car wont start. help me please

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

Battery and starter were replaced last September so I know battery couldnt be that dead. When put in the key to start nothing happens. All silent no noise No lights at all. I did not leave anylights on as I got home in the day time too. What could be happening? I had my oil changed about two months ago as well.

r.j.s · Feb 22, 2013

Sounds like the battery ... do you have jumper cables / a neighbor that can jump you?

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

r.j.s said:
Sounds like the battery ... do you have jumper cables / a neighbor that can jump you?

I will try in a few once my parents are back. I still don't understand the battery is only about 4 months old. Could it be that it is extremely cold here? Last time I filled anti freeze was about 4 months ago but then if it was engine or something wouldnt the light at least come on?

r.j.s · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
I will try in a few once my parents are back. I still don't understand the battery is only about 4 months old. Could it be that it is extremely cold here? Last time I filled anti freeze was about 4 months ago but then if it was engine or something wouldnt the light at least come on?

Yes, the cold can cause a battery to not give enough power to start.

If it was the starter, the lights would come on.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

r.j.s said:
Yes, the cold can cause a battery to not give enough power to start.

If it was the starter, the lights would come on.

Yeah 4 months ago it cracked but not start. Aparantley my battery was really bad and my started too so both got replaced. So I'm still wondering what's going now.

r.j.s · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
Yeah 4 months ago it cracked but not start. Aparantley my battery was really bad and my started too so both got replaced. So I'm still wondering what's going now.

My best guess is the battery - whether it is actually drained or just frozen, I can't know for sure.

You could try warming the battery somehow, or jumping it. Once you get it started, it will be important to leave it running for a while.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

r.j.s said:
My best guess is the battery - whether it is actually drained or just frozen, I can't know for sure.

You could try warming the battery somehow, or jumping it. Once you get it started, it will be important to leave it running for a while.

OK I'll get back to you with results. Thanks So much!!!

Muscle Master · Feb 22, 2013

If there's a hill nearby.. you could jump it yourself, but yeah.. its the battery

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

Muscle Master said:
If there's a hill nearby.. you could jump it yourself, but yeah.. its the battery

lets say the alternator was dead? wouldi get some lights at least?

r.j.s · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
lets say the alternator was dead? wouldi get some lights at least?

It's not the alternator ... it only works once the engine in running.

At least, that isn't your immediate problem - the alternator could be dead as well, which could explain the dead battery.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

r.j.s said:
It's not the alternator ... it only works once the engine in running.

At least, that isn't your immediate problem - the alternator could be dead as well, which could explain the dead battery.

So say I jump start and car still won't come on. Then its the alternator?

Mousse · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
lets say the alternator was dead? wouldi get some lights at least?

The alternator charges the battery when the engine is running. It doesn't do squat if the engine is off. The easiest way to test the battery is with a multimeter. If it shows less than 12 volts then the battery is kaput. Even with 12 volts, the battery might still be bad. You need to test it under load to see if it's truly bad. Most auto parts shops can do that for you.

An easy test to see if the alternator is bad is also with a multimeter. You should be getting 13-15 volts with the engine running.

r.j.s · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
So say I jump start and car still won't come on. Then its the alternator?

No. If it was the alternator, the car will start and run, but when you shut it off (after it's been running for a while, at least an hour) it will not start again.

The alternator charges the battery and provides power for the electrical system when the car is running. If the alternator is dead, everything runs from the battery.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

r.j.s said:
No. If it was the alternator, the car will start and run, but when you shut it off (after it's been running for a while, at least an hour) it will not start again.

The alternator charges the battery and provides power for the electrical system when the car is running. If the alternator is dead, everything runs from the battery.

So If I jump start and It turns on and say I drive it for a bit then turn it off. But when I turn it on and it doesn't come on then its the alternator

r.j.s · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
So If I jump start and It turns on and say I drive it for a bit then turn it off. But when I turn it on and it doesn't come on then its the alternator

Possibly. The only way to be sure is to take it to a mechanic if it does that.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

r.j.s said:
Possibly. The only way to be sure is to take it to a mechanic if it does that.

Oh OK thanks for the help I really appreciate it

Tomorrow · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
So say I jump start and car still won't come on. Then its the alternator?

WhiteIphone5 said:
So If I jump start and It turns on and say I drive it for a bit then turn it off. But when I turn it on and it doesn't come on then its the alternator

No, and no.

If your battery is as dead as you've described, it's entirely possible that (1) you won't be able to jumpstart the car, and/or (2) simply driving it around for a bit won't charge the battery enough for you to restart the engine after shutting it off.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

Tomorrow said:
No, and no.

If your battery is as dead as you've described, it's entirely possible that (1) you won't be able to jumpstart the car, and/or (2) simply driving it around for a bit won't charge the battery enough for you to restart the engine after shutting it off.

How long to leave it on?

Consultant · Feb 22, 2013

If you get car started, around 20 minutes should give it sufficient charge. Just make sure no one take off with it. And don't have it running in an enclosed area.

WhiteIphone5 said:
I will try in a few once my parents are back. I still don't understand the battery is only about 4 months old. Could it be that it is extremely cold here? Last time I filled anti freeze was about 4 months ago but then if it was engine or something wouldnt the light at least come on?

How much do you drive it everyday? A lot of short trips? You are probably not driving enough to recharge the battery.

Cold messes with batter power too.

hallux · Feb 22, 2013

When you do get it started and take it for a drive shut off any electrical load you can (heated seats, heater fan, radio) to help speed the charging. Something the others missed is that you could have a bad/loose ground connection, especially if you have no lights at all.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

hallux said:
When you do get it started and take it for a drive shut off any electrical load you can (heated seats, heater fan, radio) to help speed the charging. Something the others missed is that you could have a bad/loose ground connection, especially if you have no lights at all.

What is this ground connection? Loose cable?

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

hallux said:
When you do get it started and take it for a drive shut off any electrical load you can (heated seats, heater fan, radio) to help speed the charging. Something the others missed is that you could have a bad/loose ground connection, especially if you have no lights at all.

hey i found one of those battery booster packs and im charging it, it has a red cable and black cable to jump start. Red goes to negative and Black goes to positive? sorry for just a noob question but im new to this

Knoodles · Feb 22, 2013

No! Red is positive and black is negative.

hallux · Feb 22, 2013

WhiteIphone5 said:
hey i found one of those battery booster packs and im charging it, it has a red cable and black cable to jump start. Red goes to negative and Black goes to positive? sorry for just a noob question but im new to this

NNNOOO!!!

Look that wires on the car, match the red to the red. The black on the booster should go to a good ground (NOT the black on the battery), it should be an un-painted surface such as a mount bolt on a component on the drivebelt end of the engine or a bolt on the strut/shock mount.

http://www.edmunds.com/how-to/jump-start.html

----------

WhiteIphone5 said:
What is this ground connection? Loose cable?

Yes. It could even be on the battery but it could be on the starter or the engine block someplace.

WhiteIphone5 · Feb 22, 2013

hallux said:
NNNOOO!!!

Look that wires on the car, match the red to the red. The black on the booster should go to a good ground (NOT the black on the battery), it should be an un-painted surface such as a mount bolt on a component on the drivebelt end of the engine or a bolt on the strut/shock mount.

http://www.edmunds.com/how-to/jump-start.html

----------

Yes. It could even be on the battery but it could be on the starter or the engine block someplace.

i as just told black on black and red or red now black on surface? ugh

----------

hallux said:
NNNOOO!!!

Look that wires on the car, match the red to the red. The black on the booster should go to a good ground (NOT the black on the battery), it should be an un-painted surface such as a mount bolt on a component on the drivebelt end of the engine or a bolt on the strut/shock mount.

http://www.edmunds.com/how-to/jump-start.html

----------

Yes. It could even be on the battery but it could be on the starter or the engine block someplace.

its a jumper box btw not jump start from another car

car wont start. help me please

macrumors 65816

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502a

macrumors 65816

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

macrumors 68040

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

Moderator emeritus

macrumors 65816

macrumors 604

macrumors 65816

macrumors G5

macrumors 68040

macrumors 65816

macrumors 65816

macrumors 6502

macrumors 68040

macrumors 65816

Our Staff