I got into my car this morning for work and when I turned the key the lights came on then just shut off. Now it seemed like a battery but when I have the key in the ignition with the door open it beeps to let me know the key is in the ignition and the dome light comes on like normal so it seems like the battery is fine. The headlights won't come on at all. When I tried to start the car the dash lights come on very very dim. If I hold the key in the on position they will get brighter as I hold it and I can hear like a flicker coming from the passenger side dash. If I let go of the key the dome light comes back on like normal and ignition will beep... The car will not even begin to turn over...


WTF happened??! Any help would be apprieciated!

 

do you have an aftermarket alarm?

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by Rodney &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">do you have an aftermarket alarm?</TD></TR></TABLE>

X2 maybe it's acting up. Have you tried to jump the car? If it comes on maybe its your battery or your alternator. Could be also you left the lights on or something else on. Check the fuses under your dash and under the hood to make sure it's not a simple burnt fuse.

 

ive seen these symptoms when a alternator is going out, or a battery is dead or both. check voltage at the battery first.

 

Check the battery terminals, make sure they are tight and corrosion free.

 

battery sounds dead. If the headlights wont come on, it def. wont have enough power to start the car.

Try jumping it.

 

I don't have an alarm, I checked the terminals first to make sure they were tight. There is no corrosion. Is strange though because the car was fine yesterday. I didn't leave lights or anything on. When I first put the key in and turned it all the lights came on it's like something popped and it all went to ****. Either way I am going to take a battery out of my buddies civic in a minute and try that.

 

Ok, so we jumped it. Started it up, VTEC controller showed a 14.0 charge but my radar detector kept saying low voltage. Well I drove it around the block parked it. Then I waited like 20 min and tried to start it again and it wouldn't start. So the battery is the culprit!

Thanks for your guys help and suggestions!

 

if your radar detector says low voltage WHILE the car is running, its your alternator. your alternator powers everything electrical once the engine is running.