# Car won't start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** batteries, starters, stall, electrical-wiring, alternators\
**Created:** [August 12, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008 "2007-08-12T19:22:20Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aken909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@aken909](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aken909)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 7:22pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008/1 "2007-08-12T19:22:20Z")

</div>

ok, its a 2003 nissan sentra ser.  
  
  
  
 I noticed for a the past few weeks the car felt like it was stalling a little bit. There was a slight pause in the engine every now and then. (that part may have been unrelated).  
  
  
  
 But today it was hot and I parked the car and was listening to the radio with the car off. When I went to turn the car back on it didn’t turn over.  
  
  
  
 I got a jump and the car started again, i drove it home but right as I pulled into the driveway it stalled out. I again can’t get it to turn over. If I turn on the interior light and radio they work, when I turn the key they dim, but the car doesn’t turn over (or do anything like chug) when I stop turning the key the lights and radio are off.  
  
  
  
 So I am assuming its the alternator. Or the electrical system. Any tips or advice would be appreciated.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DARTMAN69](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dartman69/32/29_2.png) [@DARTMAN69](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DARTMAN69)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 7:50pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008/2 "2007-08-12T19:50:51Z")

</div>

Sounds like your alternator to me.  
~Michael

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Xebadaih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/x/d07c76/32.png) [@Xebadaih](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Xebadaih)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 8:09pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008/3 "2007-08-12T20:09:11Z")

</div>

Have your alternator and battery tested, it’s probably one of those.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![aken909](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/22d042/32.png) [@aken909](https://community.cartalk.com/u/aken909)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 8:21pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008/4 "2007-08-12T20:21:45Z")

</div>

Thanks, yeah alternator seems the most likely. I have a feeling it might just be the wires, though unfortunately I don’t know a mechanic I trust to not try to sell me an alternator even if its just wires. And I don’t have the time or a great knowledge of cars to test it myself.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![DARTMAN69](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/dartman69/32/29_2.png) [@DARTMAN69](https://community.cartalk.com/u/DARTMAN69)\
**Post date:** [August 12, 2007, 8:27pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/3008/5 "2007-08-12T20:27:01Z")

</div>

What part of the country are you located in? It is possible someone on these boards could recommend a mechanic in your area, or you could check from the home page of this site. I do believe it is the alternator though.  
~Michael