Engine is not cranking over - starter not working for me?

Good morning,

Let us start with basics. You need to check the battery voltage to see if there is enough current available for operation.

I attached some guides for you for this. You will need a voltmeter to do the testing.

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/everything-goes-dead-when-engine-is-cranked

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-check-a-car-alternator

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-voltmeter

Roy

So you hit the key and it does not do anything? No clicks or lights on the dash? Do the headlights work? Trying to determine if you have any battery power inside the vehicle, could be a bad battery cable or connector, or a bad mega fuse or something like that. Give us a bit more information please.

So the car sat a month? If yes you have a dead battery. Most newer vehicles will draw a battery down in a month if they are not run at least once a week.

If it has not set a month then you have either a bad battery or bad battery cable(s) or connection. I would check those first, then hook a charger on it and see if the battery recovers. If it is a bad connection or connector those are not hard to deal with.

But if the vehicle has been setting and the temperatures have been at freezing or below for more than a day or two, your battery may be frozen as well, that means it will not recover and has to be replaced.

Okay, it sounds like a bad battery cable or fusible link is not letting power into the vehicle. I would start with checking the battery cable ends. Especially the ones feeding the power center under the hood.

Then use a test light to check all of the fuses in the power center under the hood.
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-use-a-test-light-circuit-tester

Disconnect your battery by just pulling off the negative "black" cable. Check the tightness of the nuts that hold the wire leads in place at your starter. Again, "disconnect" the battery before doing the check. If you start poking around and there is power running around there and you arc something out you will know something went wrong "guaranteed".
You could also get injured. So "disconnect" the battery before you look around for loose connections. Also, take a look at the wires to see if they are cracked, worn, rubbing against metal, etc. Check your grounding strap too, that usually is bolted to the fire wall and looks like a "flat thin and braided" piece of wire running from the block.
I think you just might discover the problem of all the headaches.
You have some type of electrical issue going on and it does sound like loose wires or something is shorting out somewhere.

I hope the information helped you out.

Good luck.
Rick

I would start by having the starter tested at a parts store. Most will do it for free. Your starter may be drawing too many amps. As far as the check engine light, while you are getting the starter checked, have them scan the computer for codes. Most do this for free. Let me know what you find.

Note: If your starter is not working at all, check the starter relay.

That is correct. They are the only ones that have the equipment to reset it.

Regardless, I am glad it is fixed. If you have questions in the future, let us know.

Joe

Battery is most likely bad. Even with a jump, it will not start if it is internally shorted.

Roy

Remove the cables from your battery and hook them directly to your jumper box and see if it starts. Otherwise, you need a battery tester. A battery that is drained/discharged will not jump start and re-charging the battery with a battery charger will be required to see if it will charge and does not mean the battery has an internal short!

Roy