Car will not start

LESLEY DORSETT CONWAY

MEMBER
2015 TOYOTA HIGHLANDER
6 CYL
AWD
AUTOMATIC
49,000 MILES

Last night I attempted to start my car (push button) and it clicked, all the dash lights started flashing and it would not start. This morning my husband jumped it, it started and we took it to get the battery tested. It was around fourteen volts I believe. The guy also said that the starter and alternator were fine as well. It started fine several times throughout the day. This evening I attempted to start it again, and the same thing happened (lights flashing, says the ignition is on even when I pushed the start button to turn it off--had to do it twice to turn the car off). I do not know if this is a battery issue or something else.

2 Replies

KEN L

MASTER CERTIFIED MECHANIC
47,648 POSTS

Yes, this is the battery that has gone bad. Here are two guides that will help you test it, which I don't think it needs, and a guide to replace it.

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

and

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

Please check it out and get back to me.

Cheers, Ken

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Monday, August 28th, 2017 AT 5:00 PM

STEVE W.

MECHANIC
13,476 POSTS

If it had to be jump started then the battery was very low.
The second time it wouldn't start indicates that the battery is not good.

A fully charged battery would be 12.6 volts @ 2.1 volts per cell 6 cells in a normal car battery. 14 volts would be fine as a charging voltage, however it would not be battery voltage.
It may show as battery voltage IF the engine has been running and was just shut off prior to the test. This is called "surface charge" it is the result of the sulfuric acid and lead sulfate conversion that takes place while charging. The conversion takes place at around 14-15 volts, it is also delayed some from the charging cycle so that you remove the charging voltage and you can read a "battery" voltage equal to that voltage.
This doesn't tell you the real story about the batteries condition though and can lead to many saying "the battery is good", when in reality it isn't.

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Tuesday, August 29th, 2017 AT 10:16 AM