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What is wrong with this 1998 Mercury Sable?
Driving home from work today my Sable decided to take a dive on me. I'm not amazingly saavy when it comes to car repair, so i'm hoping someone on here can help me.
The car started somewhat rough, and after driving a short distance, the ABS light came on. It's not a tremendously long drive home - so I decided to check it out when I got back. Soon after, the gas light came on (even though I had somewhere around 3/8 of a tank) and the needle on the fuel gauge started rising. The airbag light came on, and flickered on an off a few times (as with the ABS light). The battery killed, I lost my radio, power locks, power windows, power steering and I couldn't accelerate.
As I tried to make my way off the road and into a parking lot, I noticed the RPM gauge spiking and the car accelerating on its own. I shut the car off and let it sit for a minute - when I tried to start it up, it didn't even try to turn over, and I just received a series of clicks.
I popped the hood, and someone instantly pulled over to help out. I decided to jump it, and the car started as soon as the cables connected. Assuming the alternator would keep it going the few blocks I had remaining - I left.
The same problem happened again, except much faster. I lost all power and had to jump it one more time (I let it charge a bit longer this time) and I made it home. However, as soon as I turned the car off, I could not start it again without a jump.
Any insight?
The car started somewhat rough, and after driving a short distance, the ABS light came on. It's not a tremendously long drive home - so I decided to check it out when I got back. Soon after, the gas light came on (even though I had somewhere around 3/8 of a tank) and the needle on the fuel gauge started rising. The airbag light came on, and flickered on an off a few times (as with the ABS light). The battery killed, I lost my radio, power locks, power windows, power steering and I couldn't accelerate.
As I tried to make my way off the road and into a parking lot, I noticed the RPM gauge spiking and the car accelerating on its own. I shut the car off and let it sit for a minute - when I tried to start it up, it didn't even try to turn over, and I just received a series of clicks.
I popped the hood, and someone instantly pulled over to help out. I decided to jump it, and the car started as soon as the cables connected. Assuming the alternator would keep it going the few blocks I had remaining - I left.
The same problem happened again, except much faster. I lost all power and had to jump it one more time (I let it charge a bit longer this time) and I made it home. However, as soon as I turned the car off, I could not start it again without a jump.
Any insight?
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Comments
It sounds like it's going to start - turns over and dies. I can try 20 times in a row and it won't start. Then I wait 30 minutes, and it turns over the first time. If this sounds like your issue, you *might* try putting a product like HEET in your gas tank to remove the moisture. I do NOT recommend doing this long-term, as regular use will degrade seals and such. If you do this and it cures your problem, it may be an issue with moisture in the gas tank.
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Remove the battery connections, clean and burnish the battery posts and connections and retighten the connections. If the problem persists go to Costco and purchase a new battery.