Why won't my car start but the radio and lights work?

If the lights and/or the radio come on but the car does not start, you may also have dirty or corroded battery terminals. The terminals are what connect the electrical system to the battery. If these are dirty or corroded, the connection could be negatively impacted.

Can a car battery be dead if the radio still works?

Even if your lights, radio or accessories turn on, your battery may still be dead or undercharged. These components require a lot less power than the starter. Therefore, your battery may have enough ability to turn the radio/lights on, but not enough to turn on the starter.

What does it mean when your car won't turn on but has power?

The battery is mostly the culprit for a new engine that fails to start. But if the vehicle still has power, a dead battery is mostly out of the question, so is a dead alternator. Some batteries may come with lower charge retention capacity from the factory.

How do you tell if it's your starter or battery?

Last, Check The Starter

The battery sends a burst of energy to the start which uses this energy to turn the engine over and get it car started. If you put the key in the ignition, but only hear a click when you turn the key, you've got a problem with your starter.

Why won't my car start if the battery isn't dead?

Your car needs the right air-fuel ratio (fuel pressure) and the spark to initiate the combustion system. 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.

Car Wont Start, Lights Work

What are the signs of a dead battery?

Will the lights and radio work with a dead battery?

Dead Battery

The battery in your vehicle supplies power to all electrical components, including lights, radio, door locks and ignition.

When I turn the key nothing happens no click?

The starter won't crank

If nothing happens when you turn the ignition key to the "Start" position, it means that the starter motor doesn't turn over the engine. Most commonly this could be caused by a dead battery; read above How to check the battery.

What are the signs of a dead alternator?

Is my battery dead or my alternator?

If the engine starts but dies immediately, your alternator probably isn't keeping your battery charged. If a jump starts and keeps your car running, but the car can't start again off of its own power, a dead battery is probably your answer.

What can drain a car battery instantly?

What may drain a car battery when it's off are things such as interior lights, door lights, or even bad relays. While your engine runs, the alternator recharges the battery — which is why you typically don't have to worry about the battery dying while you're blasting the radio on your drive to work!

What does a broken alternator sound like?

If you're hearing a grinding sound in your car, this could indicate that the alternator is going bad. The grinding sound may be caused by a worn-out bearing. Your car can also make a whining sound when the voltage regulator is sending signals to the alternator to charge more than is necessary.

Do alternators fail suddenly?

When your alternator begins to fail it can cause a variety of different electrical problems in your car, and eventually cause a breakdown. Alternators can go bad suddenly, or slowly over time.

How do you tell if it's your starter or ignition switch?

Test the Starter

It is under the hood, usually on the passenger side at the bottom of the motor next to the transmission. The ignition switch is a set of electrical contacts that activates the starter and usually is located on the steering column.

What sensors can cause a car not to start?

A crankshaft position sensor (crank sensor) is an important device measuring the engine RPM and tracing the crankshaft position. The car won't start if the crankshaft position sensor doesn't work properly. The crank sensor can fail, or its wiring can get damaged. This may cause the car to stall or not start.

How do you diagnose a car not starting?

Can a battery be so dead it won't jump-start?

The most common reasons for a dead battery are cold weather, age and leaving the lights on overnight. If a jump-start revives your engine, your problem was most likely a dead battery. If you cannot jump-start your car, the battery may be completely discharged or damaged.

Can you jump a dead battery?

If you follow all safety precautions, jumping a dead car battery is completely safe. Here is a look at some of the safety measures you should follow: Make sure both cars are turned off when connecting the jumper cables. Always connect the cables to the dead battery first.

How does it sound when your starter goes out?

A bad starter's tell-tale noise is loud clicking. It can either have a fast tempo, click-click-click-click-click-click-click-click or a slower lilt of click, click, click, click. No other part makes these noises when they fail, so if you hear either, you're likely going to be on the hook for a brand-new starter.

How much does an alternator cost?

How much does an alternator cost depends on the type of vehicle. In some models, they can run as low as $180 and for premium vehicles, they can run over $1,000. The average cost is approximately $500.

How do you start a car with a bad alternator?

Can AutoZone test the alternator?

Every AutoZone in the USA will check your alternator, starter, or battery at no charge.

Where is the alternator fuse?

Most of the time, there's a high-amperage fuse or fusible link between the alternator's battery terminal and the battery. Also, there are usually low-amperage fuses in series with the alternator's sense terminal and ignition terminal.