely lies elsewhere. Try turning on your headlights to be sure its not a dead battery, could also be a problem with your starter/alternator if it just isn't starting. Let us know what the dipstick tells you )[/quote33a9287022]

My mom told me to honk my horn to see if the battery worked and it did. I guess it's not turning over. It's like it's trying to start but just won't.

Doesn't an alternator cost a lot?

According to agroman's quote your car is fucked. It'll be cheaper to pick up a new car then to hire someone to replace your head gasket. Happened to my old cavalier.. Life sucks, but junk cars come cheap.

Everyone go outside and turn your key but don't start your car. See that all the lights come on (this is what typically happens). You are going to have to find out why your car instn't starting. If you hear a click then it probably isn't the starter, but more likely the battery. Try to get a jump start and see if that works. If it does yeeehawww you fixed you car (sort of).

[quoteae26e81159="Retro"]My mom told me to honk my horn to see if the battery worked and it did. I guess it's not turning over. It's like it's trying to start but just won't.

Doesn't an alternator cost a lot?[/quoteae26e81159]

Try your headlights, the horn isn't always a fool-proof indicator. If your batter isn't dead, its not the alternator...that primarily deals with recharging the battery while the car is running. Might be the starter, but again, let us know what the dipstick shows.

[quote6e8368e348="Retro"][quote6e8368e348="shortys408"]when was the last time you had your oil changed.[/quote6e8368e348]

I had an oil change about a month and a half ago.

[quote6e8368e348="FreeOffersNow"]Is the car not "trying" to start at all, or is it just not turning over? With little or no oil, the car would still (typically) start...the root of the problem likely lies elsewhere. Try turning on your headlights to be sure its not a dead battery, could also be a problem with your starter/alternator if it just isn't starting. Let us know what the dipstick tells you )[/quote6e8368e348]

My mom told me to honk my horn to see if the battery worked and it did. I guess it's not turning over. It's like it's trying to start but just won't.

Doesn't an alternator cost a lot?[/quote6e8368e348]

if the oil light is on, its probably low oil or oil pressure problem

if its trying to start but its not, could be low battery still, even if ur battery isnt completely dead. it takes quite a bit of juice to start a car. if you have power windows, do they operate normally?

also check this out
[b6e8368e348]1)open hood and see if you have any corrosion on your battery terminals. I have had my car not start before several times because of corroded terminals. it would try to start but wouldnt be able to. once i cleaned the battery posts and cable with a little tool, the car started perfectly[/b6e8368e348]

if its not corrosion and you are located in cold weather climate, your battery could be having problems starting. i dont have any issues now since i have an Optima Deep Cycle battery with 750 cold cranking amps, but when i had a shitty battery, the cold weather would give me problems starting sometimes

[quoteb62244ce38="exclusiv"]
also check this out
1)open hood and see if you have any corrosion on your battery terminals. I have had my car not start before several times because of corroded terminals. it would try to start but wouldnt be able to. once i cleaned the battery posts and cable with a little tool, the car started perfectly[/quoteb62244ce38]

Easy way to clean dirty battery terminals??

Pour something carbonated on them (club soda, coke, etc). Don't let the liquid short the terminals though...

[quotef9004dfe48="agroman"][quotef9004dfe48="exclusiv"]
also check this out
1)open hood and see if you have any corrosion on your battery terminals. I have had my car not start before several times because of corroded terminals. it would try to start but wouldnt be able to. once i cleaned the battery posts and cable with a little tool, the car started perfectly[/quotef9004dfe48]

Easy way to clean dirty battery terminals??

Pour something carbonated on them (club soda, coke, etc). Don't let the liquid short the terminals though...[/quotef9004dfe48]

good tip, forgot about that

[quote2d5b8b9a0e="nicd.01"][quote2d5b8b9a0e="bballp6699"][quote2d5b8b9a0e="nicd.01"][quote2d5b8b9a0e="bballp6699"]Women....

;)[/quote2d5b8b9a0e]

As we all know, men are born with an inherent ability to build and repair basically anything. It comes from our hunter/ gatherer instinct. roll[/quote2d5b8b9a0e]

Remember when I gave you that custom title? Back when you weren't such a self righteous smart ass?[/quote2d5b8b9a0e]

Yeah, that was kind of a smart ass comment. No hard feelings, eh?[/quote2d5b8b9a0e]

http//forum.freeipodguide.com/smilies_mod/upload/7e6e8500b46d7b20c6c65dddce867944.gif[" alt=""/img2d5b8b9a0e]

[quote7a2099bb6f="SonTenshinhan"]According to agroman's quote your car is fucked. It'll be cheaper to pick up a new car then to hire someone to replace your head gasket. Happened to my old cavalier.. Life sucks, but junk cars come cheap.[/quote7a2099bb6f]

If it is a head gasket, gg. Those things are ungodly expensive. A few years ago one of those blew on my '91 Plymoth Voyager, $750. BTW I still have no idea what a head gasket is.

a head gasket[=http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasket]head gasket goes in between a cylinder head[=http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_head]cylinder head and a cylinder block[=http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_%28engine%29]cylinder block.

[quoteab803622c9="Retro"][quoteab803622c9="shortys408"]when was the last time you had your oil changed.[/quoteab803622c9]

I had an oil change about a month and a half ago.

[quoteab803622c9="FreeOffersNow"]Is the car not "trying" to start at all, or is it just not turning over? With little or no oil, the car would still (typically) start...the root of the problem likely lies elsewhere. Try turning on your headlights to be sure its not a dead battery, could also be a problem with your starter/alternator if it just isn't starting. Let us know what the dipstick tells you )[/quoteab803622c9]

My mom told me to honk my horn to see if the battery worked and it did. I guess it's not turning over. It's like it's trying to start but just won't.

Doesn't an alternator cost a lot?[/quoteab803622c9]


the horn uses very little power so it would be a good idea to turn ur head-lights on and maybe the stereo...Also as u are describing that it wants to start but its not sounds like its turning over....Is the car sound like parts are moving or does it jus make a sound that sounds weak and nothing is moving...that could be a dead battery if it dont sound like anything is moving...if it sounds like it normly does when u start it and it jus dont start that could be a problem....i had a similar problem on my boat this year...i had alertnator problems...it was sending too much power to the starter coil and it was burning that out so the spark plugs didnt spark and then the motor couldnt start....

BTW alternators cost alot...(

[quote20711d095b="agroman"]a head gasket[=http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gasket]head gasket goes in between a cylinder head[=http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_head]cylinder head and a cylinder block[=http//en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cylinder_%28engine%29]cylinder block.[/quote20711d095b]

Ahh that would explain why they said it would be hard to get to.