Q: Battery good, but car won't start.
My car will not start. The battery is good. The car has not been driven much the last 6 months and this problems started about two weeks ago. It makes a weird noise after I turn the key off. The lights and radio work.
Recommended Services
| Car is not starting Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
The battery may be bad to the point it cannot operate the starter but had enough power to run the radio or lights. The starter will need about 100 to 200 amps to turn it properly, but a radio or lights only need less than 20 amps. You may also have a starter issue if the battery checks okay. I recommend you have a mechanic, like the certified ones from YourMechanic, come to you and check and diagnose your starting problem.
The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our
terms of service
for more details
Get an instant quote for your car
Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing
What others are asking
Dash gauges acting weird.
I can't give you much advice without knowing which warning lights are coming on. As far as the oil pressure gauge is concerned, it could be a problem with the oil pressure sending unit, the sending unit circuit or the...
Gearshift won't shift
Hi. This is a common thing that owners of your particular vehicle encounter. Usually the cause of the problem is within the shift linkage. The shift linkage is built with plastic bushings that overtime become brittle and loose it connection...
Transmission slips when cold but shifts perfect when at operating temperature.
Your transmission may have defective pressure and control solenoids or could have bad seals inside the transmission. Either way you will need to have a qualified transmission mechanic run a diagnostic check to see if you are having internal leakage...
Knocking sound on the car's passenger side while driving
Hello. It is more likely that the “ticking-like” sound that you hear coming from the passenger side of the car is actually coming from the engine compartment. If the “ticking-like” sound is coming from the engine compartment, this could be...
Car is making metal on metal sound under hood towards passenger side
Hello. This noise can be coming from a few different places. If it occurs as soon as the vehicle is started then you may have a bad accessory pulley. It could be the AC compressor pulley or the alternator. It...
Odometer reads just all dashes, main and trip the same. All other gauges seem to work.
Hi there. To be honest, both sources of information are correct. Usually when the odometer "blanks" like you've described it is caused by either an instrument cluster wiring or electrical problem or the ECU having a stored trouble or error...
95 nissan automatic truck wont shift out of first gear
If the car can shift manually, then you likely have a problem in the electronic controls. If you can get your hands on a scan tool to read the transmission controller, it will help get you moving in the right...
Saturn Vue 2006 exhaust leak in manifold
Hi there. An exhaust leak can be very tricky - depending on the location of the actual leak. If it is leaking near the exhaust manifold or the cylinder head, the potential for internal engine damage increases. In regards to...
My 2007 Avalanche is making this click ticking sound when I drive in the D position when I'm slowing down I drove it the other day
What you are describing sounds like a failing CV joint (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/axle-cv-shaft-assembly-replacement). A CV (Constant Velocity) joint is a shaft that connects the transmission to the wheels, essentially transferring the power from the drive train directly to the wheels. The CV...
Related articles
How a Battery Works With a Car's Electrical System
Have Have you ever wondered how your car’s electrical system works? It all starts with your car battery. Your car's electrical system operates on a closed circuit, with the main power system being the automotive battery. It uses less than...
How Can I Tell If My Car Battery Needs Replacing?
There There are few things more frightening than hearing buzzing or clicking from your car when you’re trying to start it. It could mean any number of things, but chances are that it means you have a faulty car battery....
How to Replace a Ballast Resistor
The ignition coil cannot get proper voltage if the ballast resistor is broken. Signs are a crank without a start or a start and an immediate stall.
Browse other content
Services
Maintenance