Q: Car shuts off after jump-starting
I drove a small amount one day and then left it at home. The next day, I found it had a dead battery. A couple of days ago, I charged the battery. When I try to start it, it will start for a couple of seconds and then shuts off. What is the next step to finding what the problem is and your advice please?
Recommended Services
| Battery will not hold a charge Inspection | $94.99 - $114.99 | Get a Quote |
| Alternator Replacement | $166.62 - $1297.14 | Get a Quote |
Hello. It sounds like the alternator has failed and is not charging the battery. The purpose of the alternator is to take over for the battery once the car has started. If the alternator is not working properly, then the car may shut off or die. Have a certified technician, come and test your charging system and replace the alternator if necessary.
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
How do I play a DVD?
To play a DVD, press the OPEN/CLOSE or LOAD button on the radio faceplate. Then insert your DVD, face up. The movie will automatically begin playing.
Speedometer broke.
The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) is the most likely cause of your inoperative speedometer. The powertrain control module (PCM) uses the VSS signal to determine the control of outputs such as speedometer operation. The VSS circuit or speedometer gauge could...
Tugging after startup or accelerating from a stop light
Hello. Most of the time, if this is occurring and there is no Check Engine Light, it is because there is a transmission related issue. To diagnose this, I usually start by checking the transmission pressure to see if it...
Car began knocking after an oil change, then exploded blowing 2 holes in the side and the oil pan off
It may be hard to figure out why the engine failed without knowing if the oil leaked out or was not filled up. I have seen situations where after performing an oil change the oil leaked out from an oil...
The service 4WD/Service Engine Soon Light is on, and my car has front end noise.
Hi and thanks for contacting YourMechanic. This sounds like the front differential has medal particles in the gear assembly, and if so, you will have to remove the differential and have it diagnosed from the inside to see what bearing...
Hi my Mercedes Benz gl450 2007 airmatic leans a bit more on the driver side left front and a bit front the rear.
Hi there. Check the plumbing to the air shocks system on the driver side and see if there is a leak. You may have to spray the lines down with water and soap to see the leaks as the mixture...
Why car is sluggish starting?
Hello, There are many different things that could potentially contribute to your car starting sluggishly, however I would recommend starting with checking the most common things like the starter, starter relay and starter solenoid. These are things that may not...
Tapping noise when under a load.
Hi there. The sound that you provided for the tapping noise sounds as if your engine is dieseling when operating. This is a noise that occurs when the engine is either running too hot or has too much carbon on...
What does service code A13 mean?
Hi There, Service code A13 relates to the following: A = Replace engine oil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/change-oil-and-filter) 1 = Rotate tires (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/rotate-tires) 3 = Replace transmission oil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) I would recommend having a professional from Yourmechanic come to your location to perform...
Related articles
The Top 8 Things That Will Drain Your Car Battery
Your car battery could keep dying from a variety of reasons such as age, a bad alternator, human error, and more.
What Is Key-Off Battery Drain?
Many Many things in your car continue to work even after your vehicle is turned off – radio presets, security alarms, emissions computers and clocks are just a few. They continue to draw power from your car battery, and the...
A Buyer's Guide to the 2012 Volkswagen CC
At At some point, most of us have to choose between the cars we wanted when were kids and the ones we need for our commute to the office or to pick up our own children. With the 2012 Volkswagen...
Browse other content
Cities
Maintenance