car won't start battery charged but no ignition lights?

Answer 1

alright mark! has this prob just happened since you've changed the battery?? If you have no ignition lights (i take it the horn or nothing works) then it's got to be something simple like not all the wires have been put back on the battery right, make sure you not missing another wire off the battery the +positive side ...if thats all good then maybe you've got an alarm immobiliser on the car... I'd check all the fuses...if you still lost then it could be something to do with the ignition switch...its definitely nothing to do with the starter motor!! CHECK the battery again to make sure it ok & charged as it could be the altenator?? the battery might have lost its charge & the altenator isn't charging the battery up...see if it starts on a jump start or see if you get the ignition lights lit up..if you do the battery or altenator needs chaging.GoodLuck!

Answer 2

Auto electrics - problem
What does the battery light on the dashboard mean?


Every car today contains a rechargeable 12-volt battery. This battery powers everything electrical: the engine's control computer, the ignition system, the radio, the headlights, etc. So the battery is vital to the car's operation.

Like all batteries, a car's 12-volt battery would eventually go dead if it were not recharged, so your car has a built-in recharging system. Most cars have an alternator, along with a voltage regulator, that keeps the battery charged and also provides electricity to the vehicle when the engine is running. A typical alternator can put out between 500 and 1,000 watts when necessary.

Because your car is so dependent on the battery, all cars have a battery light on the dashboard that is designed to warn you if the recharging system fails. A simple circuit looks at the voltage that the alternator is producing, and turns the battery light on if it is low. The battery light indicates a battery charging problem. If the battery light comes on and stays on while you are driving, the most common cause is a broken alternator belt. Total failure of the alternator is another possibility.

The reason why your car can operate normally even though the battery light is on is because your car can run off the energy stored in the battery. Your car will run fine until the battery goes dead. At that point, nothing in your car will work. When the battery light is on, you can still drive your car to the garage -- you will not damage anything. But you want to get to the garage before the battery fails and your car dies.

These links will help you learn more:

How Batteries Work
How Automobile Ignition Systems Work
How Electric Cars Work
How Hybrid Cars Work
Why do batteries seem to go dead and then come back to life if you let them rest?
What is the difference between a normal lead-acid car battery and a "deep cycle" battery?
If daytime running lights were mandatory in the U.S., and all vehicles had them, how much extra gasoline would that use each year?

MisterFixIt.com: Alternators - what are they, how do they work and what breaks?
MisterFixIt.com: Now we all know why it is called an IDIOT LIGHT!
FamilyCar.com: Understanding your dashboard gauges
GM Goodwrench Videos

Answer 3

If I understand you correctly, when you put the key in and turn it to the On Position you are not getting any lights on the dash, is this correct? If so then there is a possibility that the ignition switch is bad. You may also have a fusible link that may have cooked. With out a Year make and model of the car it is hard to give accurate information. When did you have the battery tested so you know it was good? My guess would be a fusable link or switch. Start there, and I hope you locate the problem.

Answer 4

check the battery's on the right way around. check all the leads are on to the starter motor, the fuseboard takes its power from there usually. then you'll want to check there's power at the fuseboard. if thats all ok, it might have an immobiliser thats playing up. OR the chip in the key has decided to die. try it with a spare key if ya have one. failing that, i'd say check for continuity at the ignition barrel when you turn the key. if its a fairly oldish car i'd say check the cable to the fuseboard from the starter to make sure it hasnt got a break in it and also the earth strap from the battery to the chassis.

Answer 5

It is not the starting motor IE no ignition lights.
It is most likely to be a bad earth connection, undo and clean to make sure bare clean metal touches bare clean metal, there are some times two to look at to the body,one direct from the battery and one from the engine to the body, also it could be a broken cable. unlikely but possible Ignition switch up the creak.

Answer 6

if battery was recently replaced or jump started were the terminals accidentally connected wrong way around even for a split second? this will cause the main buss fuse to blow allowing no power to flow to "key-on" components but still allow the starter motor to function normally [note some main fuses have hidden bolts that must be removed in order to replace the fuse-sometimes it requires the battery to be removed for access clearance] other cars have a special fuse link wire that will melt leaving the insulation intact [pull on them if wire stretches the link has melted [giving make and model would help. good luck

Answer 7

Your ignition/start switch is defective or a loose connection from the battery to your ignition/start switch input terminal.

Answer 8

Blown fuse link in main harness, Look for a cooked area. Near the battery connection for the car wireing. Probable a 30 amp link. Yellow in color normally. And if burnt, you can pull it apart with a gentle tug.
Easily replaced.

Answer 9

Check and clean you battery terminals they get corroded and even with a battery charged won't give any juice to the system. Baking soda and water works the best, the baking soda nuetralizes the battery acids.

Answer 10

I just had the same problem. In my car it was the ignition switch. I had it jumped and still nothing.