Q: Car won't start, but it still has stereo on

asked by on September 26, 2016

car won't start....but the car stereo is on. what's wrong.

Hello. If the stereo is on then the vehicle should have some power but the battery should still be load tested. It is common for the battery to have just enough power to provide some power but not enough to crank the engine.

If the battery is fine then the voltage at the starter needs to be checked. It should get power at the small wire when trying to crank it. If there is power then the starter is bad. If not then the circuit needs to be checked to see if the starter relay or the ignition switch is bad. It can even be a faulty transmission position sensor.

If you need to have this looked at, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home and diagnose your starting issue firsthand for an accurate repair.

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


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Engine misfiring in a 2007 BMW 328i
Your BMW is fuel injected so I'm guessing you cleaned out your throttle body. The next thing I would look into is the coil for the culprit cylinder, have a certified mechanic, like one from YourMechanic, inspect your vehicle (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/engine-is-misfiring-inspection)...
Car driving sluggish
One of the most common causes for a vehicle to suddenly lose power is a failure in either the fuel system or in the catalytic converter. If the Check Engine Light is coming on, then a mechanic would typically start...
Window motor not working
If power is getting the motor but the window doesn't raise, suspect a problem with the regulator. When the window switch is pressed, power is sent to a DC motor. The motor is attached to a scissor-type device called the...
Advice on using oil combinations and changing oil
Yes, I would use a higher-quality filter (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-tell-if-an-oil-filter-is-good-quality) because if you do use a higher-quality filter with that synthetic oil, you can change your oil every 7,000 or 10,000 miles instead every 5,000 miles or 3,000 miles. I would use...
Steering wheel and front end shaking between 50+ mph
Hi there, thanks for writing in. The multiple warning lights illuminating on the dash is what triggers a red flag for me in your description above. The shaking in the steering wheel at the speeds you described could be tire,...
BMW 318i, car is shaking. Why?
Hello, thanks for writing in. It sounds like you may have a serious internal engine issue, something may have come disconnected, or you have bad gas. I usually check the computer for codes first. If the computer is seeing a...
My car won't stay on
Hi there. Assuming the backfiring was taking place prior to replacing the spark plugs and spark plug wires. This would lead me to believe there is a valve train related issue. Possibly, a broken intake valve spring. This would account...
Hello, I have a 2006 mazdaspeed 6 with 100,000 miles and a "blown third piston" is it worth fixing?
It's too bad that it failed this early in the game, but I don't think there's any future in fixing it. Just remember that an engine is only one of many very expensive parts on a car and once you've...

Related articles

How Long Does a Cylinder Head Temperature Sensor Last?
The The engine’s performance is largely based on temperature measurements performed by the engine control module (ECM), also known as the vehicle’s computer. As the temperature of the engine increases, the resistance decreases which means the voltage drops. The computer...
How Long Does a Speed Sensor Last?
Today’s Today’s cars are equipped with a very wide range of sensors. Yours has a mass airflow sensor, at least one oxygen sensor, and many others. The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) is usually located on the transmission’s output shaft (although...
How to Replace a Brake Booster Vacuum Sensor
The brake booster vacuum pressure sensor is a vital part of power brake operation. A Check Engine Light or a hard brake pedal are signs of failure.