2002 V6 Vue won't start

[ashtonvue]

This is what happened: Vue started just fine. Drove it, no problems. Parked for 15 minutes, Vue won't start. No lights on dash or interior. No clicking noise from starter, nothing. Acts like there is no battery at all. The battery does have plenty of charge. Will not jump start. Acts exactly the same when connected to another car. Absolutely no power. All fuses look OK. Is this a symptom of sudden starter death? No aftermarket security system installed. Vue has 110,000 miles, don't know if the starter has ever been changed. Only had it for 5,000 miles. Thanks.

[fdryer]

Three things related to starting; battery, battery cables, and the starter. The first two are the easiest to check. Be sure the battery does have a charge - either have it tested if its the original one or put it on a charger. Now visually inspect the battery cables up close for any indications of corrosion on the terminals and underneath the heavy insulation cover. Peel the cover back if necessary; some batteries cracked from overtightened side terminals resulting in acid damage leaking into the cables ruining them later when acid eats away the copper wires. You won't see it from casual inspection. The lack of lights is a hint of poor/loose connections either at the battery or by the starter and frame ground. Check all the connections before troubleshooting the starting circuit next. Last is the starter requiring testing in one of two ways; turning the ignition key to START or shorting the large battery terminal to the small START terminal together - if the battery and cables are in good condition, either the starter will engage and turnover the engine or nothing. Be very careful when doing this; the ignition doesn't have to be on to power the starter as you are bypassing the entire starting circuit altogether to simply see if the starter will run. If nothing occurs then the starter is worn and needs to be replaced.

[1saxman]

All of Dryer's suggestions are great, but most likely you have battery failure. If it was the starter, all the lights would still work. Usually with corroded terminal connections, all the lights work but there's not enough current to trip the solenoid.

[rayzur9]

Gas cap Loose?

[Gerry Proctor]

Gas cap Loose?

I was thinking exactly the same thing.;)

[chuzz]

Bad ignition switch? Not the one where the key goes, but the one in the steering column. Saturn dealers know about this problem and keep a good supply on hand.

[chillin05VUE]

My Cutlass did the exact same thing. I drove to the store and parked it, no problems. I got back in about 20 minutes later and it wouldn't start. Wouldn't accept a jump either. No dash lights. Had just enough juice to unlock the doors with the remote. Had it towed back to my ob and they tested the battery. Found out that I had a dead cell in the battery and the battery wasn't holding a charge, so I needed a new battery. Never had a car do that before. But it had the OEM battery from 1995 and this was 2000. So, check your battery and also check your cables and terminals for corrosion My terminals were corroded as well. Cleaned the terminals wth a can of Coke and put a new battery in, no problems for another 5 yrs. And yes, Coke is a good cleaner for corrosion if you don't have anything else to use.

[neilpilot]

Found out that I had a dead cell in the battery and the battery wasn't holding a charge, so I needed a new battery. .

I've had 2 cars that needed new batteries due to a defective cellwithin the initial 15 months of new, including my 08 VUE. But the OP clearly states his battery is charged and a jump also didn't work, and he has no dash lights. Wouldn't you say the battery is not suspect?

Why all the posts pointing to his battery? Cables, fuse, ignition key, or something else other than battery.

[BobbyP]

My Cutlass did the exact same thing. I drove to the store and parked it, no problems. I got back in about 20 minutes later and it wouldn't start. Wouldn't accept a jump either. No dash lights. Had just enough juice to unlock the doors with the remote. Had it towed back to my ob and they tested the battery. Found out that I had a dead cell in the battery and the battery wasn't holding a charge, so I needed a new battery. Never had a car do that before. But it had the OEM battery from 1995 and this was 2000. So, check your battery and also check your cables and terminals for corrosion My terminals were corroded as well. Cleaned the terminals wth a can of Coke and put a new battery in, no problems for another 5 yrs. And yes, Coke is a good cleaner for corrosion if you don't have anything else to use.

I had this once happen in the 70's on a Pontiac Ventura II with a 307 V8. It would not start even when jumped. Had to replace the battery to get it home.

http://www.pontiacventura.com/ventura_images/1972ventura_pics/72vblue-RRCatalogue4.jpg

Of course it was at a bad time. I just went to a mental hospital to visit a friend in college that flipped out. They wouldn't let me in because they had strict visiting hours, and I was early. Came out and it wouldn't start...

[YourMainParadox]

ive never had a battery so dead a light would not even come on in the dash at least at first :P