My car won't start, The battery lights shows up.?

Question

I asked around they said its the battery, some said its the starter. When I first start it, you will hear a sound then its just went off totally. Help

I had this jump start before and it was fine for 3 days. I was driving it for 5 minutes a day. btw, I'm here at canada. Its currently minus 15 C (freezing) they said I need to drive it for 30 minutes to recharge the battery but I didn't listen. Is that true. still confuse

Answer 1

You may need a new alternator. It is what charges your battery. However, it happens over time. There should be some advanced notice. Drive or be towed to a garage that will test the battery and the system. It should not be difficult. I put in a new battery once, and the wiring was the problem. Have a mechanic check it out.

Answer 2

It depends on the sound. What I would do is to clean the terminals. Thighten then back in. Then have somebody jump start you. Remember the other guy must accelerate his car at least to 2,000 rmp for about 5 minutes or so. Then disconect the jumper cables then you can try starting your car. If the car doesn't start then is the starter motor. This is because you should be running on the other guys batteries. If it starts then this might be a good time to check your alternator. Its pretty easy. While the car is running disconnect one of the battery terminals. If the car keeps running then your alternator is ok. How dim are your lights when you turn them on. If you notice that the lights are dimed then you know is the batery.

If you have a manual transmision you can start your car by pushing in. Put your car on neutral. Push the car. Have a friend help you. When the car get some speed jump inside PRess on the clutch and put the car in first gear. Then let go of the clutch. This will cause the car to start. Sometimes you have to play with the clutch to make it work. Do this while going foward. It is not a good idea to run start your car while going in reverse.

Answer 3

Turn the car on...check the lights, the radio...if they work, it is not your battery, most likely...
If you can start the car after being jumped off, and can drive it for about 3 minutes, before it goes dead again, the problem is your alternator...reason being...your alternator keeps the battery charged...without it, you get the dead in 3 minutes result.
If you can't even start the car, but hear a clicking sound under the hood, the problem is your starter motor.
If you DONT hear the clicking, lights work, and everything, look for the starter solenoid. It is on the positive battery cable between the battery and starter. Turn your car on, put it in park, and put on the emergency brake. Grab a screwdriver, and touch both of the big terminals together with the screwdriver. The sparks are normal. If the car starts up, the problem is your starter solenoid. Get it replaced.

Answer 4

Battery is dead. If it is cold in your area(below freezing) pull the battery out of the car and put it inside the house where it won't freeze till you get a charger on it. reason--the battery acid has changed to water and will freeze and crack the casing--costing you a battery--when maybe all you need is a charge.
Once charged, then have car chargings system checked(altenator and regulator) cause either they are working or they aren't/or the battery is no good and you will know that because there is nothing wrong with the charging system and yet the battery died.
This is something you do not do by pulling off a battery cable while the car is running to see if the altenator is putting out. That will burn out the altenator....costing more money. Take it to a garage and have a mechanic use his instruments and find the trouble.

Answer 5

I had the same thing a few years ago and it was my alternator, the diodes went bad, there is a core charge for this usually which will be refunded when you take the bad one in after you have replaced it. On cars now days it will run as long as the battery is charged and when that gets wore down it won't run and this is probally what determines what it is. It is possible though that you do have a bad battery, have the system checked, hopefully your vehcile is still under warrenty. Good luck, if you are where it is cold take a blanket or sleeping bag with you, was glad I had it in the car then, it got down to zero and was in the middle of nowhere.

Answer 6

Your battery light will always show up when you first turn the key forward. Your battery light will NOT come on for a starter. If your battery light comes on while driving it means your car is not charging and probally needs an alternator. Also a dead battery will not be able to supply enough power to the starter causing a "clicking noise" from the solenoid. Attempt to jump start your car, if its starts with a jump check to see if the battery light remains lit, if it does, your charging system needs to be inspected. If not, replace your battery. Hope this helps!

Answer 7

BEst way to find out if it's the battery, have a friend let you borrow his and if starts right up it's the battery, if not it's the alternator. If when you turn the key to start it and the lights fade it's the battery but check it first. It could also be the cables going from the starter to the battery post.

Answer 8

I would try getting a new battery first and then go from there. Most often that will fix the problem. If when you turn the key the engine turns over normally then its not the battery. If it sounds weak it's the battery. If it turns over but just won't keep running it could be many things including: out of gas, bad plugs, alternator died, broken timing belt. If you recently overheated it you might have cracked the head and sucked oil into the system and ruined the entire engine.

Answer 9

If the car starts after you jump it then it could only be two things. The fist thing is that the battery is going bad. The second thing is that the alternator is bad. To test and see if it is the alternator is good start your car. step 2 unhook your battery cable if the car shuts down then it is the alternator. if the car keeps running then it is the battery. If the car is starting using a jump start than their is no way it is the starter.

Answer 10

There are several things that can cause this problem; 1: Battery; 2: Starter; 3: battery cables; 4: Cable connectors. Check the voltage level of the battery and also check to see if the cables are secure, a loose cable or loose cable connector can cause this type of problem. Take your car to a certified mechanic, they can test and repair your electrical system.