2001 PT Cruiser won't start, but radio and lights work

[alichi]

It's an automatic, and I also noticed that the gear shift seems to be stuck in park even when I should be able to move it according to the manual, so I was wondering if that was related. My parents had an old Subaru on which the gear shift would stick and you had to take off the plastic cover and press some release button. Is there anything similar that I could do on the cruiser? There's also a clicking sound when I try to start the car. Could this be a short (found that online somewhere)?

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

[KLCruiser]

Sounds like a weak battery or bad connection. Clicking sound is probably your starter.

Not sure about the shifter, but there is a switch in there that would prevent the car from starting if not in park.

[CREWZIN]

I agree 100% with KLCruiser. When your battery is weak it can't turn over the starter and you'll hear that clicking sound. Replace or recharge it and you'll probably find the other problems will go away.

[alichi]

Thanks for your responses. I'll try to jump start the car, although the battery is not more than a year old and was replaced by the dealer, so pretty annoying if that's it.

On the transmission switch question - do you know how I could get to that switch?

[CREWZIN]

On the gearshift. If you turn the key to the ON position (even without starting the car), push down on the brake peddle, pull up on the finger control under the cobra head of the shifter, you should be able to put the shifter into any gear.

[alichi]

Thanks very much - that worked, and the car still didn't start. At least now I know that's not it. Just wishful thinking I guess. Oh well. Time to call AAA.

[CREWZIN]

I take it you don't have any jumper cables. Maybe ask a neighbor. If it clicks, it means the battery is just under the threshold of where it needs to start the car. Any amount of extra power will get it started.

You use the small bar in the area of the hood latch for negative hook up and the post inside in the engine bay that's covered by a yellow plastic clip for the positive hook up.

[alichi]

Thanks. I don't have jumper cables but my father does so maybe I can get him to help me out. Of course, when I tried to start the car this morning there wasn't even any clicking, radio not working, etc, so the battery is worse than yesterday! Is it weird for a relatively new battery to just fade away like this so quickly? I drove the car on Tuesday and it was fine, and didn't leave anything on.

[CREWZIN]

Do you drive it short distances? I only go 9 miles to the Sheriff's station each work day and very short trips other than that. When I go up to see my son and grandkids in Virginia we usually take my wife's car and stay for about 2 1/2 weeks. My Cruiser needs a jump the first time when I get back and a 45 minute ride to charge it up.

I just bought a trickle charger off eBay so we'll see it that keeps it charged while I'm gone this Christmas.

[alichi]

Interesting. The car was sitting for 2 weeks in the repair shop while I waited for a new wheel to come in (won't be going back there!) and then I only drove it twice for distances under 5 miles each time. So maybe it does just need a jump and then a long drive.

Thanks for the hope and good luck with your trickle charger!

ali