Please help me start my car :(

Our daily driver '96 Buick Century was stolen tonight. The car was recovered a mile from my house with the column ripped apart. Had to drag the family out a few minutes ago to claim the car. I tried to start it with a screwdriver by sliding the metal bar with the teeth on it toward me, but the car just clicks like it has a dead battery, which it doesn't. Does anyone know how the the hell to start the thing? I need to get it home so I can fix it asap.

Thanks,
Eric

 

If it's like the earlier GMs I know, the bar with teeth on it should push a rod down the column, toward the firewall. That may have changed. if you pull the cover off the column and find the actual ignition switch by following the harness, you should be able to remove it and operate it by hand. Repairing a column can get expensive. You probably want to look for a salvage unit. Good luck.

 

have you looked under the car and under the hood.....? a lot can happen in a mile....especially when your drive it like you stole it...would tell ya to tun the column to the run position and jump the starter....but on those rides .....that may be impossible....good luck ....hope all turns out well....brandon

 

Can you turn the wheel? Is the ignition turning on, are the lights in the dash on? If so, just jump out the starter with a $7 remote starter available from any part store. People get nervous when working on newer cars. It is just a car. Think basics.

 

Did the key have one of those chips in it?

 

neutral safety interupting the fun? maybe built in anti theft took its time to work? There was a string of about 20 gm column equipped cars being broken into around KC. With the column busted and ready to drive off the thieves either drove it 20 ft or just left it. Weird

 

if the car had a p***lock chip. it would start and die. it really sounds like it needs a jump start. it coulda been sitting around with the doors open or the interior light on all night. the battery could just be weakened. try jumping it, and see if that gets it going.

 

put a volt meter on the battery and see how many volts you have. if you are low jump it. sure sounds like a week battery. cadillac dave