I recently purchased a 2006. The other day the car died while my daughter was backing it out of the driveway. Now there is a power steering alarm present and the car will not turn over. I have tried the "deflooding" method with no results. There is power to the vehicle, it just will not turn over and start. Need help...thanks!!!

 

When you say "turn over" is it that the starter doesn't crank, or that it cranks and cranks but the engine doesn't fire up?

 

The starter doesn't crank. I thought the same thing about the starter needing to be checked but I have never heard of a vehicle dying from a bad starter.

 

The thing in common isn't the starter, it's the battery. A disrupted battery ground could cause all sorts of problems, including clearing fuel trims (which could stall the car), causing flooding, inability for the starter to get power to turn the engine, disrupting ignition/fuel, etc...

You mention "the deflooding procedure", and that bothers me a bit, since there are at least 6 methods that I know of, not 1.

Deflooding (if it is actually your problem, which I am unclear on) is very simple, but only if you stick with one specific method. Every failure to deflood situation that I've seen someone complain about has come down to either mixing steps from different methods (which rarely works well), or there is a deeper problem that is preventing the engine from starting that needs to be solved first.

If the engine isn't even cranking though, then it isn't a flooding problem (yet). No crank means no fuel will get injected, which is a prerequisite for the engine to flood (or start). At the moment, it just sounds like you need to disconnect both battery cables (negative first) clean the posts and clamps then reconnect (positive first) and see what that gets you.

 

I cleaned and tightened the battery posts yesterday and did so again after your reply and still nothing. I started checking fuses but did not initially find any blown. I am not sure about the large black fuses though.

 

large and black are relays, off the top of my head they should not affect the starter.

Is the Immobilaizer light blinking? a little car with a key in it?

 

Okay thanks for the clarification on the relays and fuses. I did not see the Immobilizer light during any of the processes. I had the battery tested and recharged due to the overcranking of trying to get it started and the battery tested good. Still having the same issue though. When I release the key, after turning the ignition, there is a whining sound that goes away after a few seconds. I am not sure if that has anything to do with it or not. I also checked my belts to see if the starter was turning my flywheel and it was. So it is turning over just not hard enough to start the car.

 

It's amazing how a few word changes will change the entire aspect to a problem. Not turning over is dramatically different from turning over but not firing.

You may indeed have a flood on your hands, though possibly not. You may have another problem that then also flooded the engine (flooding is a symptom of a deeper problem, and is never the original problem).

Flooding Myth: Deflooding

 

I will try the deflooding method you mentioned and see if that works. The one I used was similar but less detailed. I wil let you know how it turns out. Thank you for the help!!

 

I tried that deflooding method with no results and now my immobilizer light is on. I have not researched the immobilizer light but it sounds like an anti theft indicator. I do not have the time to continue to troubleshoot the car as I am needing it running ASAP so I am taking it to the dealer today I will keep you posted on what gets found out. Thanks for all of your help!!