Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
Yesterday, I started my car, drove some distance and then the car suddenly wouldn't start for the drive home. The battery was old, it was cold out and the car started with a jump, so I figured that was the issue. Bought a new battery and installed it. Immediately afterward, it started without issue. About 4 hours later, I started it again with no issue.
This morning, however, same issue again, even with the new battery. Could start it with a jump from my charger, but not on its own.
There's no clicking or grinding, so I don't think it's the starter, and no visible corrosion
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The alternator can certainly be the culprit. The function of the alternator is to provide all the vehicle’s electrical needs once it’s running. The battery is there to start te engine and as sort of a back up to the alternator. If the alternator is not providing enough power for the electrical needs of the entire vehicle – spark, ignition, fuel pump, lights, heat, etc, the system will turn to the battery for power. However, the battery cannot charge itself. Once the battery is drained, you need a jump start. However, if the vehicle was not driven very far and the battery was still dead in the morning, you may have a short/draw. Some component or system may be drawing electricity even when the vehicle is off. Have a charging system inspection performed. A certified technician will be able to tell you if it is an alternator or other electrical issue.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The alternator may need to be checked if your vehicle still won`t start after installing a new battery. Honda Odysseys with faulty alternators accounted for about 27% of reported starting problems. An alternator that has gone bad will quickly deplete the battery`s charge and cannot recharge for future use.
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.
The most common reasons a Honda Odyssey 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.
Corroded cables: If the cables connected to your battery have become corroded, they may drain your battery or interfere with your battery`s recharging. Parasitic drain: If an electric component has remained on, either due to a broken relay or negligence, this can drain your battery while the car is not in use.
Press the Lock button on your remote car starter. Within five seconds of turning it on, turn your key back to the “off” position (or press the start button again). Repeat the on-off cycle three more times—you`ll do four in total.
The new battery does not have to be configured for the most current car models. Banner conclusion: No registration required; a check of the electrical functions after changing the battery is recommended.
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.
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.
Defective charging system – A car battery drains quickly if something called the alternator on your charging system fails to push out enough voltage, ideally between 13.5 – 14.5 volts. In this case, the battery will continue to drain even while the car is running.
An effective method to determine whether it`s your battery or alternator that`s gone bad is to connect jumper cables from a running vehicle`s battery to yours. After a few moments, try starting your vehicle. Once it`s started, remove the jumper cables — if your engine stalls, your alternator has probably gone bad.
Disconnecting your car battery for regular servicing, such as swapping the battery for a new one or placing a car in long-term storage, should not cause permanent damage to your ECU, as long as you follow the correct procedure.
A bad battery won`t usually harm your starter or alternator, however, since both of those components get their voltage directly from the battery, if the battery is underperforming, both the alternator`s and starter`s performance will be affected as well.
A bad starter actually sounds quite a lot like a dead battery – you turn the key, and all you hear is a click. It might not be the entire starter, though – it could be a weak component known as the solenoid. It prevents the starter from creating the correct current to start your car.
A. It depends on the car`s age and type of ECU used. On some older cars, disconnecting the battery will reset the system but in most new cars it does nothing, except potentially reset the clock and radio station presets.
If you were to replace an aged battery at the end of its service life with a brand new battery without updating the BMS, your new battery`s performance and service life will be compromised. This is why a new car battery should be coded to your vehicle.
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.
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.
The Likely Culprit: Starter
If you`re unable to start your vehicle, check and see if the headlights and dash lights come on. If they shine bright and clear, that means that the battery and alternator are likely not the cause of the problem. If they were, there wouldn`t be enough power to run the lights.
A classic reason why your car starts for a second then dies is battery depletion. The car needs electricity from the battery to start. However, if your car starts then dies immediately, then the fault could be a lack of charging or damaged battery.
Hi There, This may be caused by a number of things, but commonly this is a result of a faulty connection at the battery or in many cases, a faulty starter relay. The starter relay directs power from the battery to the starter solenoid which then engages the starter when you turn the key.
If your Honda immobilizer is activated, you should try putting the key in the ignition and switching the key to the on and then the lock positions. First, you must remove the key, then reinstall it and turn the key to the on position. By doing this, you should be able to reset your Honda`s immobilizer automatically.
The Immobilizer and Smart Key Reset is a feature that allows the registration of new keys when all master keys are lost. Once the system is reset, all previously registered keys will be erased.
This symptom often points to an issue with either your exhaust system, fuel or dirty or worn out parts. In internal combustion running vehicles, and incomplete combustion will cause a sputter. And while a sputtering engine might not seem like a serious issue, it often results in an expensive repair when ignored.
A failing fuel pump is one of the faults that can cause this. Other likely problems would be the battery, alternator, battery cable, wiring harness fault, crank or camshaft position sensor. The fuel pump may have been replaced because it was not turning on.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
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.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
ANSWER : The alternator can certainly be the culprit. The function of the alternator is to provide all the vehicle’s electrical needs once it’s running. The battery is there to start te engine and as sort of a back up to the alternator. If the alternator is not providing enough power for the electrical needs of the entire vehicle – spark, ignition, fuel pump, lights, heat, etc, the system will turn to the battery for power. However, the battery cannot charge itself. Once the battery is drained, you need a jump start. However, if the vehicle was not driven very far and the battery was still dead in the morning, you may have a short/draw. Some component or system may be drawing electricity even when the vehicle is off. Have a charging system inspection performed. A certified technician will be able to tell you if it is an alternator or other electrical issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
I put in a new starter and battery and my Jeep will not start. Please help me get my Jeep to start.
ANSWER : Hi there. Check to see if the wiring to the battery and the starter are tight and clean. A bad connection will cause a no start situation. If the battery cables and wires are all tight and clean, then go in the cab and turn on the ignition switch and see if any thing in the cab works.
If nothing comes on, then check the fuse box for any blown fuses. If all the fuse are good in the cab and under the hood, then the ignition switch needs replaced. If the ignition switch is good and the accessories come on, then either the starter relay in the fuse box has failed or the wires from the starter relay to the ignition switch has become burned or loose. Check the wires from the starter relay on the starter to the ignition switch. If everything checks out to be good, then the ignition switch needs replaced.
If you need further assistance troubleshooting your vehicle, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, that can assist you with your no start situation and help you with the power surge.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
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.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
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.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
New battery & fuel pump. Hours later car starts and shuts down 3X in a row. Finally it starts, 48 hours later, won’t start at all
ANSWER : Checking all the fuses was a good move. I would also want to put a scan tool on it and check for diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) as well as seeing the data that the computer is seeing.
A fuel pressure test would be a good idea to verify correct pressure and so that you’d be able to eliminate that possibility. It should be 58psi on your Magnum.
I also recommend getting your battery tested (I know, it’s new, have it tested anyway) and be sure it’s charged to at least 75%. And yes, loose battery cable connections can result in electrical problems.
If you need some assistance with this, consider enlisting a certified mechanic who can perform the checks I’ve mentioned and diagnose your starting issue firsthand. The mechanic can then perform the necessary repairs once the problem has been isolated. Good luck.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
I alway have o jmp my truck after four days, I bought a new battery and after a few month it starte doing the ame hin again, what
ANSWER : If the battery is new and charging system output has been measured and is within Factory Service Manual specifications, the only reason a battery will discharge is if the car sits for a long period of time (batteries self-discharge, but over weeks, not merely 4 days as in your case) or if there are parasitic (excess) loads on any of the car’s electrical circuits. If there is excess current flow that is slowly draining the battery even when the car is "off", a Mechanic would use an ammeter to test all of the various circuits until the faulty circuit is found. Then that circuit is traced to find the fault and repair it. If you want these steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request an electrical diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
Read Full Q/A … : Started with new battery once, but then wouldn’t the next day
