So...I need some help.

[jillmacp]

I have owned my 08 Astra for 5 years now, I've had very little trouble with it. I think I'm burning through oil. I've usually been okay, but I've noticed that I've needed to add oil a little more often then usual. I had to put some in 5 days ago. I'm not sure if that has anything to do with what happened to me yesterday. I'm driving on the highway doing 70mph. I have the cruise control on, the ac is on 1, and the radio was on softly (my baby was sleeping). I'm going up a slight incline and the cruise shuts off. I tried putting it back on and it wouldn't work. After a minute the red battery light and a little yellow car with a wrench turned on. Luckily the next exit was only two miles away. I shut the radio and the ac off, slowed down to 60mph and kept going to the exit. After a mile, the rpm gauge and the speedometer dropped to 0 and the radio screen read 0 as well. I made it to the gas station off the exit and shut the car off. My dad and I looked under the hood, couldn't see anything obvious, so he told me to turn it back on. It wouldn't start. No clicking, no nothing. But the windows would work, the radio worked and all the lights on the dash would work. Any ideas what's going on?

[billysvue]

Originally Posted by jillmacp

I have owned my 08 Astra for 5 years now,... I've needed to add oil a little more often then usual. I had to put some in 5 days ago... Any ideas what's going on?

Not without more information on what it looks like under the hood, battery voltage, oil level, oil used in a given mileage period, how much you put in 5 days ago, how low did it measure on the Dstick, miles since the oil and filter changed.

WElcome to the board.

[emg77]

It might be helpful to get a code reader and see if there are any codes. The battery light typically indicates a low battery charge or an alternator problem. I know a few people on the forums have had problems with the ECM ignition fuse blowing (preventing a start), and others with corrosion on the main battery cables.

If it's a manual transmission, sometimes the clutch safety switch get's gunked up, but that's unlikely to be the problem here.

This thread, and the schematic that is posted might help. Check for voltage at the starter and work your way back to the battery. If you don't have voltage at the starter, then it's probably the 175A fuse on the cable going to the starter. Fuse 18 in the fuse box under the hood goes to the ECM. It's unlikely to be the 200A fuse under the hood, because lots of other stuff in the car wouldn't work (basically anything fed from the front fusebox).
http://www.saturnfans.com/forums/sho...t=fuse+battery

[fdryer]

A red battery light while driving, regardless of whether the wrench light turned on or not usually means a power problem as system voltage dropped below 13 volts; battery (if original, its now 8 yrs old and may be worn out), loose/corroded battery cables, their connections including grounds (chassis and engine block), loose/missing drive belt, worn belt tensioner, and worn out alternator.

Average car battery life is around 5 years. If yours is original, its probably beyond its life expectancy. Most auto stores selling car batteries can test them.

[velocast]

If the battery is the original equipment, more likely is out of juice. I got an ACDelco part number 91PS for $105 core included. The ACDelco 91PS is an OEM replacement battery. Don't forget to pull out the plastic cover that covers the red terminal from the old battery because will fit exactly the new one. With the new battery all my lights become more bright. I can feel the start cranking is little more powerful than before.

[smwalker]

I vote for your alternator took a dump. Is It the original?

[darek_dade]

I had a similar problem. The car wouldn't start, I pushed started it and after 40 or so kilometers or dials died, the car started running rough, in other words the batter was dead and wasn't being charged. Took it to the mechanic and ordered a new alternator and starter. Turns out the wiring harness was the culprit (http://www.cheapestgmparts.com/oe-gm/55564284). There was a short somewhere and it killed both parts. It was an expensive repair unfortunately...