Hi, was just hoping for a point in the right direction before I have to start trying to crawl around my daughters car, as I've just had knee surgery, so this is all very painful, in many ways, but necessary, in many ways. :-) She parked her car Friday morning to go out of town with her sister, no current problems, been starting and running fine lately. Came home today, car will not even try to start, no clicking, no engine sounds, nothing when you turn the key. Jumping/charging the battery had no effect whatsoever. Any educated guesses on a place to start with this totally out of the blue issue, before I tear the screws out of my new ACL messing around? Thanks!

 

Sounds like the battery terminals are probably dirty as hell. I've seen this pop up on all cars randomly; clean both terminals, and if that doesn't work check the battery. The only thing I can think of that would cause it to act that way is the battery. (From my experience). Usually you get a click though; and it'll start from a jump, so that's odd...but definitely make sure the ground wire is tight on both ends.


Generally when I've run into the issue, you put the key in and everything acts normal at On, but when you try to start the engine, you get a click; and the instruments and lights act as though the battery just died. Sometimes not even the click; just everything acting dead.

 

not sure, terminals are clean, battery had a good charge, fully charged now, all dash lights come on, power seats work, etc. Just nothing, no clicking starter, nothing. And totally out of the blue, car was fine, parked it, came back to this. Just need to figure out where to start so she can head back to school soon.

 

This afternoon, tried jump start again, still nothing, all grounds and cables are clean and tight. Swapped out main relay, no change. Had battery load-tested at Interstate, all good. Re-installed battery, tapped on starter, absolutely nothing. When I turn key, all dash lights come on as normal and go out, when I turn key all the way to start you can hear the main relay click but thats the only sound, just completely dead and out of the blue, makes no sense. Any ideas?

 

It's an automatic. someone asked about the battery, It's several years old, but even though it acts like a dead battery for the most part when you turn the key, everything in the car works too good for the battery to be completely dead. Power seats work, radio, lights, all dash lights, etc. The battery shows a complete charge, does not respond at all to trying to jump start the car, not a click, nothing. Thats why they did a load test also. And there has been no indication whatsoever of any problems. I'm going to check the voltage at the starter solenoid after work while someone tries to start, i'm assuming if i have 12 volts with the key turned then maybe the starter? If i dont have 12 volts, not sure where to go, neutral safety? although i tried starting it in neutral also, didnt work.

 

so, battery reads 12.5 volts sitting. i checked the voltage at the small wire to the solenoid while turning the key to "start", got a reading of around 10 volts. Does this seem normal with voltage drop through the circuit? Starter still doesnt make a peep, even applied the 12.5 from the battery straight to the solenoid, nothing. Bad starter? Could it be ANYTHING else before i pull the starter off?

 

Any update on this situation? I have been going through something similar for a while now.