Car won’t start even after a jump. Things turn on, engine cranks but won’t start.
Originally I was driving then my radio shut off then my lights started to dim and dash gauges stopped working and suddenly car stopped working. I tried jumping my car, lights turn on and dash comes on when cable is attached, but when I crank the keys, it still won't start. I hear the engine trying to turn on, but won't fully start. Help please and thank you.
My car has 175000 miles.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The problem sounds like the battery is too low to crank the engine and was most likely caused by the alternator not charging. You should have battery fully charged for at least 15 minutes and then see if it cranks over. You may need to replace battery and alternator. Have the system checked and replace these components as needed.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
Why won`t my car start but the battery is good? If your car won`t start but the battery is good, the most common cause is a faulty starter – though it could also be to do with your fuel. You may have insufficient fuel to get the car going.
If jump starting gets your engine started and running, but the car will not start again once you turn it off, the battery is probably the problem. In this case, the alternator is doing its job of keeping the battery going once it has been jumped, but the battery can`t hold a charge when the alternator is shut off.
One common reason why a car won`t jump start is because the battery is completely dead. If the battery is completely dead, it won`t have enough power to turn over the engine, even with a jump start. In this case, you`ll need to replace the battery to get your car running again.
The problem could be as simple as a loose connection between the battery and the vehicle`s electrical system. Another issue could be that the battery connectors are dirty or corroded. Cleaning or replacing these could solve your problem. Make sure the connections are tight and try starting the car again.
Bad Sensors
One common culprit for this problem is the crankshaft position sensor, which measures the position and speed of the crankshaft. The computer uses the information from this sensor to know when to fire the spark plugs. If the sensor isn`t working, the spark plugs won`t fire, keeping the engine from starting.
There are many reasons why a car won`t start with a jump, like battery degradation, electrical problems, and software issues, to name a few. Make sure your car is not out of gas, and that the transmission is set to neutral or park. Check your jumper cables for any damage or wear.
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 most common reasons a Honda Accord won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.
Can you jumpstart a car with a bad alternator? It is possible in some cases to jumpstart a vehicle that has a faulty alternator, as long as the battery has enough of a charge to keep running. However, the alternator should be replaced as soon as possible.
The most common reasons a Honda Civic won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
One of the best ways to determine if a car fuse has blown is by using a test light. It should illuminate both ends of the fuse, and, if it doesn`t, it needs to be replaced. Sometimes, a blown fuse is caused by a damaged wire, motor, or other part.
Yes, you can drive with a bad oxygen sensor if you can still start your engine and feel little difficulty driving. But don`t leave it alone for over a couple of days, as it might cause safety problems and lead to the malfunction of other parts of your vehicle.
Battery Current Sensor Problems
Dirt and Debris: Dirt, debris, or corrosion on car batteries can penetrate into the sensor causing malfunctioning. This failure can lead to a number of electrical problems including no-start. Charging System Indication: The faulty battery sensors can disrupt the chagrin system.
A car`s battery is a 12-volt lead-acid system which allows the car`s starter and voltage regulator to act in unison. Most car models require at least 9 volts (about 40 per cent charge) of electricity to start, although some with more advanced electrical systems may require up to 11 or 12 volts.
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.
Typically, a vehicle will start and then quit because of an issue with the fuel or electrical system. It is important to monitor fuel levels as well as warning lights which can signal to the driver that a vehicle may quit unexpectedly.
The alternator`s design makes it fairly impervious to negative effects from jump starting. However, the alternator can sustain instant damage if the polarity of the clamp connections is mistakenly reversed.
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.
Let someone turn on the ignition key or press the starter button. Observe the light — if it doesn`t turn on, the solenoid is likely failing to transfer power and might need replacement. However, if the light turns on but there`s no clicking sound or starter engagement, the issue lies with the car starter.
Faulty Fuse
And if that`s faulty or the fusible links are damaged, your car wont start. A damaged or blown fuse can prevent power from reaching the starter relay, which is needed to provide the spark, the ignition, and the power to move your vehicle.
The only tool required to check a relay is a multimeter. With the relay removed from the fuse box, the multimeter set to measure DC voltage and the switch in the cab activated, first check to see if there are 12 volts at the 85 position in the fuse box where the relay plugs in (or wherever the relay is located).
The MAF can become clogged with excessive carbon build-up from the combustion cycle, or sometimes by road grime. If it is too dirty, it will be unable to correctly measure the air fuel ratio, and cause your car to not start or exhibit other unusual symptoms.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Car won’t start even after a jump. Things turn on, engine cranks but won’t start.
ANSWER : The problem sounds like the battery is too low to crank the engine and was most likely caused by the alternator not charging. You should have battery fully charged for at least 15 minutes and then see if it cranks over. You may need to replace battery and alternator. Have the system checked and replace these components as needed.
Car won’t turn over. No lights come on when I turn it. Can’t even lock my doorsvor push the seat up or back.
ANSWER : Your probably correct, it sounds as though your battery is done. But it also sounds like you have charging system issues. I’m not sure that fixing your battery and charging system will solve the problem with the car shutting off, but it’s possible that it will and it’s a darned good place to start. By contacting Your Mechanic, you can have a technician come to your home or office to check out your car and help you figure out what to do next.
Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?
ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.
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.
Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.
Car was sometimes not starting, not even cranking when i turned the key then after a few times itd start. Now it ont start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:
Without being there to inspect your vehicle, or having information about what type of car, truck or SUV you own, it’s very hard for us to give you some advice. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can come to your location and determine why your vehicle is having these issues.
The car crank but won’t start
ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.
Car won’t start after seeing engine hot turn a/c off warning light.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check the battery cables and make sure that they are tight and clean. Then check the battery voltage and see if it has a voltage of 12.6 or 12.4. If the battery is less than that, then the battery needs charged. If the battery has 12.4 volts or higher, then place a load tester on the battery and see if the battery can hold a charge when a load is applied. If the battery drops under 9.6 volts, then the battery is no good and needs replaced. If the battery drops to 11.5 volts, then there is a dry cell and possible a burned cell and the battery needs replaced. If you need further assistance with testing your car battery, then seek out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you.
