Car wont start but battery is new and only my headlights work nothing else in the car shows power
I can't get my car started I got a new battery but still won't start. Dose t show any power inside the car no dash lights no radio just headlights. Car stopped working when I was driving it just shut off and since then it won't start
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello there, many common faults will cause your 1995 Nissan Quest to have problems starting. You did great in replacing the battery as this is the most common fault of all time for no start conditions. There are a few other likely suspects for prevent the vehicle from starting such as the ignition switch, starter, battery cable, fuel pump, or a wiring harness fault. Your vehicle will need diagnose to determine what is the root cause now that it still does not start after the battery was replaced. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your no start faults and make any repairs required to get your vehicle running again.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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When you have a brand-new battery but still can`t start the car, the alternator might be the issue. Cold and damp climates may increase wear on an alternator, causing it to fail. Flickering gauges and a burning rubber smell could indicate that the alternator overheated and requires replacement.
Bad Spark Plug Or Broken Distributor Cap/Rotor
If you have a good battery and enough fuel in the gas tank and your car still won`t start, chances are you have a bad spark plug. Why? A bad spark plug will prevent fuel ignition, and the vehicle won`t move.
If your car won`t start but the lights come on, it is likely not an issue with your battery so it`s time to turn your attention to your ignition switch. A failed ignition switch won`t be able to supply power to the starter motor, ignition system, and other engine controls, preventing the engine from starting.
The battery can be fully charged but still not be able to start the vehicle if it is failing or has a dead cell. Other likely issues are the fuel pump, ignition switch, battery cables, starter, or a clogged fuel filter.
Dead battery: A dead battery is the No. 1 cause of a no-start. If the battery is weak, but not totally dead, the starter may turn slowly.
Selecting the wrong battery may also cause the start-stop system to fail. As a result, the engine is rarely or never switched off when the vehicle is at a standstill (e.g. at a traffic light). An incorrect battery can cause a number of various functional failures.
Fortunately (spoiler alert) the root cause of a no-crank is almost always simple. Most of the time it`s simply due to a low or dead battery, or voltage drop through a corroded connection. Rule those out before you suspect the starter itself.
The most common reason cars don`t start is a dead or faulty battery. Even though most cars run on gasoline, they all require electrical power to function. The starter that cranks your engine to start requires an electrical signal to fire. If something`s wrong with your battery, your car engine won`t turn over.
Possible causes of a power failure could be either bad battery connections, a bad ignition switch, or a bad alternator. What you need to do is check your vehicle`s power sources.
If the voltmeter reads between 14-15 volts then the battery is normal. But if the battery reads over 15 volts or less than 13 volts, then there might be a problem with the alternator. The alternator is over charging the battery or not giving enough charge to the battery.
12.0 volts or below – At 12.0 volts your battery is considered to be fully discharged or `flat` and should be recharged as soon as possible. The lifespan of your battery will be severely affected if it remains within this voltage range for extended periods of time.
It`s theoretically possible for both of them to fail at the same time, meaning within the same minute that you`re in the car starting it and the alternator just happened to fail at that same moment. In reality this is almost impossible.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car wont start but battery is new and only my headlights work nothing else in the car shows power
ANSWER : Hello there, many common faults will cause your 1995 Nissan Quest to have problems starting. You did great in replacing the battery as this is the most common fault of all time for no start conditions. There are a few other likely suspects for prevent the vehicle from starting such as the ignition switch, starter, battery cable, fuel pump, or a wiring harness fault. Your vehicle will need diagnose to determine what is the root cause now that it still does not start after the battery was replaced. A qualified Technician such as one from YourMechanic will be able to diagnose your no start faults and make any repairs required to get your vehicle running again.
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
2005 Chrysler 300C changed battery and alternator. Car started, ran, and then battery light came on. Shut car off and wouldn’t start.
ANSWER : Hi. There is a couple of things that could be wrong here. The battery or alternator that was just installed could be defective. Theses parts need to be tested for proper operation. There also could be a fuse, fusible link, or wiring for the battery or charging system that is blown or broken causing the battery light to come on.
The codes that you have will cause the car to shut down, run rough, or not start at all. The crankshaft sensor and camshaft sensor should be replaced. I suggest having a certified technician from YourMechanic come diagnose the charging system and check engine codes to help you proceed with correct repairs.
New battery, car still wont start even with jumper cables.
ANSWER : If the battery is new and fully charged, and you turn the key to the "start" position and you hear nothing that means that either the starter circuit supplying the starter motor (ignition switch, wiring, relay, fuse, etc.) has a defect or the starter motor/solenoid itself is faulty. The way the two possibilities are distinguished is simply to check for power to the starter motor. If power is being supplied to the starter, and yet the starter motor is not working, then it is condemned and replaced.. If power is not being supplied to the starter motor when the key is in the "start" position, then the reason why has to be determined. In the case of no power, wiring faults could be an issue inasmuch as corrosion on starter circuit terminals or circuit connections could reduce the current available to the starter motor enough that the starter just won’t work adequately especially in cold weather when the demand on the motor is the greatest. Basically, you have to perform voltage drop tests along the entire circuit to ensure the circuit itself is in good condition. To resolve this issue, the recommended service is a no start diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will quickly let you know of the root cause of the problem.
Car didn’t start this morning, do I need a new battery or did I drain my battery? (although I can’t seem to think of how I did?)
ANSWER : Hi there!
First off, don’t worry about being a new car owner – everybody has gone through this same situation at least one time in their lives. When the radio or other accessories are turned on while the engine is not running, the power is drained from the battery. If it’s too long, it can cause the battery to prematurely wear out. However, since your vehicle is a 2010, it’s possible that the battery was on it’s last legs as it was. Usually when the car starts, the alternator charges the battery. But if the battery is worn out or old; it usually means the battery needs to be replaced. We have several professional mechanics from YourMechanic.com who can complete the battery installation for you.
We have a new battery, new alternator, new coil pk, new master fuse and the car still won’t hold power.
ANSWER : Hi there. The only thing that I could think possible is causing your problem is that something may not have been correctly installed while your son was completing this maintenance. However, if your engine was difficult to start before this service, it’s possible there are different components that are damaged that simply didn’t resolve the issue. The only way of knowing what is going on with your Trailblazer would be to have one of our mobile mechanics in your area come to your location and complete a car is hard to start inspection.
Water was spilled in the trunk which soaked the car battery. Car won’t start now. Does water destroy a car battery?
ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in about the concern with the BMW 320i. If the battery was submerged in water then it’s completely possible for the battery to short out and die. Your friend will need to have the battery replaced. Also be sure to get all of the water out of the trunk. Have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, help you guys out if you need assistance with replacing the battery. Good luck.
My car cranks but will not start. I try to do fix the car myself. I put new battery, new alternator, and new ignition coils.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the spark plugs and see if they are worn or burned. If the plugs are good and they have a good spark, then the engine compression could be low causing a no start situation. If the spark plugs are not emitting a spark, then the crankshaft position sensor could have failed or disconnected. Check the crankshaft position sensor wiring harness and make sure that its plugged in. Check the sensor and make sure that its not broken or damaged. If you need further assistance with your engine not starting, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
