Expert: Sean Halliday - 7/10/2008

Question
Hello can you please help me today I went out to start my 1994 Previa the battery appeared to be dead IV had no clock radio etc, so IV place a good one in it's place after doing so IV heard the horn "very low sounding, and the dash showed the the lights such as the seat belts etc, well when I tried to start it everything went completely dead. Before all of this IV had it repaired driving home the check engine light came on, IV ask the mechanic after checking it he stated it was the oxygen sensor and said it would be ok to drive so I had for a few mounts with no problems. Reason for not replacing it was due to having no money he wanted $100.00 for labor without the sensor. But it started and drove great until this morning I don't know what could have happen IV drove it too and from the store  with no problem at all the night before and now this problem is going on. I was thinking the alarm had shorted out or something, I never used the alarm can't say if it worked or not IV bought it used a about 7 mounts ago underneath the dash has a samll silver switch and above that somewhat higher has a small red blinking light "that was always blinking never paid any attention to it because the van ran grate. Can you please help me thank you

Answer
Its possible your battery is still dead.Did you check to see if the one you put in was fully charged?Take it out and go to a parts store to have it tested for load and amps.If it is charged then you have a problem in the main wiring.As for the alarm,remove it completely from the car.I have seen these aftermarket alarms cause problems such as this.Other possibilities are the ignition switch,starter motor or a bad earth.