So i drove over to the gym earlier today and when i get out, i go to start my car and nothing.

First some info on the car: 40,000 miles and changed the battery at 30,000 miles.

And now a better description of what's going: the lights all turn on in the car when i turn the key but once i turn the key all the way, the lights turn off and there is no clicking.

What could the problem be?? I tried to jump it but nothing happened. Nothing changed. Im guessing its the starter but im hoping otherwise because its going to be a mission to get my car on a tow truck.

Thanks for your answers in advance.
Im going to give the jump start one more try when i get out of class but if not, its going to have to go on a tow truck.

 

Check your battery connection
Sounds like it may be loose or you need a jump

 

Possible the alternator isn't recharging the battery as well.

 

^ +1 or the starter..

 

Starter won't make the lights go out. If the alternator isn't re-charging the battery, the car is starting and running off the battery. It eventually can get depleted. OP, have you noticed a sluggish start when cranking or is it fast and kicks over fairly quick? Simple and cheap first - check your cable connection to the battery, then get the car jumped and go get the alternator tested.

 

Ocv test battery. = multimeter positive post to red lead and negative to black lead with meter on dc voltage. Should be 12.6with car off 13+ with car running. The lights going dim could be loose connection or corrosion on either cable on either end. Check those four connection points first. If you replaced the battery once within the last 10k miles I would guess a weak alternator.

Good luck

056

 

To answer your questions, I already tried to jump start the car. Nothing happened.

When you normally go to turn on the car, all the monitors in the dash turn off and turn back on as soon as you let go of the key. Now, the car does the same thing but just doesnt turn on. The starter isn't clicking whatsoever.

Checked the connections and the ground is a little loose but i would think that wouldn't matter when i go to jump start it because the jump is to the car cables, not the battery.

All the electronics in the car work fine, doors open with the key fob, windows open with the key fob. The car just won't turn on.

In case it is in fact the starter, i've heard that hitting the starter with a hammer or something similar might get it to work. Can anyone clarify on whether this is true or not? Cause if it is, it'll save me about $150 for the tow truck.

Upon further research into the forum, i think it might be my IPDM. About a week and a half ago, my car started to randomly downshift (It's 5AT) while driving on a daily basis and my service engine light came on. Could these problems be rooted from the same source?

 

A. Tighten the ground cable.
B. Yes sometimes tapping on a starter with a hammer will get it to work. For a temporary solution.

C. Have not had my car long enough to know the issue you mentioned.

If you tried jumping it with good cables but your ground is loose it's posable that your not building enough charge to the battery to support the amp draw required by the starter. I would tighten the cable and hook up booster cables. Run car providing boost around 1500rpm to increase the alternator out put from the running vehicle. For 10-20mins changing rpm occasionally. Or pull the battery and go have it checked/ charged. If after jumping/ testing battery it still does the same thing then I would reinstall battery and try bypassing the cars electrical system by jumping the solenoid. The solenoid is where your positive battery cable goes to. Not sure if the markings will be the same on JDM but most solenoids have a S BY the smaller gauge wire that activates the solenoid. Jump from battery cable to wire marked s. If it still does nothing it's the solenoid. May want to verify with someone as I know mechanics but not the specifics of this car. Hope I helped.

056

 

Yeah, I'm going to try that out now. Hopefully I can get the car running atleast to my house... Then deal with the problem from there. Thanks a ton to all of you guys for helping out. I'll keep you guys posted on the news.

 

So here's the scoop. It's not the battery, replaced the starter and its not that... the car started up a few times when i connected a thick gauge wire from the starter to the battery but then stopped turning on after a few attempts at this. What in the world could this be? I also checked the relay and its fine. Need Help!!

 

Anything guys?

 

UPDATE: it was my IPDM. thanks for the help anyways guys. If any of you know someone who has one in good condition let me know. A new one is $600.

 

That wasn't simple or cheap. Shot my theory right out of the water. Glad you figured it out. Sorry it was so dang expensive.