When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

This morning I tried to start my car but when I got in and turned the key nothing happened. Usually when the battery is dead it makes a clicking noise so I don't think it's dead. All the lights behind the dash came on and so did the radio. It was quiet like the car wasn't even trying to start. Is this the starter that needs to be replaced? My car is a 97 Subaru forester forester st/b. Thanks in advace

My car has 170000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hi there. It’s quite possible that the starter has broken, however, it’s also common for this type of symptom to be related to a faulty ignition relay, or starter relay. Before you decide to have the starter replaced, you might want to have a professional mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your problems and recommend the right repairs be completed.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

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.
If the engine is ghostly silent when you turn the key, the most likely cause is a dead battery. It`s easy for a battery to drain and die due to a bad alternator or if you leave the lights or any accessories on for a long time, but you should be able to jump-start and recharge it.
Typically, there are three possible sources of a grinding noise when starting the car: the battery, flywheel, or starter. Hearing grinding usually indicates an internal problem rather than an issue of, say, starting your car in the cold.
A leading sign of a weak battery is the sudden and spontaneous illumination of multiple warning lights and warning messages in your instrument cluster, possibly accompanied by the non-functionality of various systems including the cruise control, anti-lock brakes, traction control, and more.
An early warning sign that your alternator is going bad could be dim, flickering lights. This symptom could show up on any or all of your dashboard lights, reading lights, headlights or other lights.
If the car clicks when trying to start, but still won`t start, this can be caused by a weak battery, dirty battery terminals, a worn starter motor or a stuck solenoid. If might just need a jump start, but there are a few tricks to try before breaking out the jumper cables or electric jump starter.
If you decide to jump start your car that has a bad starter: It`s unlikely that your engine will die or stall while you`re driving—but never say never. In some instances, the shorted starter can cause a continuous battery discharge and your vehicle cannot operate without proper voltage.
Average car starter lifespan

A car starter can give you around 80,000 starts before you should expect it to struggle, regardless of the mileage you drive. This is around 150,000 miles for some cars, while some starters can last the vehicle`s life.

A brand-new starter can range from $80 to over $350. For a qualified mechanic to replace or rebuild your starter, you can expect to pay between $150 and over $1,100. These estimates vary dramatically depending on the particular issue and the make, model, and year of your vehicle.
Some cars will get up to five or six years out of their battery, while others will need a new one after only two years. In general, your car will usually need a new battery after three to four years. Replacing your car battery is another part of routine maintenance.
Most likely, flickering dash lights are due to problems with the alternator. In addition to recharging the battery, the alternator is in control of running the electrical components in your vehicle. If the alternator is failing, it may not be able to steadily supply enough current to all the components.
Because the total cost depends on the vehicle, you can expect to pay anywhere between $350−$900 for an alternator replacement.
If you ever hear growling or whining noises coming from under the hood, you could have alternator problems, which should be checked out by a professional ASAP. This growling or whining sound happens when the belt that turns the alternator`s pulley becomes misaligned or rubs against the side of the pulley.
Hard start symptoms and starter failure may NOT be caused by the starter, but could actually be caused by the crankshaft position sensor. If your vehicle is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, the crankshaft sensor may be at fault.
It might be a battery or alternator problem.

If the source of the clicking is electrical, the starter (a small motor energized by the battery that gets the engine running) doesn`t have enough juice to stay powered. So instead, it rapidly turns on and off and produces a clicking noise!

So can a bad starter drain your battery? The short answer is: Yes, it can. It could also drain the battery even faster if you repeatedly try to start your car with a faulty starter. A faulty starter is also one of the leading causes of battery overcharging.
CAUSES OF FAULTY STARTERS: CAUSE OF FAILURE

Electrical connections faulty. Solenoid switch (engaging relay) stiff or faulty. Electric motor damaged electrically. Single-pinion gear, starter pinion or freewheel damaged.

No two starters will last the same length of time and there is usually no way to know that your starter is dying until the day your car doesn`t start and you have to call for service. They could last as long as 200,000 miles or as little as 30,000.
Unfortunately, if the starter motor has completely gone there`s no way to get your car going again. However, when a vehicle doesn`t start, it`s typically to do with the battery`s insufficient voltage to start the motor.
In theory, it`s possible that your original starter will last for most of the vehicle`s life, but there`s really no set lifespan. They can fail at almost any point.
Should I replace my starter? If your starter clicks, screeches, or doesn`t reliably start the car, you should replace it.
Once a starter fails or becomes unreliable, it is possible to purchase a new replacement, a rebuilt unit, or replacement parts to rebuild the starter yourself. Most repairs can be done with common handtools and are relatively straightforward.
A starter motor`s lifespan varies between automobiles, but you can expect to get about 100,000 miles out of the factory starter. Stringer Auto Repair advises that your starter may start to go bad once the odometer has reached this coveted mileage milestone.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent
ANSWER : Hi there. It’s quite possible that the starter has broken, however, it’s also common for this type of symptom to be related to a faulty ignition relay, or starter relay. Before you decide to have the starter replaced, you might want to have a professional mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can pinpoint the source of your problems and recommend the right repairs be completed.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

Battery and oil light come on when trying to start car, take keys out try again car starts no problem and lights go away
ANSWER : Of course, don’t switch gears without being fully stopped, unless your Owner’s Manual or the manufacturer has alternative advice. However, the gear shift issue has no relation to the no-start problem you are describing. Inasmuch as you only have 6,000 miles on the car, the "constant on and off" that you believe has occurred is meaningless in comparison to the expected total vehicle service life. That is, assume what you perceive as "constant on and off", during merely 6,000 miles, might be equivalent to using the car "normally" for three years. A new car should be trouble free for at least 5 years, unless there is a defect, so your "constant on and off" is not a causal factor for any fault on the vehicle. What you might have is a defect in the ignition switch, or perhaps the immobilizer system, but if the problem is not in the switch itself, clearly there is an electrical problem.

If your vehicle is under warranty, by law the dealer MUST repair the issue you are describing within a prescribed time frame and number of "attempts", otherwise the dealer will run afoul of Federal and state Lemon Laws that give you very specific rights, and recourse (contact an Attorney; we are Mechanics, NOT attorneys). Consequently, if the vehicle is still under warranty, to save yourself money do be sure to seek a resolution from the dealer. If the vehicle is not under warranty, obviously a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could identify the electrical fault and resolve this for you. If you want to go that route, please simply request a no start diagnostic -electrical system and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of 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 … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

Charging warning light comes on when i turn the key and try to start the car and the car want start but when someone tried to give
ANSWER : Hi there:

If you recently replaced your battery, the issue may be caused by a malfunctioning alternator or other electrical component that comprises the charging system on your Nissan Sentra. The best way to find out which item specifically is faulty, is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection. This will allow the mechanic to determine the precise source of what’s going on with your Sentra and recommend or complete the right repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

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.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

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.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

My car will not turnover at all! no spark not even does it try to start up i have replaced the distributer starter spark plugs
ANSWER : If the starter motor is not functioning (that is, if the starter is not engaging the flywheel and turning the engine over), either there is no power to the starter or there is power but the starter itself has failed internally.

A qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, would first test for voltage (as well as voltage drop) at the starter when you actuate the starting circuit. If no voltage, that is if the circuit is open, the break in the starting circuit is simply traced.

If there is power to the starter and yet the starter will not function, the starter is condemned and thence replaced. YourMechanic can perform these tests to properly diagnose your starting issue right at your location.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

Trying to start the car the dash lights work but there is no click, silent when turning the key.
ANSWER : The shift cable sometimes will have bad cable ends and it will not go all the way to park to start the vehicle. Try moving the shifter to reverse, neutral, and drive and hold the brake and try to crank the engine in each gear. If it does start, then in another gear be careful to hold brake and put on parking brake. Check the cable end at the transmission to see if the end needs to be replaced. The dealer does not sell a repair grommet but will sell the entire cable only. A technician from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose your starting issue before moving forward with repairs.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

When I go to crank my car the key stays in the start position and the car is constantly trying to crank itself.
ANSWER : First, let’s make sure about some terminology before I proceed. I will assume the motor is actually turning over. If the car is trying to start, the motor has to be turning over or it is not trying to start. This is an important distinction when diagnosing the starting system. As a technician, I go to different parts of the system based on this description.

If the key is stuck in the start position, this is a ignition lock cylinder issue and the reason the starter continues to turn the motor over. If the starter is turning but the motor is not, then the starter is likely the problem. Either that or the teeth on the flex plate are all gone. This would require removing the transmission to repair.

If the car runs intermittently, this can be a big challenge. And it also means the starting system is working. It will need to be diagnosed when it is failing. A working car cannot be diagnosed because there is nothing wrong. Where you park your car should not have any affect. It certainly could be a wiring problem. Wiring problems hide really well and can happen anywhere in the miles of wires that are in your car. Isolating the system that is failing is really important here. At the moment I am unsure which system is failing. Starter system, ignition lock cylinder and or ignition switch electrical or something with the engine control system.

When the car is failing, you need to check for spark and fuel pressure. If neither is present, this is a clue. Usually the crank sensor will do this. Does your car have a tachometer? If so, does it move at all when cranking. This is a clue whether or not the cam and or crank sensor is working. Is there a Check Engine Light on with the key on? If there is a Check Engine Light, the code or codes can be used for specific diagnosis.

All of these concerns will send you down a diagnostic path. Be sure not to confuse yourself by misinterpreting multiple system failures. If the key does stick in the start position, this would be the first problem to solve. After that, does the motor actually turn when the starter turns? After that, the question of "Why won’t it start?" is first answered by finding what the motor is lacking. Fuel, spark etc… Good luck.

If you need assistance with these checks, contact a certified mechanic who has the tools and experience needed to properly diagnose this starting issue with your car.

Read Full Q/A … : When I turn the key of my car all the dash lights go on It sounds like the car isnt even trying to start it’s silent

Eric smoalih

I am a certified master technician with the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence (ASE), and I have been working as an auto mechanic for over 15 years. I am passionate about my work, and I take great pride in helping people keep their cars running smoothly.