I drove to work noticed on dash board battery.

Tiny
VANESSAWILSON
  • MEMBER
  • 2004 MERCURY MOUNTAINEER
  • 59,000 MILES
I drove to work noticed on dash board battery light was on. Parked the car and car doesn't start. Came back 6 hours later it started but lights were very dim. Turned car off and tried to cut on again a car won't start. What could the problem be?
Sunday, November 4th, 2012 AT 12:04 PM

8 Replies

Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Make sure the battery has a full charge. Also, check your charging system. If you have a digital multimeter, we can help you with some tests. Any applicable trouble codes?

Some of the national brand autostores will check those systems for you.
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Sunday, November 4th, 2012 AT 3:05 PM
Tiny
VANESSAWILSON
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I had to tow truck to mechanic, battery was changed. Everything on dashboard lite up; car just won't turn over. Mechanic check fuses and test the computer and it came back stating that the truck computer doesn't recognize the set of keys. What am I to do. Can't drive car if it doesn't start. And mechanic can't check truck. If it doesn't start?
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Sunday, November 4th, 2012 AT 5:55 PM
Tiny
JDL
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Are you saying it won't crank or it won't start? It's hard for me to believe your mechanic couldn't figure it out? There are a lot of things your mechanic can check even if it won't start.

If there is a security system issue, that needs to be checked out. I get the feeling your only telling me bits and pieces?
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Sunday, November 4th, 2012 AT 6:15 PM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
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Any applicable trouble codes? Have you tried a different key?
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Sunday, November 4th, 2012 AT 6:47 PM
Tiny
VANESSAWILSON
  • MEMBER
  • 4 POSTS
I had no problem starting the truck on my way to work. I notice once I was on highway that the battery light was on. Called mechanic and he told me it may be the alternator. When I reach work and parked truck, I tried to start truck again and was unable. Called mechanic I was told that it was alternator and to pick up one and try to get the truck to him the following day;the following day I tried to start truck, I was unable to. I had a jump start in the truck, it wasn't strong enough to charge battery; truck was dead. I had to be tow to mechanic. They replaced the battery and the dashboard lit up and after they checked the starter and fuses it started making the noise like it wanted to turn over but couldn't. Then they came and told me the keys needed to be reprogrammed to car. I'm confused because to me the car recognized the keys and I had both on me and they tested both; what I don't understand is how could they get the lights and get it to try to start if the keys needed to be programmed; I would think that they wouldn't get anything and I'm not sure if this is needed the reprogramming of the keys. The alternator wasn't change yet. They are saying that when battery was drained that the computer was erase and need to be reprogrammed. I drove to work how can this be?
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Monday, November 5th, 2012 AT 8:06 AM
Tiny
JDL
  • MECHANIC
  • 16,098 POSTS
Some makes and models, if battery voltage is lost, it can go into theft lock.

I found a tsb that might apply. I posted it on one of your other posts.
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Monday, November 5th, 2012 AT 3:01 PM
Tiny
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I would love to thank you for helping me. The information that is so available. This is my site from here on. I would love to become a member
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Monday, November 5th, 2012 AT 3:48 PM
Tiny
JDL
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I'm glad I could help. There are a lot of people here, answering questions, that are more educated than I.

I'm not sure how to become a member? You might talk to mike@2carpros. Com
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Monday, November 5th, 2012 AT 4:10 PM

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