# Got towed and now can't start up

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/got-towed-and-now-cant-start-up/172989>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Tags:** chevrolet, noises\
**Created:** [December 4, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/got-towed-and-now-cant-start-up/172989 "2020-12-04T21:10:17Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![judith.mitchell\_172596](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@judith.mitchell\_172596](https://community.cartalk.com/u/judith.mitchell_172596)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:10pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/got-towed-and-now-cant-start-up/172989/1 "2020-12-04T21:10:17Z")

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I’ve had my 97 Chevy K2500 for almost 2 months.

This morning I needed a tow, the ujoint in my rear drive shaft snowballed. I was able to start the truck no problem as I waited for help.  
Got towed by a wrecker (the kind where they wench you up so your wheels are all off the ground).  
He unloaded the truck at my house.  
Now sitting in it calling for parts, I realize:

The truck won’t start, nothing works, no ignition and most peculiar:

There is a noise coming from around the steering column/ with hood open it seems to come from around where cruise control box sits.

The noise sounds like when you wind up a jewelry box but instead of it playing the song it just winds.  
If I hit the brake pedal or flip the light switch it stops.  
with the light not coming on of course. But it comes back after a few seconds!

Battery still connected.

What the … happened? I’m worse off now than before the tow.

My truck is manual transmission. The wrecker driver did all hat with putting in neutral etc as far as I know. He just asked for key then went about putting it on the platform.  
I called insurance that dispatched the wrecker to let them know.

I know what to do about my drive shaft but what do I do about this strange noise and starting issue?

Thank you in advance!

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**Author:** ![Nevada\_545](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/nevada_545/32/41232_2.png) [@Nevada\_545](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Nevada_545)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/got-towed-and-now-cant-start-up/172989/2 "2020-12-04T21:14:01Z")

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> [@judith.mitchell\_172596](#):
>
> He just asked for key then went about putting it on the platform.

He left the ignition on and now the battery is discharged. Recharge the battery.

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**Author:** ![judith.mitchell\_172596](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/13edae/32.png) [@judith.mitchell\_172596](https://community.cartalk.com/u/judith.mitchell_172596)\
**Post date:** [December 4, 2020, 9:17pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/got-towed-and-now-cant-start-up/172989/3 "2020-12-04T21:17:05Z")

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I’ll try that. Thank you!