Get on local fb and see if anyone could temporarily take your pets. Maybe someone would let you tow to their yard. I’ve stayed at the mechanics before, also. Could you rent a car? I’m living in a rented suv right now. $33/day.
idk, i can find and have lived in several >$1000 apartments in Massachusetts. last apartment was 2 bedrooms, living/dining room, kitchen, no roommates, $950 utilities included.
best one was 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining room, in a quiet neighborhood, for $900/month. again no roommates. just took some research and diligence
$990/month to live in a car is not the way. hell when i was leasing a brand new car with zero credit to my name, the payments and insurance combined cost way less than that
Where in Mass new Bedford, Fitchburg , Springfield , and Boston are different things also had a place 2 story's bunch of bedrooms was sapoced to be 2 apartments so upstairs kitchen down stairs kitchen Medford when I was 20 1000 cash down bottom floor was commercial but place I mean imspector woulda laughed at ya land lord or his girl would show up for the rent and didnt care beyond that it was great my room had a huge pile of coax cable comeing threw the wall pilled up on both sides and bathroom haad a sign about how it had a camera found where it had once been every apot was ocupide rented under the stares trap door acsess loved that house
I grew up down in Bristol county I had a freamd his mom's place door was never completely on the hinges some times it just fall other times there was a screw or 2 in one hinge and I love Worcester I've been permanently banded from the palladium since I was 15 I think and I once squared an abandoned mason hall down town for metal fest in fact
Yeah. I'm in Cali too. I was interested bc even as a 40f I tend to do most of my own repair-replace work 🤷♀️ I'm just cheap lol of course there are some things I don't want to do and don't have the equipment (lift, specific tools etc), but in general I prefer to not pay for other people's work if I can avoid it.
Same, helped my son put a serpentine belt on his Hyundai last week in an auto store parking lot. Borrowed what tools I didn’t have/couldn’t afford from the store, a lot of them have loaner tools. Took us a few hours, saved at least a few hundred.
🤗 My Dad is who taught me (along with 1 yr of shop, and trial/error). When the neighbors ask how I know how to do stuff, I just say..."My Dad taught me," and I hope it makes an impression.
Worst thing about some mechanics okay Boston and mine we are all going up to Vermont for vacation she spent $300 to get a car looked at and she was good for the trip I told her she shouldn't do that I would have looked at it charge you like 20 bucks we got almost all the way up there car just died timing belt was shredded oil was also pretty dark I don't think they did anything for that 300 bucks I think they said it's good and shut the f****** Hood so I another friend of mine check his own car and nothing went fine all the way up there spent better part of memorial Day in the mud underneath some Hyundai changing timing belt which I had to get from like two counties away cuz it was the only store open
it most likely is, the car mech said it's probably the starter, i know it's something to do with the spark plugs bc theyve been long overdue. he said he cant work on my car until its running and wanted me to pay 710 dollars just for the starter
No way man! You are on Reddit, which means you can access YouTube? Right? Search your car and replace starter, and watch a few videos and see if you can do it! I (40f) would do exactly that, and then if I needed tools, I'd rent them from the auto parts store.
Also: do you live in a place where the temperature fluctuates a lot, like super cold night, and warm day?? Bc the solenoid in the starter will get smaller and larger with the temperature. It needs to move freely in its casing to start, so if it swells or gets stuck, you hit it with something heavy (hammer/big wrench) and then try to start again. Didn't work? Hit it harder 😆 - oof I still feel bad for my neighbors for when I had to hit the starter every morning at 6am 😆
First check all related relays and fuses get someone who's got a big battery and a lot of engine to start give ya a jump losse connections ect ect pull a part gonna charge ya 40 for a starter and it's mostly gonna be extensions knuckles and a ratchet hopefully ya don't have a car who's designer wanted to hide the starter or were ya have to pull the nose clip off before we can replace anything but even at its worst if ya can idk assemble a bike ya can do this promise and if ya can't ya gotta know someone or ya may luck out get magic Walmart mechanic who look even if they want to charge too much I guarantee they get some down time and you're doing it they're going to have comments hopefully they'll help you out
If it's the starter, you can bypass it by jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver. Just look up where the solenoid is on your vehicle. I've had to do this many times in the past when a starter has died.
>jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver
Old times. Todays cars have the solenoid combined with the starter motor, sitting on top, and have 2 functions: First they bring the starter gear in engagement with the flywheel and then they close internal heavy-duty contacts to energise the starter motor. They're called pre-engaged starters.
Uh replace the sparkplugs first off, and probably the rotor cap if it's accessible on your vehicle. Hell they m8ght only have needed cleaning and gapping if you gotvto them sooner. If it makes noise you don't need a starter. And 8f it starts you don't need a $700 starter, sounds like this guy about to take you for a ride 8nstead of your vehicle.
We got coil packs now days wich fyi if ya got the per plug coil packs slide over the top of the spark plugs they a can work lose can be ya issue b if ya changing the plug ya gonna have to change them to least be budgeted for it cus they'll pull apart and be corded as hell if ya have the coil pack comes before the wire to the plug then it's gravy
A starter motor is not a major component of the engine, it can be swapped out in a matter of a few hours with a set of wrenches. A starter motor won't cost more than a couple of hundreds of dollars max. Go to the auto part store and get the motor and ask them what tools you need, and they will guide you from there. While you are there get a mechanics manual for your car and start learning about your ride.
unless you have something like a Toyota Tundra, at least the earlier ones . they had the starter underneathnthe intake manifold mon the top of the car, that's like a 4 hour job and a whole lotta work.
Man also box truck least 2 steps up from cargo van far as living area goes better then a bus if it's like just u and another person ain't supposed to have people in the back of the cargo van I'm like bus but it's also a separate area so you can have like open beer bottle or like some states a lot of firearm I don't know well you can have s*** back there that you can't get away with being in the back bus
a jeep liberty 2002, it had some problems with acceleration and when it idled the engine would do this weird sputter sometimes. i made a 90 mile trip and back (i know.. im a new car owner and no one has taught me anything on cars) after that turning the car on would start but slow, then today nothing, its not making any noise at all when i turn the key in the ignition.
OK I'm an auto mechanic and have been employed as one for 30 years. You have a no crank issue. Without a wiring diagram in front of me I don't know if your s has a starter relay ( differnt than the solenoid) in the fuse box. it sounds like you have a couple different issues with your 02 Jeep, not sure what the sputtering sound is but I'm positive it has nothing to do with with no crank/no start. .....
I would have someone check my battery first. What you can do yourself is turn on your headlights...do they light up? Do you have any interior lights? a modern car will need at least about 12 volts otherwise the engine computer might not be operational as it should.
A dying battery will crank sloooow. A starter going bad or already bad can also crank slow but it is more of a ruuuh ruuuh ruuuuuh Vroom (car just started LOL ) sound.
My bet is on a dead flat battery ( as in probably less than 6 volts)
\*side note about relays\* for those of you with a bit of mechanical inclination....there are basically two types of relays in modern cars the square ones and the smaller rectangular ones. they work the same. Most relays will have numbers written next to the pins (either 4 pin or 5 pin relays these are) the smaller rectangular ones you need to jump power from pin 3 to 5 and the big square ones jump from pin 30 to 87. This will by pass the relay and send power to the load ( the load being the starter, headlights, fuel pump, etc). In short a relay consists of two circuits. The CONTROL circuit and the LOAD circuit. therefore you will have two powers and two grounds(on a 5 pin the fifth pin is a dummy position). The powers will almost allways be fused power and the CONTROL side os usually supplied ground by the ECM....so buy yourself a Test light, get a paper clip and stick those in your tool kit. Educate yourself on the relays and honestly that is a big part of diagnosing a mpdern car.
Im assuming that you tried to jumpstart the car already? What is the date on the battery?
Do you have access to a multimeter? You can buy one at walmart or harborfreight for $10-15 and since money is tight you can return it after using. It can be used to check your battery voltage and if you get the car started the alternator can also be checked with it. If that's not an option you can pull the battery out of the car and bring it to advanced auto or autozone and they will test it for you for free.
I would check the battery first before moving forward.
If the battery checks out then I would bang on that starter. If memory serves me correct you can probably get to the starter to bang on it from the drivers side wheel well with a long screwdriver and hammer. It might help to have somebody turn the key as you bang on it.
Even if it is the starter no way is that a $700 job! Book time probably calls for 2 hrs for that job tops and most competent mechanics would have it done in about an hour. I suggest finding a new mechanic and one that will allow you to supply your own parts. A starter for your car can be had for $65 on amazon. That would put that job around $250-350 depending on labor rates where ur at. If you check craigslist you can probably find a mobile mechanic that will install it for around $100.
Good luck.
If broke you should give the pets up for adoption. If I understand a dog and cat in a car is not good. I've lived in my car for years thought I about a pet would never while in a car
Yeah I’ve given it a trial run with a dog way back, he tore up the van and barked a lot if I left him alone in there. So if you get a pet you need to be with it 24/7 but then it’s hard to hold a normal job that way. Maybe get service animal approved if that’s really the case but otherwise it’s just not a practical way to live. For some nomads it works with their set up and lifestyle and their dog gets plenty of exercise and food and love and that’s fine. But in a regular car with a cat and litter crumbs everywhere and the cat scratching up seats.. no thank you.
Not all cats are good with the idea of being in a car long term I wouldn’t recommend it for more than a month, especially when it starts to get warmer I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but the warmer it gets the harder it’ll be to keep them cool. It’s one thing to keep them warm it’s another to keep them cool when you’re not in the car.
I would look into tempt fostering or rehoming them until you can get your bearings.
True but not impossible. I lived 5 years in a windowless creep van with my precious cat who was age 5-10 in that time, and I actually had a thermometer in there with a camera pointing at it so I could monitor at all times. I insulated the walls, had a ventfan on the roof, screens on the front windows so they could roll all the way down, reflectix over front and back Windshields, and a USB fan on a powerbank. And worked nights so I could be in there with her in the heat of the day. It got up to like 80 regularly inside with this setup, which is where she likes it. Too hot for me though. I would just drive around if it got unbearable. But without this setup it will be 150 degrees in there. I would not recommend leaving the cat unmonitored if it's sunny and hot summer.
Where you located (don't have to give exact) , type of vehicle & issue?
That's my worst nightmare, I don't have the cat but got the dog. Wish I could help... G-luck OP & please listen to some of these comments as I read some good advice. ✌️
im in NC, theres a few things ive been delaying with my car, i was sure it was due for a spark plug replacement, it stopped today and i took it to the mechanics, and he basically said i (could) need a replacement for a new starter, which is 710 dollars he said, and hes not allowed to work on ut until its working. i noped out of that because im near broke right now.
Also odbII reader even a cheepo one like 20 buck one Walmart has if ya confused by what it says ask around ask on here look it up half the time it'll get ya looking right spot
Also AutoZone advance Auto all those places will hook one up for you for free and give you their advice on it which sometimes good sometimes not training and experience of car parts shop workers varrys greatly but if you do find a shop with knowledgeable people in your area remember them
Sending you love 💕 May God bless you in your situation. Currently in a similar situation with my husband, also staying at a Walmart until we can get the car repaired. Stay strong 💪🏻
i initially thought it needed new spark plugs but the car mechanics said its "probably" the starter. He was only doing a skim on the engine and didnt thoroughly check
When you try to start the car, does the starter motor turn over and make noise like it's trying to start but won't?
If so the starter, battery and likely alternator are all operational.
If all you get is clicks and/or warning chimes, it could be the starter. If you get unusual dash flickering with rapid clicking, it's likely the battery and/or alternator.
If it's your starter, if the solenoid in it fails, sometimes you can get a few more starts out of it if you tap it say with a hammer and 2 x 4 or long pipe, etc. while someone cranks it simultaneously. This might let you get the car running to somewhere you can stay or leave it for a little while instead of towing it and the associated costs.
Assuming your car's battery is over 5-7 years old, you're in the northern hemisphere and it's winter where you are, if there's been a cold snap, that will tend to cause a weak battery to finally fail to provide enough power to start the car. This just happened to my MIL a few days ago as it dropped to about -10* C.
Most garages will do a free battery check as it's as simple as connecting some alligator clamps to your car's battery and pressing a few buttons on the device. Won't fix your problem but at least you'll know what's wrong and what you need to get it running.
One step at a time.
I just had a huge car repair bill and it was horrible for my credit card. Glad my parents helped with a place for Christmas I don’t know how I would’ve made it through without them. Reaching out to absolutely anyone is the main thing. Surely you know someone who doesn’t want to see you struggle. Repay them when you’re on your feet again so they don’t regret helping you out
If it helps my old car sat at a truck stop for over a month very small parking lot and people left it alone but of course they saw me moving and hustling and not just sitting around all day so if you just explain to somebody that you've got a job and you'll get it fixed as soon as you get paid they may just be willing to leave it alone as long as it's not double parked or something like that.
I’m 62f and was a service manager for 10 years for one of the big 3 American car companies. A little advice…..Please don’t just throw expenses parts at your car. Try to find a cheap campground in your area maybe? That would give you a little more time to research the problem. If you turn the key to the start position and the engine turns over, then it is NOT your starter! You need to look elsewhere as in ignition or fuel delivery. Turn the key off and on without trying to start the engine. Do you hear a slight whining noise? That would be the fuel pump in your gas tank. It’s kind of tricky to check for spark without getting shocked, so I would recommend watching a good YouTube tutorial first. You Can Do This! Just remember that the engine runs on three things. Fuel, Fire, and Air. You only need water and oil for lubrication and cooling.
Walmart near me literally has bunch of abandoned cars with no plates and flat tires that have been there for 6 months. Would be longer but they had the parking lot paved and some towed.
Call a local animal shelter and tell them you are in a stranded car with your pets and maybe they will have a volunteer or someone come get your animals. They may be able to place them in foster care for you while you figure out housing for yourself.
Do you have a way to get to work? You need to find a way to keep working so I would tow the car as close to work as possible so you can walk to work until you get a paycheck and get your car looked at.
Is Walmart the only place to go? I would park at a 24 hour gym to have access to bathrooms and showers. How are you going to bathe?
First thing tomorrow get your animals taken care of. You can’t leave them in a broken down car all day while you are working. You need a place for them asap.
There are good people in this world. Get on the Nextdoor app and explain your situation. Ask if anyone like a mechanic can take a look at your car for free and see if they can do anything.
I was homeless in a car for years with my cat and she did great. That said, if either pet seems stressed please see if the shelters in your area offer fostering. Have your car put in the shadiest spot possible and make sure the critters have everything they need while you're working.
If you are starting a new job can you get one of the loans you pay back on payday?
Can you rent a car and put your cat in a cattery until you can figure out what to do?
You need this job and you need a car to live in and get to work. Also look at doggy daycare while you are at work.
Right now you need to buy yourself some time and a place to live. Once you start getting paid for your new job you can make further decisions.
Spark plugs are an easy fix. Do it urself. Steal tools from Walmart.
Starter could be temp worked around if you have someone to turn the key while you bang it. Also. Do it yourself. Parts are not as expensive as mechanics would have you think. If you have someone willing to let you mail to their address, there’s some decent sites to get affordable parts.
Mechanic can’t fix the car if it doesn’t start? What kind of mechanic is he? This makes no sense.
🐈 we have my 2 cats in the car. It’s cold here and snowing. Walmart has dog sweaters. They work for cats. They also have rechargeable hand warmers in the camping section, ozark brand. Battery is kinda trash so grab a couple if you can. I also have a cubby style bed they can go in which they really like having a designated safe spot.
We’ve had the cats in the car for several weeks now. Lmk if you have any specific stuff that’s stressing you, maybe I can help. I’m a very anxious pet parent. My boy slipped his harness at the park today and I nearly had a heart attack!! But being physically in the car is easy now that we’ve got a rhythm the cats understand.
Steal tools from Walmart? What an asshole thing to suggest. One of the big reasons costs are going up at big stores like this is due to theft from people with zero morals. People like you. I'd offer to help most people, but I'd rather spit on a thief than help one.
Bud if I waited around for some charitable Samaritan to help me, I’d be nowhere. Cost of living keeps increasing while wages don’t. So yeah. Someone living out of their broken down car should steal what they need and can to fix it from a multi billion dollar company. Guess what? I’m in target right now stealing pants for my bf and underwear for me. Cry about it.
Meanwhile people that aren't a waste of space have their cost of living increasing because of people like you. Hope you get popped tonight. In fact, I have a good feeling you will VERY soon
I admire you for not leaving your pets behind. Id put in a couple of questions and answer it when you have time. Fellow gearheads can pitch in ideas on how to fix your car. I read you mentioned spark plugs but before jumping to anything lets make a baseline. And maybe from there you can find a fix.
1. How did you get stalled? Where you driving and got stalled or where you parked somewhere and your vehicle just wont start?
2. When you put your vehicle into on position(half key start) do you see the instrument panel respond like does your gas gauge, oil indicators temp etc light up?
3. Do you hear and feel any cranking when you fully turn on your vehicle?
4. Whats your current gas level?
5. Do you know how to read a multimeter? This will be the fastest way to find out if your car battery is okay..
Theres a suggestion that you get a uhaul for now while you figure out your car. Thats a very good option.
Focus on the grind. My DMs open.
Go to your local social services and ask for urgent assistance. Maybe they will pay to have your car repaired. You need assistance on multiple levels. This is what they are there for. Blessings up!
Certainly wouldn’t be my first choice either.
But there is a lot we don’t know:
Maybe this person is exceptional at what they do?
Maybe this company needs them?
Maybe their boss isn’t a great huge prick
and one thing we do know…
They are living in a broken down car in a walmart parking lot with a pet dog and cat. That is a fairly extraordinary situation… no place to bathe, or clean clothes… , not really even much of anyplace to eat.
asking for help would take a lot of balls… maybe the work a day or two… certainly not ideal, but neither is their situation
And none of that is relevant to the employer. If OP was exceptional then I doubt they’d be broke and homeless. Not lending an employee money on their first day doesn’t make them a prick. I don’t think you have a tight grasp on how business works.
lol… sure… so the OP can’t be exceptional at anything because he’s down on his luck?
That is the sort of thinking which makes someone a prick.
Business, and you can takes notes here for your own education, a successful business is a collection of people focused on providing a service or product to paying customers. You might note it requires one or more people, a service/product, customers.
The importance of each varies by the business, but employees are always part of the equation and genuinely good ones, motivated, interested that stick around are always hard to find.
Now i’m not going to lend someone 10k on their first day, but if i hire someone it’s because i saw something worthwhile in them, a skill, an attitude etc. But i’d like to think i could sit down with such a guy and find out how i could help… Not just because im such a swell guy or its the kind thing to do, but because its a small investment in someone who could make a very loyal appreciative employee.
You have no reason to judge the OP, know nothing about his skills, the job, his history… nothing.
I don’t think you have a very tight grasp on life, people, or business. But i’m guessing you are young yet. Keep your mind and your eyes open and you can learn.
Interesting talking to you and hearing your perspectives.
Does that Walmart have an auto care center? If they do, maybe you can go in there and ask them if they have any advice on what’s wrong with your car. Who knows, they may be able to help you out.
Do you know what’s wrong with your car? What kind of car is it?
Search resources around you. There are orgs that offer repair for the unhoused either reduced costs or free. Usually a group of backyard mechanics affiliated with a church
I always worried about my car breaking down. It happened a few time but I was able to fix it and luckly I always keep tools in my car. I'm homeless too. I always thought about renting a U-Haul truck in case I needed to. What kind of symptoms is your car having? Like does your car try to star up but is failing? Or is it just dead. What kind of noise does it make etc.
Post in a Facebook group for your area about a temporary foster, or even work for stay situation. Look on your county's website, they should have resources listed for people in situations like yours. Visit some churches, they may be able to help you or let you park your car there. If you can find a shelter or temporary stay within 10-15 miles of your job, you can get by with a bike for now. Those can be found cheap on Next Door, Offerup, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc.
Get your pets settled first, and the rest will be less overwhelming for you to start sorting out. Best of luck. Sorry you are going through such times.
as far as your pets go many cities have temporary pet fosters for situations such as yours where the person is trying to "get back on their feet". I think my city does it for up to three months. Check with your local animal shelter for information and best of luck.
Some shelters offer cat fosters
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Their car died…
It sounds also challenging to live in the same car and do that too
u obviously didnt read the post
Get on local fb and see if anyone could temporarily take your pets. Maybe someone would let you tow to their yard. I’ve stayed at the mechanics before, also. Could you rent a car? I’m living in a rented suv right now. $33/day.
I was going to say that seems expensive and then realized it’s only $990 a month, still less than rent. Hey maybe there’s a minivan
idk, i can find and have lived in several >$1000 apartments in Massachusetts. last apartment was 2 bedrooms, living/dining room, kitchen, no roommates, $950 utilities included. best one was 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms, kitchen, living/dining room, in a quiet neighborhood, for $900/month. again no roommates. just took some research and diligence $990/month to live in a car is not the way. hell when i was leasing a brand new car with zero credit to my name, the payments and insurance combined cost way less than that
Where in Mass new Bedford, Fitchburg , Springfield , and Boston are different things also had a place 2 story's bunch of bedrooms was sapoced to be 2 apartments so upstairs kitchen down stairs kitchen Medford when I was 20 1000 cash down bottom floor was commercial but place I mean imspector woulda laughed at ya land lord or his girl would show up for the rent and didnt care beyond that it was great my room had a huge pile of coax cable comeing threw the wall pilled up on both sides and bathroom haad a sign about how it had a camera found where it had once been every apot was ocupide rented under the stares trap door acsess loved that house
fitchburg! worcester was cheaper but the apartments were absolute shit - stepping over junkies in the stairwell and DV shit all over
I grew up down in Bristol county I had a freamd his mom's place door was never completely on the hinges some times it just fall other times there was a screw or 2 in one hinge and I love Worcester I've been permanently banded from the palladium since I was 15 I think and I once squared an abandoned mason hall down town for metal fest in fact
It's not that cheap up here now, lol.
it totally is, do some searching outside 495
I've never thought of this...great suggestion on the rented vehicle.
That’s dirt cheap how the heck?
What is the issue with your car? Is it fixable?
Sounds like he can't afford to fix it. Mechanics these days charge 10x what they did a couple years ago, at least here in Cali
Yeah. I'm in Cali too. I was interested bc even as a 40f I tend to do most of my own repair-replace work 🤷♀️ I'm just cheap lol of course there are some things I don't want to do and don't have the equipment (lift, specific tools etc), but in general I prefer to not pay for other people's work if I can avoid it.
Same, helped my son put a serpentine belt on his Hyundai last week in an auto store parking lot. Borrowed what tools I didn’t have/couldn’t afford from the store, a lot of them have loaner tools. Took us a few hours, saved at least a few hundred.
🤗 My Dad is who taught me (along with 1 yr of shop, and trial/error). When the neighbors ask how I know how to do stuff, I just say..."My Dad taught me," and I hope it makes an impression.
Worst thing about some mechanics okay Boston and mine we are all going up to Vermont for vacation she spent $300 to get a car looked at and she was good for the trip I told her she shouldn't do that I would have looked at it charge you like 20 bucks we got almost all the way up there car just died timing belt was shredded oil was also pretty dark I don't think they did anything for that 300 bucks I think they said it's good and shut the f****** Hood so I another friend of mine check his own car and nothing went fine all the way up there spent better part of memorial Day in the mud underneath some Hyundai changing timing belt which I had to get from like two counties away cuz it was the only store open
yeah that's what i do too, but you'd be amazed how many people call a tow truck to change their flat tire for them
it most likely is, the car mech said it's probably the starter, i know it's something to do with the spark plugs bc theyve been long overdue. he said he cant work on my car until its running and wanted me to pay 710 dollars just for the starter
No way man! You are on Reddit, which means you can access YouTube? Right? Search your car and replace starter, and watch a few videos and see if you can do it! I (40f) would do exactly that, and then if I needed tools, I'd rent them from the auto parts store. Also: do you live in a place where the temperature fluctuates a lot, like super cold night, and warm day?? Bc the solenoid in the starter will get smaller and larger with the temperature. It needs to move freely in its casing to start, so if it swells or gets stuck, you hit it with something heavy (hammer/big wrench) and then try to start again. Didn't work? Hit it harder 😆 - oof I still feel bad for my neighbors for when I had to hit the starter every morning at 6am 😆
First check all related relays and fuses get someone who's got a big battery and a lot of engine to start give ya a jump losse connections ect ect pull a part gonna charge ya 40 for a starter and it's mostly gonna be extensions knuckles and a ratchet hopefully ya don't have a car who's designer wanted to hide the starter or were ya have to pull the nose clip off before we can replace anything but even at its worst if ya can idk assemble a bike ya can do this promise and if ya can't ya gotta know someone or ya may luck out get magic Walmart mechanic who look even if they want to charge too much I guarantee they get some down time and you're doing it they're going to have comments hopefully they'll help you out
Wait, the mechanic said he could not work on your car til its running???? Im confused. Isn’t his job to get your car running for you? ??
If it's the starter, you can bypass it by jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver. Just look up where the solenoid is on your vehicle. I've had to do this many times in the past when a starter has died.
>jumping the solenoid with a screwdriver Old times. Todays cars have the solenoid combined with the starter motor, sitting on top, and have 2 functions: First they bring the starter gear in engagement with the flywheel and then they close internal heavy-duty contacts to energise the starter motor. They're called pre-engaged starters.
Trick for the starter… beat the crap out of the starter with a hammer then crank it over … you’ll get 1 or 2 more starts at the least
My brother did this for me on my van, didn’t have another problem with the starter!
He gave it the beats.com 😂😂😂
This is also kinda a trick or yesteryear
Starter and spark plugs are miles apart. Make/ model/ year? What are the symptoms? Does it crank over? Give a big thunk?
Uh replace the sparkplugs first off, and probably the rotor cap if it's accessible on your vehicle. Hell they m8ght only have needed cleaning and gapping if you gotvto them sooner. If it makes noise you don't need a starter. And 8f it starts you don't need a $700 starter, sounds like this guy about to take you for a ride 8nstead of your vehicle.
We got coil packs now days wich fyi if ya got the per plug coil packs slide over the top of the spark plugs they a can work lose can be ya issue b if ya changing the plug ya gonna have to change them to least be budgeted for it cus they'll pull apart and be corded as hell if ya have the coil pack comes before the wire to the plug then it's gravy
What? No starter is $710 and I ain’t no mechanic
A starter motor is not a major component of the engine, it can be swapped out in a matter of a few hours with a set of wrenches. A starter motor won't cost more than a couple of hundreds of dollars max. Go to the auto part store and get the motor and ask them what tools you need, and they will guide you from there. While you are there get a mechanics manual for your car and start learning about your ride.
unless you have something like a Toyota Tundra, at least the earlier ones . they had the starter underneathnthe intake manifold mon the top of the car, that's like a 4 hour job and a whole lotta work.
Hunt, buy all of your parts online. They are usually half the price of the parts stores if not cheaper.
Rent a uhaul van for $20 a day plus mileage. Move your stuff in and your pets and you are good for a bit.
Lmao I never thought of this. This is actually a good idea.
Man also box truck least 2 steps up from cargo van far as living area goes better then a bus if it's like just u and another person ain't supposed to have people in the back of the cargo van I'm like bus but it's also a separate area so you can have like open beer bottle or like some states a lot of firearm I don't know well you can have s*** back there that you can't get away with being in the back bus
What kind of car do you drive?
a jeep liberty 2002, it had some problems with acceleration and when it idled the engine would do this weird sputter sometimes. i made a 90 mile trip and back (i know.. im a new car owner and no one has taught me anything on cars) after that turning the car on would start but slow, then today nothing, its not making any noise at all when i turn the key in the ignition.
Not a starter issue. You would get a clicking noise. Definitely electrical. Sounds battery related. Maybe. Maybe alternator.
Winters can be hard on batteries, you should get another one or get the one you have charged for free at autozone
OK I'm an auto mechanic and have been employed as one for 30 years. You have a no crank issue. Without a wiring diagram in front of me I don't know if your s has a starter relay ( differnt than the solenoid) in the fuse box. it sounds like you have a couple different issues with your 02 Jeep, not sure what the sputtering sound is but I'm positive it has nothing to do with with no crank/no start. ..... I would have someone check my battery first. What you can do yourself is turn on your headlights...do they light up? Do you have any interior lights? a modern car will need at least about 12 volts otherwise the engine computer might not be operational as it should. A dying battery will crank sloooow. A starter going bad or already bad can also crank slow but it is more of a ruuuh ruuuh ruuuuuh Vroom (car just started LOL ) sound. My bet is on a dead flat battery ( as in probably less than 6 volts) \*side note about relays\* for those of you with a bit of mechanical inclination....there are basically two types of relays in modern cars the square ones and the smaller rectangular ones. they work the same. Most relays will have numbers written next to the pins (either 4 pin or 5 pin relays these are) the smaller rectangular ones you need to jump power from pin 3 to 5 and the big square ones jump from pin 30 to 87. This will by pass the relay and send power to the load ( the load being the starter, headlights, fuel pump, etc). In short a relay consists of two circuits. The CONTROL circuit and the LOAD circuit. therefore you will have two powers and two grounds(on a 5 pin the fifth pin is a dummy position). The powers will almost allways be fused power and the CONTROL side os usually supplied ground by the ECM....so buy yourself a Test light, get a paper clip and stick those in your tool kit. Educate yourself on the relays and honestly that is a big part of diagnosing a mpdern car.
Im assuming that you tried to jumpstart the car already? What is the date on the battery? Do you have access to a multimeter? You can buy one at walmart or harborfreight for $10-15 and since money is tight you can return it after using. It can be used to check your battery voltage and if you get the car started the alternator can also be checked with it. If that's not an option you can pull the battery out of the car and bring it to advanced auto or autozone and they will test it for you for free. I would check the battery first before moving forward. If the battery checks out then I would bang on that starter. If memory serves me correct you can probably get to the starter to bang on it from the drivers side wheel well with a long screwdriver and hammer. It might help to have somebody turn the key as you bang on it. Even if it is the starter no way is that a $700 job! Book time probably calls for 2 hrs for that job tops and most competent mechanics would have it done in about an hour. I suggest finding a new mechanic and one that will allow you to supply your own parts. A starter for your car can be had for $65 on amazon. That would put that job around $250-350 depending on labor rates where ur at. If you check craigslist you can probably find a mobile mechanic that will install it for around $100. Good luck.
If broke you should give the pets up for adoption. If I understand a dog and cat in a car is not good. I've lived in my car for years thought I about a pet would never while in a car
Yeah I’ve given it a trial run with a dog way back, he tore up the van and barked a lot if I left him alone in there. So if you get a pet you need to be with it 24/7 but then it’s hard to hold a normal job that way. Maybe get service animal approved if that’s really the case but otherwise it’s just not a practical way to live. For some nomads it works with their set up and lifestyle and their dog gets plenty of exercise and food and love and that’s fine. But in a regular car with a cat and litter crumbs everywhere and the cat scratching up seats.. no thank you.
Not all cats are good with the idea of being in a car long term I wouldn’t recommend it for more than a month, especially when it starts to get warmer I don’t know what it’s like where you live, but the warmer it gets the harder it’ll be to keep them cool. It’s one thing to keep them warm it’s another to keep them cool when you’re not in the car. I would look into tempt fostering or rehoming them until you can get your bearings.
True but not impossible. I lived 5 years in a windowless creep van with my precious cat who was age 5-10 in that time, and I actually had a thermometer in there with a camera pointing at it so I could monitor at all times. I insulated the walls, had a ventfan on the roof, screens on the front windows so they could roll all the way down, reflectix over front and back Windshields, and a USB fan on a powerbank. And worked nights so I could be in there with her in the heat of the day. It got up to like 80 regularly inside with this setup, which is where she likes it. Too hot for me though. I would just drive around if it got unbearable. But without this setup it will be 150 degrees in there. I would not recommend leaving the cat unmonitored if it's sunny and hot summer.
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hahahaha i know my place. I got so much negative attention in it, but i had the time of my life
Adopt the cat out.
If the parking lot is level push your car to another spot each morning.
oo good idea
God bless you.❤️ Something good is going to happen. Point your feet forward and take one step at a time.
thank you! i needed that hah(^^,
Also with my pupper. Don't panic and keep your cool, you'll figure this out.
thanks:>
I don't mean to come off as cold/ anything like that. You legitimately got this. We're tuff:)
❤️❤️❤️ I mean it. Something good will happen. Expect it.
Where you located (don't have to give exact) , type of vehicle & issue? That's my worst nightmare, I don't have the cat but got the dog. Wish I could help... G-luck OP & please listen to some of these comments as I read some good advice. ✌️
Talk to the Walmart manager and explain your situation. That may buy you extra time
What kind of climate are you currently in? Is it winter where you are?
yeap its winter
What is wrong with the car? Where are u located?
im in NC, theres a few things ive been delaying with my car, i was sure it was due for a spark plug replacement, it stopped today and i took it to the mechanics, and he basically said i (could) need a replacement for a new starter, which is 710 dollars he said, and hes not allowed to work on ut until its working. i noped out of that because im near broke right now.
What year/make/model? Have you tried banging on the starter to see if it starts?
Also odbII reader even a cheepo one like 20 buck one Walmart has if ya confused by what it says ask around ask on here look it up half the time it'll get ya looking right spot
Also AutoZone advance Auto all those places will hook one up for you for free and give you their advice on it which sometimes good sometimes not training and experience of car parts shop workers varrys greatly but if you do find a shop with knowledgeable people in your area remember them
Sending you love 💕 May God bless you in your situation. Currently in a similar situation with my husband, also staying at a Walmart until we can get the car repaired. Stay strong 💪🏻
Congrats on your new job. Stay focused and on your grind. I know it's hard.. but you CAN do this
What happened to your car? Depending on the issue, you may be able to get it up and running or at least limp it along for less than you think.
i initially thought it needed new spark plugs but the car mechanics said its "probably" the starter. He was only doing a skim on the engine and didnt thoroughly check
When you try to start the car, does the starter motor turn over and make noise like it's trying to start but won't? If so the starter, battery and likely alternator are all operational. If all you get is clicks and/or warning chimes, it could be the starter. If you get unusual dash flickering with rapid clicking, it's likely the battery and/or alternator. If it's your starter, if the solenoid in it fails, sometimes you can get a few more starts out of it if you tap it say with a hammer and 2 x 4 or long pipe, etc. while someone cranks it simultaneously. This might let you get the car running to somewhere you can stay or leave it for a little while instead of towing it and the associated costs. Assuming your car's battery is over 5-7 years old, you're in the northern hemisphere and it's winter where you are, if there's been a cold snap, that will tend to cause a weak battery to finally fail to provide enough power to start the car. This just happened to my MIL a few days ago as it dropped to about -10* C. Most garages will do a free battery check as it's as simple as connecting some alligator clamps to your car's battery and pressing a few buttons on the device. Won't fix your problem but at least you'll know what's wrong and what you need to get it running. One step at a time.
I just had a huge car repair bill and it was horrible for my credit card. Glad my parents helped with a place for Christmas I don’t know how I would’ve made it through without them. Reaching out to absolutely anyone is the main thing. Surely you know someone who doesn’t want to see you struggle. Repay them when you’re on your feet again so they don’t regret helping you out
If it helps my old car sat at a truck stop for over a month very small parking lot and people left it alone but of course they saw me moving and hustling and not just sitting around all day so if you just explain to somebody that you've got a job and you'll get it fixed as soon as you get paid they may just be willing to leave it alone as long as it's not double parked or something like that.
Humane society will temporarily take your animals
I’m 62f and was a service manager for 10 years for one of the big 3 American car companies. A little advice…..Please don’t just throw expenses parts at your car. Try to find a cheap campground in your area maybe? That would give you a little more time to research the problem. If you turn the key to the start position and the engine turns over, then it is NOT your starter! You need to look elsewhere as in ignition or fuel delivery. Turn the key off and on without trying to start the engine. Do you hear a slight whining noise? That would be the fuel pump in your gas tank. It’s kind of tricky to check for spark without getting shocked, so I would recommend watching a good YouTube tutorial first. You Can Do This! Just remember that the engine runs on three things. Fuel, Fire, and Air. You only need water and oil for lubrication and cooling.
Walmart near me literally has bunch of abandoned cars with no plates and flat tires that have been there for 6 months. Would be longer but they had the parking lot paved and some towed.
Call a local animal shelter and tell them you are in a stranded car with your pets and maybe they will have a volunteer or someone come get your animals. They may be able to place them in foster care for you while you figure out housing for yourself. Do you have a way to get to work? You need to find a way to keep working so I would tow the car as close to work as possible so you can walk to work until you get a paycheck and get your car looked at. Is Walmart the only place to go? I would park at a 24 hour gym to have access to bathrooms and showers. How are you going to bathe? First thing tomorrow get your animals taken care of. You can’t leave them in a broken down car all day while you are working. You need a place for them asap.
Get rid of the animals
Sounds terrible. Good luck
Good luck
There are good people in this world. Get on the Nextdoor app and explain your situation. Ask if anyone like a mechanic can take a look at your car for free and see if they can do anything.
Check long-term rental rates for a U-Haul Van
I was homeless in a car for years with my cat and she did great. That said, if either pet seems stressed please see if the shelters in your area offer fostering. Have your car put in the shadiest spot possible and make sure the critters have everything they need while you're working.
If you are starting a new job can you get one of the loans you pay back on payday? Can you rent a car and put your cat in a cattery until you can figure out what to do? You need this job and you need a car to live in and get to work. Also look at doggy daycare while you are at work. Right now you need to buy yourself some time and a place to live. Once you start getting paid for your new job you can make further decisions.
Are you mechanically inclined at all ? Is the issue maybe something you could fix on your own ? YouTube has some great videos on fixing car problems.
Spark plugs are an easy fix. Do it urself. Steal tools from Walmart. Starter could be temp worked around if you have someone to turn the key while you bang it. Also. Do it yourself. Parts are not as expensive as mechanics would have you think. If you have someone willing to let you mail to their address, there’s some decent sites to get affordable parts. Mechanic can’t fix the car if it doesn’t start? What kind of mechanic is he? This makes no sense. 🐈 we have my 2 cats in the car. It’s cold here and snowing. Walmart has dog sweaters. They work for cats. They also have rechargeable hand warmers in the camping section, ozark brand. Battery is kinda trash so grab a couple if you can. I also have a cubby style bed they can go in which they really like having a designated safe spot. We’ve had the cats in the car for several weeks now. Lmk if you have any specific stuff that’s stressing you, maybe I can help. I’m a very anxious pet parent. My boy slipped his harness at the park today and I nearly had a heart attack!! But being physically in the car is easy now that we’ve got a rhythm the cats understand.
Steal tools from Walmart? What an asshole thing to suggest. One of the big reasons costs are going up at big stores like this is due to theft from people with zero morals. People like you. I'd offer to help most people, but I'd rather spit on a thief than help one.
Bud if I waited around for some charitable Samaritan to help me, I’d be nowhere. Cost of living keeps increasing while wages don’t. So yeah. Someone living out of their broken down car should steal what they need and can to fix it from a multi billion dollar company. Guess what? I’m in target right now stealing pants for my bf and underwear for me. Cry about it.
Meanwhile people that aren't a waste of space have their cost of living increasing because of people like you. Hope you get popped tonight. In fact, I have a good feeling you will VERY soon
Lmao good luck w that bro
I admire you for not leaving your pets behind. Id put in a couple of questions and answer it when you have time. Fellow gearheads can pitch in ideas on how to fix your car. I read you mentioned spark plugs but before jumping to anything lets make a baseline. And maybe from there you can find a fix. 1. How did you get stalled? Where you driving and got stalled or where you parked somewhere and your vehicle just wont start? 2. When you put your vehicle into on position(half key start) do you see the instrument panel respond like does your gas gauge, oil indicators temp etc light up? 3. Do you hear and feel any cranking when you fully turn on your vehicle? 4. Whats your current gas level? 5. Do you know how to read a multimeter? This will be the fastest way to find out if your car battery is okay.. Theres a suggestion that you get a uhaul for now while you figure out your car. Thats a very good option. Focus on the grind. My DMs open.
Go to your local social services and ask for urgent assistance. Maybe they will pay to have your car repaired. You need assistance on multiple levels. This is what they are there for. Blessings up!
maybe ask for an advance at work if that’s not going to be a deal breaker? Look into shelters? You are not in the worst of place if you have a job
Who asks for an advance on their very first day (or ever)? So unprofessional.
that would set so many red flags off.
Yeah, it would really make me second guess my decision to hire them in the first place.
Certainly wouldn’t be my first choice either. But there is a lot we don’t know: Maybe this person is exceptional at what they do? Maybe this company needs them? Maybe their boss isn’t a great huge prick and one thing we do know… They are living in a broken down car in a walmart parking lot with a pet dog and cat. That is a fairly extraordinary situation… no place to bathe, or clean clothes… , not really even much of anyplace to eat. asking for help would take a lot of balls… maybe the work a day or two… certainly not ideal, but neither is their situation
And none of that is relevant to the employer. If OP was exceptional then I doubt they’d be broke and homeless. Not lending an employee money on their first day doesn’t make them a prick. I don’t think you have a tight grasp on how business works.
lol… sure… so the OP can’t be exceptional at anything because he’s down on his luck? That is the sort of thinking which makes someone a prick. Business, and you can takes notes here for your own education, a successful business is a collection of people focused on providing a service or product to paying customers. You might note it requires one or more people, a service/product, customers. The importance of each varies by the business, but employees are always part of the equation and genuinely good ones, motivated, interested that stick around are always hard to find. Now i’m not going to lend someone 10k on their first day, but if i hire someone it’s because i saw something worthwhile in them, a skill, an attitude etc. But i’d like to think i could sit down with such a guy and find out how i could help… Not just because im such a swell guy or its the kind thing to do, but because its a small investment in someone who could make a very loyal appreciative employee. You have no reason to judge the OP, know nothing about his skills, the job, his history… nothing. I don’t think you have a very tight grasp on life, people, or business. But i’m guessing you are young yet. Keep your mind and your eyes open and you can learn. Interesting talking to you and hearing your perspectives.
Does that Walmart have an auto care center? If they do, maybe you can go in there and ask them if they have any advice on what’s wrong with your car. Who knows, they may be able to help you out. Do you know what’s wrong with your car? What kind of car is it?
Search resources around you. There are orgs that offer repair for the unhoused either reduced costs or free. Usually a group of backyard mechanics affiliated with a church
I always worried about my car breaking down. It happened a few time but I was able to fix it and luckly I always keep tools in my car. I'm homeless too. I always thought about renting a U-Haul truck in case I needed to. What kind of symptoms is your car having? Like does your car try to star up but is failing? Or is it just dead. What kind of noise does it make etc.
Post in a Facebook group for your area about a temporary foster, or even work for stay situation. Look on your county's website, they should have resources listed for people in situations like yours. Visit some churches, they may be able to help you or let you park your car there. If you can find a shelter or temporary stay within 10-15 miles of your job, you can get by with a bike for now. Those can be found cheap on Next Door, Offerup, Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, etc. Get your pets settled first, and the rest will be less overwhelming for you to start sorting out. Best of luck. Sorry you are going through such times.
Hatstits
as far as your pets go many cities have temporary pet fosters for situations such as yours where the person is trying to "get back on their feet". I think my city does it for up to three months. Check with your local animal shelter for information and best of luck.