Hey peoples,

I know this is a biomed/ET forum, but I was hoping you mechanically inclined folks may be able to help me out. My car suddenly won't start and on my dashboard, the 'BRAKE LAMP' signal stays lit along with a signal of all four doors being open. Alternator, maybe?

I'm asking on the forum so I could get the 'average joe' take before being likely swindled by 'trained professionals' at the repair shop.

BTW, I am a biomed in Cali who has posted here before and do appreciate the help I've been given through here for the past two years. Suffice to say, I trust a majority of the posts on the forum

What is the make and model of this vehicle.

soulds like a good one for 'Click and Clack'
call NPR and find out how to get in contact with those guys..

Is the motor turning over or nothing at all? Can you hear a 'click' coming from the starter when you turn the key to start?
The battery turns the motor and starts the car, then the alt normally provides the power after its running. If the motors not turning and you don't hear a 'click' you have no juice to the starter. Battery dead, bad connection, or something in the electronics not allowing power to be sent to the starter, or it could be a bad starter, or ignition.
May sound stupid but if its an automatic transmission, run the shifter throught the gears and back to park, then try starting again. The 'neutral safety switch' may think the car is in gear and not in park, and won't let you start it.
hope this helps

Hey Sparky,
If this is a late model vehicle, you may have a brake depress switch,(usually right above your brake pedal). If that switch goes bad or is unplugged the car will not start, even if you have the brake pressed.
Also, if your car has a computer, you may need to disconnect the battery for 5 minutes or so to allow the computer to reset.
Also check your battery voltage, it should be 13 to 14 volts dc, if not, it may not want to start.

Midus and AAMCO are advertizing free diagnostics, could be worth your while.

Well lets see here,

If I dont release the hand/foot brake the lamp will still lit,

I will check and make sure that all doors are closed tightly,

And if my engine is not turning while starting I need a new battery,

And if my engine is turning and not running, that means I need a TOW TRUCK.

thnx for posting this question.

I would check the battery. Buy one from Wal-mart they have a great return policy. So if it is killed by you having another problem take it back they will replace it.

As dumb as it sounds there is a weird possiblity; some cars, depending on year, are made so that if the gas tank top is not on good and tight the car will not start. I guess they don't want you to forget to put the top back on. So check the gas tank top and the sensor for this if it has one and you know how.

Another quickie I have seen is that most cars have an automatic fuel pump cut off switch somewhere in the system, with a reset button somewhere in the car in a fairly hard to spot place. This is so that if you are in a car accident and the fuel line gets cut it won't cover the car with gas and make you die a fiery death. Good idea, but here's the rub: if someone bumps you, in a parking lot, for instance, it might trip the switch. So you park your car, it was running fine when you pulled in, you go into the store for a minute, some idiot bumps your car just right when they are backing out of their space, you come back out, car won't start. The location of your reset switch is in your owner's manual; it's worth a look.

Good Luck !

Thanks for all the replies and advice, peoples!

I tinkered around with the fuses, spark plugs, distributor cap, whatever wouldn't blow up in my auto mechanics knowledge deprived face... but to no avail. However, my hand on the GOOD BOOK, the car did start once after I hit something in the TRUNK! (I don't know what) and I was able to drive it home, where the car has now sat for the past two weeks. And, yes, I did contact several auto repair shops but never gave into one because of the ridiculous estimates each one was giving me (what is an offer of 'free towing' going to do me if I don't have the funds to pay for likely unnecessary repairs and I can't drive my car back home)

Anyway, my reuse tech recommended a buddy of his with auto know-how and solid reputation for honesty (he's the pastor at the reuse tech's church!) So, hopefully he'll be able to pinpoint the problem.

But, your feedback is still definitely welcome! It's a '98 Accord that just clicks upon ignition. Windows, radio, headlights all working in good order. Dashboard indicates "BRAKE LAMP" and all four doors and trunk open...

Thanks ALL!!

seriously...call click and clack..and let us know if you get air time..i'd love to hear their take on this...

Shon, try charging the battery. It sounds like the battery doesn't have enough power to turn the motor, but is may still have enough to power electronics that don't require much current. Through a charger on it over night and see what happens. You can do even better if you can find a charger with a 'hot start' or 'start' setting on it, so you can quickly rule out it being a weak battery.
How old is the battery?
hope this helps.

If there's enough juice to run the windows up and down, it should at least try to turn over. Sounds like a bad starter or starter solenoid. Try tapping on the starter with a hammmer and see if it will start then. It could also be a bad connection at the battery or starter.

Check there and let us know what's up.

Thanks people for the replies...

Glad to say the car is now up and running as of Monday. It turned out that it was the starter that was really temperamental (good call, Village Idiot!). After I managed to dig it out, I saw that it was almost fried

So, after only $120 for a new part that I replaced myself, I thank you all once again for your help!

Being as this problem seems to affect several sensors I'd be looking at the computer, or a short in the harness. Ford Right?

Good luck