Okie, I have a

98 Accord 4 door Sedan.

I just got it back from the dealership because i lost my keys and needed new ones made. They programed a couple of special keys. I come home.. turn it off... then BAM it doesn't even start anymore. Doesn't even crank.... is the battery dead???? or did they forget to program my car and its in hibernate mode??? cuz my car has an immobilizer or whatever. But i the car has also been sitting outside of my house for almost 1 year.... sooo maybe the battery is dead????

 

Can you explain those 'special' keys? Your car has an immobilizer, but if they didn't program it to accept the new keys, you wouldn't have been able to drive it home from the dealer.

The immobilizer will lock out the fuel injection. It won't prevent the starter from cranking the engine. So if it doesn't crank, you're probably looking at a bad battery or starter.

 

After you check your battery. Look to see if you have a green key on the gauges steadily on or blinking when you try to start it.

 

Can you hear the starter give a loud click? If not you got no power going to it...probably dead battery. If its a stick see if you can push start it (and have a plan to get it back up the hill).

 

The easiest way to check for a dead battery, is to turn on the headlights and try
to honk the horn. (You may need to have the key in the ign. and the ing. in the
run position).

If the headlights come on and don't dim - or go out when you honk the horn, then
the battery is OK.

The best test of the battery is to use a Volt meter. Connect the meter across the
battery. It should read about 12V with nothing on. If it reads much below 11.5 V
then the battery needs a charge. Next try and start the car. If the voltage drops
below 9.5 then the battery is really dead.

You may be able to recharge it and everything will be OK.

Another test, would be to try and jump start the car.

If you get the engine running, again check the voltmeter. With the eng. rpm
at about 1500 to 2000 rpm, the voltage should be up to about 14.5 or so.
If not, then the alternator is not outputting, and you were running off the battery.
So the battery was drained down to the point that it won't start the car.

Also, a weak battery will cause a "click, click, click" or buz from the starter
solenoid. If the battery is really dead, you won't get anything, from headlights
to the radio might not even turn on.

Oh, one other thing, is it an automatic? If so try wiggling the shifter in Park while
turning the key to start. You can also try putting the car in Neutral and wiggling
the shifter. Sometimes the Neutral/Park safety switch will get out of alignment,
and keep you from getting power to the starter solenoid.


Hope this helps.

John