ok so my old *** battery hasnt been holding charge for some time now....the car sat for about a week and now i cant even jump start it. I tried using both a freshly charged backup battery jumper (emergency car kit kinda thing) AND a brand new toyota camry. the dash lights will barely come on with either one.

is this a battery issue, or is this maybe a main relay/fuse issue? i know i should get a new battery, but havent had major pressure to get one yet, and id rather not throw money at a car i just want to get rid of now....

TIA.

-FW

 

try unhooking the battery cables and jump starting without the really really really really dead battery in the circuit.

 

i thought about doing that....

but ive never dealt with a battery so dead that it at least wouldnt act as a conductor and allow for the starter to turn the motor over

i tried it twice, and the starter clicked a few times. let it sit for a few, then nothing..dash lights barely on as i said, etc.

 

My car was sitting for about 3 or 4 months. Battery completely died. I couldn't get it going with jumper leads at all. Although the size of the leads was probably the major factor in this. So make sure your leads are nice and thick and really concentrate on getting a good contact at both ends. It can make a big difference.

Having the dead battery in the circuit or not shouldn't make a difference as long as your jumpered battery is connected well and the leads are big enough.

 

If the dead battery is shorted internally, it will make a huge difference when it's in the circuit.

 

I've had the same thing happen on a few vehicles. When you try to turn it over you get nothing, not even clicking and you can't jump start it from another car or the jumper packs. Every time a new battery cures it. I have a Civic outside right now doing the same thing, with a donor battery it starts and runs fine.

 

thanks guys. today im gonna try jumping it with the cables unattached to the battery just to make sure its not another issue....then get a new battery. thanks again

 

I don't know if this may be the problem. Is the engine ground on there real good and clean?

 

I'm having this same problem right now.

My battery was really dead (well I thought it was the battery)...I tried to charge it. no dice. it was an old battery anyway, so I went and bought a brand new battery. still no dice.

here's what it does: NOTHING! At all. it's like its a cold shell of a car. I get no lights. no indicators. no radio. not even a hint of a sound other than my keys jingling in the ignition.

the other day, it was doing those things. it was dead, but I was still gettting the radio and such...but it was too low to start. then I went to jump it...and that's when it actually GOT WORSE.

Did I blow a fuse? Is my battery connection bad? what is the deal?

Anyone have a suggestion?

 

Krempel, If you replaced the battery, I would start with a voltage drop check along the battery cables.

 

Why dont you check the water level inside the battery, batteries cant charge if the cells have no water in them.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by CantThinkOfAScreenName &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">Why dont you check the water level inside the battery, batteries cant charge if the cells have no water in them. </TD></TR></TABLE>


seriously who uses refillable batteries anymore?

 

so did you get the car running and figure out the problem? Was it in fact just the battery?

 

no it's not just the battery. i'm going to have to take it somewhere. there seems to be a faulty connection somewhere between the ignition and about halfway to the battery.
we got spark on the battery and we check it for spark all the about half way TO the ignition.

 

it is the battery..... battery's only last 4-5 years on average. even at auto part stores they have a shelf life. also most battery's are refillable, even if they say non-serviceable.