Got my first car yesterday

Discussion in 'New Members Forum' started by abm0830, Jan 21, 2011.

  1. abm0830

    abm0830 Member

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    well i got my first car yesterday and its a 1973 mercury comet :D
    it needs a lot of work, and my friends talk trash on it but whatever i still love my comet.
    oh and i have a question, i tried starting up my comet today but it didnt even start, two lights appear saying oil,and alt. then wen i turn the key it goes from oil and alt to oil and temp. what does this mean? sorry if its a dumb question. but thanks for you guys who can answer it,
     
  2. socalcomet

    socalcomet Member

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    :Welcome: from So Cal.
     
  3. scooper77515

    scooper77515 No current projects.

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    Welcome!

    It means it isn't running. Those lights won't go off until the engine starts and runs a second.

    What exactly is it doing, and more importantly, what is your mechanical skill level (so we know how to word stuff to help you get it running).
     
  4. don graham

    don graham MCG State Rep

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    Welcome to the board. Is the engine turning over? If not check the battery. How much fuel is in it? Has it been run in a while? if not, I'd get some starting fluid and spray some in and see if it tries to start. :Welcome:
     
  5. Mavman72

    Mavman72 Gone backwards but lookin' forward

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    Welcome to the center of the Maverick/Comet universe!!!
     
  6. abm0830

    abm0830 Member

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    well it was running when i got it yesterday, and today i turned it on and it wasnt running and those two lights well three popped up, well i only took a semester of autoshop so i dont think my mechanical level is high...
    http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/...ction=view&current=IMG00087-20110121-1540.jpg
    http://s118.photobucket.com/albums/...ction=view&current=IMG00086-20110121-1540.jpg
    those are two of the pics that show the lights that pop up, the first one says oil and temp.
    and the second one says oil and alt.
     
  7. abm0830

    abm0830 Member

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    it still has gas and it was running yesterday but it doesnt turn on today. well the ALT light pops up, i dont know if that stands for alternator or something, and the temp light pops up but i dont know what that means.
     
  8. Bubba Bob

    Bubba Bob Member

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    Ignore the lights. They don't mean anything until the car is running.

    Does it turn over? aka - Does the engine rotate when you turn the key/does it try to start?


    If not - What DOES it do/what do you HEAR?

    EDIT -

    And for the rest of the folks on here... Look at the rest of the Comet pics in his gallery - Comet GT?
     
  9. abm0830

    abm0830 Member

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    no it doesnt start or the engine doesnt rotate. i turn the key and nothing happens, i dont hear a thing when i turn the key, just those lights pop up
     
  10. Bubba Bob

    Bubba Bob Member

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    Happen to have a multimeter? If not, try jumper cables and report back.
     
  11. abm0830

    abm0830 Member

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    oh and yes it is a comet gt and ill try to use the jumper cables.
    if that doesnt work what do you think is the issue?
     
  12. Corbin Johnson

    Corbin Johnson Member

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    Welcome to the board!
     
  13. mav1970

    mav1970 Bob Hatcher

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    First off, I'm assumning that you have an automatic transmission. Maybe it's your neutral safety switch. Put your foot on the brake pedal, take the shifter and put it in neutral and see if the car starts then. Maybe your shifter linkage is off and you are not completely in "Park" when you try to start the car.
     
  14. abm0830

    abm0830 Member

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    yea that worked i put it in neutral and it started to turn over but it didnt start. any idea why not ?
     
    Last edited: Jan 21, 2011
  15. mav1970

    mav1970 Bob Hatcher

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    Well that's a step in the right direction (y)

    Now it could be a lot of things. Is it getting gas?
     

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