I took my car to the car wash yesterday and now it won't start. I'm missing part of the driver's side fender and I'm guessing water got into the engine compartment. The hood hasn't opened for a week and that's another problem. The car isn't getting any power at all....not lights, radio....nothing. It did turn over for a few seconds before the electrical system died. My car's still at the car wash. If anyone could tell me possible diagnosis that would be great.....i need to know where to push my car. Hopefully it's just a bad battery cable. Thanks for the help!

 

I think what you need to do to get the hood open is to pull the latch and then tap the hood right above the latch. It is a common problem and might take a few times to get the hang of it. It just needs to be adjusted. On the starting problem I would check the battery with a multimeter and if it is good I would then check connections to the battery, alternator and the starter. that should take care of the problem.

 

make sure there is no moisture inside the cap on the distributor. i did the same thing and couldnt get it to start after the 350 swap and the cap was filled with moisture

 

if i were you i'd push/pull it home..... but seriously if your not getting power it's a possible loose cable or corroded connector(s). as for it not starting i'd second the moisture in the cap theory. good luck

 

It isn't getting any power at all. Would the distributor cause that. The lady that owns the car wash just called my house and said if I don't move my car by suppertime she will have it towed! What a b!tch. I know how to open the hood......the open hood latch broke off from inside my car. Now my hood is stuck down and won't come up....not even with a crowbar. It's probably just a bad battery connection. I don't know what else it could be.

 

Geez, good luck with it dude, let us know how it goes. Slip the lady $10, apologize, and tell her you'll take care of it by the weekend.

 

damn, what a run of bad luck........ try this only at your descretion.....this is not easy and if you are in despairation try this. get underneath the front of the car jack it up. if it has the plastic thing right in front of the radiator just take it apart. it is held together by little plastic snap-in's(?) i'm not sure what they are called use a screwdriver to pry them apart. you will then you will be able to gain access to hood latch. pull it towards the drivers side and it should release. if the prying hasn't damaged it yet. i know these instructions are vague, but this is what i remember doing from when this happened to me.

 

Hey thanks tomp...I got the hood open from underneath. What a relief. After tightening all the connections from the battery she started right up.