2006-12-28 05:20:15 · 26 answers · asked by Anonymous in Cars & Transportation ➔ Maintenance & Repairs
If the battery is Ok and you are having an electrical problem that includes not starting. I would first check the battery cables. If your electrical system is ok then make sure you have fuel, the gas filter is not blocked and the the ignition coil is working. Also check your ignition switch.
2006-12-28 05:26:24 · answer #1 · answered by Magnus 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
There can be any number of things causing this.
First check that all fuses are good (dash and engine compartment).
By taking your question literally, It is NOT the alternator and gas is NOT the problem as stated in other answers!
How old is the car?
Many newer cars have an impact switch that kills power in case oof an accident. I had a Ford Taurus I was fiddling around in the trunk and accidenally tripped this switch. Lost all power. Took me a while to figure out I had to reset the switch to get power back.
On older cars, a problem area that sometimes arises is where the wiring harness passes thru the firewall. There is a large group of wires that pass thru the firewall via a plug in the engine compartment on the right hand side of the firewall as you face it from the engine compartment. This plug can build up corosion and break the connection. This is just one of many places to start but I have found this to be the problem several times.
It could be a loose or burned off wire to the starter (the big wire).
It could be a bad grounding wire to the engine, frame or chassis.
Another possibility is a broken post on the battery. They will usually give enough reading to show the battery is good (unless you use a load tester) but will not give enough power to operate most things. (you should get at least a dome light from this one).
What ever the problem, it has to be in wiring or the battery.
Have you tried jumping the battery? If so, did you get any lights at all?
Electrical problems can be the most frustrating problem with a car. . . . .
2006-12-28 13:40:08 · answer #2 · answered by Say What? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Alternator
2006-12-28 13:22:13 · answer #3 · answered by jennie r 2 · 1⤊ 1⤋
do you have an immobiliser? some come on soon after opening if the key isn't ut into the ignition soon enough. If it's not that, turn your headlights on, and then try starting the car. If they go dim, and nothing happens, it's the starter motor. Otherwise, check for a bad earth connection from the engine, or badly corroded battery terminals. all can be responsible for problems like this. good luck .
2006-12-28 13:27:01 · answer #4 · answered by john c 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Most likely the leads are not contacting the battery properly OR they are not earthing to the car metal. Clean the ends of the main leads and the places they make contact with the car, its connections or the relay or battery.
Just make certain all connections connect!
RoyS
2006-12-29 02:51:55 · answer #5 · answered by Roy S 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The ignition is faulty, or not getting fuel, if it's turning over at a good speed when the starter is engaged. If it does not even turn over, clean the battery terminals, and cable clamps.
2006-12-28 13:26:36 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Your alternator isn't charging the battery.
Either that, or the starter relay has gone bad,
but if everything is TOTALLY dead (lights, radio, etc.)
than it's definately the alternator. A re-built one is the
cheapest to go and it's a simple job.
2006-12-28 13:24:22 · answer #7 · answered by sum4182girl 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Loose ground wire from battery to car.
Or, corroded positive battery terminal at battery post.
2006-12-28 13:24:06 · answer #8 · answered by Mr. KnowItAll 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If the battery is fine and absolutely nothing else works, check the main fuses, then make sure that all the leads are securely attached.
2006-12-28 13:22:43 · answer #9 · answered by ? 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Either earth strap from car frame to engine broken or not connecting, power feed from battery to ignition switch broken or diconected, ignition switch broken
2006-12-29 08:26:38 · answer #10 · answered by ? 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋