If your car will not start but battery works...?

Question

If the car does not make the start up noise when you turn the ignition but the radio and lights in the car works, what is the problem? If it is the starter or the alternator, how do I check these without a mechanic?

**It is a 1994 Nissan Sentra with approx. 110,000 miles on it.

Answer 1

Well, it certainly COULD be the starter, especially with that many miles on it, but it could also be the battery, believe it or not. It could very well have enough to run the lights without having enough to turn over the starter. The starter, especially on older cars, takes a tremendous amount of electrical current to turn over. You could try having someone jump the car and see if that provides enough oooomph to get it going. Sure can't hurt! Does it make like a 'click' noise, but not the starting sound? Like, 'click click' when you turn the key? That would almost certainly be the battery.

Good luck to you. Older cars are always a pain as things start failing on them.

Answer 2

Trying to start? if its fully cranking over like it should be, then you might have a broken timing belt or your ignition system (coils, ignition cap, plug wires, plugs) could be bad. if its not cranking over all the way, your battery isnt charged up enough. i would suggest jumping your car. The fact that your justifying your battery as "working" just because the lights and radio work leads me to believe its your battery. a battery can work the accessory system for a long time after it loses enough juice to start a car. hope that helps! GET A JUMP!

Answer 3

My car won't start. I check the battery, it's good and all the lights and other stuffs look good---but when I turn the key on, the power is gone. I mean, everything turns off, looks like power source is cut off. I tried doing the same process, but got the same result. What's the problem would be?

Answer 4

under the hood on the side there should be a small box like thing with two terminals hooked on top, see if it makes a noise wen you turn the inition to start its yout starter, if not that little box is bad, its called a seileniod, it engages a starter, there around 20$

Answer 5

Check the most simplest first Battery cables and then battery they get weak overtime if those are OK then take your starter to an auto parts store and have it checked I bet one of them is bad, hope this helps

Answer 6

Light, radio etc does not take allot of amps to start, a cars motor does. Jump start it, if it starts then your battery is dead. After running about 20 minutes stop the car, if it restarts battery is most likely ok. You can take it then to an auto parts store (I use advance auto) and they can check you alternator., and your battery.

Answer 7

car won't start but the battery clicks and car will start if we get a jump

Answer 8

if the car doesnt even make a start up noise it is most lileky the starter

Answer 9

You need a mechanic!!!