My car wont start at all and no lights comes on

Tiny
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  • MEMBER
  • 2018 TOYOTA CAMRY
  • AUTOMATIC
  • 20,000 MILES
My car wont start at all, and no lights comes on not even my dashboard comes on.
Monday, August 30th, 2021 AT 12:58 AM

29 Replies

Tiny
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Hello,

Just so we cover all the possibility.
Have you tried to jump start the car?
It could just be a dead battery. As you do not have any lights coming on the dashboard, that typically points to a bad battery.

If you are able to jump start it and it runs fine that it is the battery that is at fault.

Here are some helpful articles:

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-a-car-battery-works
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-jump-start-car-battery-using-jumper-cables
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/how-to-replace-a-car-battery

Let me know what you find out.
Thank you.
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Monday, August 30th, 2021 AT 9:40 AM
Tiny
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Hello

no I have not tried to jump start my car yet.
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 10:29 AM
Tiny
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The symptoms you mentioned sounds like a dead battery.
If the battery is bad, you will be able to jump start it.
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 10:35 AM
Tiny
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I tested the battery using a multimeter and it was at 5.6 but that's only because I haven't drove or started it for 2 weeks maybe more. I'm starting to think it's one of my electrical components.
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 1:03 PM
Tiny
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Because I can't turn on my headlight or none of my electrical components seems to be working at all. I use my spare keys and it seems weak then not working. Ugh.
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 1:06 PM
Tiny
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You could have excessive amount of parasitic draw (current drain) on the battery.
Every circuit will have some amount of draw but it can become excessive due to a issue with a electrical component.

Here is a guide of how to find the parasitic draw:

https://youtu.be/z5F7WpgjaRs

https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-dead-overnight

Let me know if you have any questions.
Thanks.
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Saturday, September 4th, 2021 AT 8:37 PM
Tiny
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Hey, so when I jump started the car it works fine. Everything was working properly, but the next day when I tried to start it again everything shut off?
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Saturday, September 25th, 2021 AT 2:24 PM
Tiny
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Is that a sign I have a bad battery? Alternator? Or parasitic drain or a bad ground wire somewhere?
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Saturday, September 25th, 2021 AT 2:25 PM
Tiny
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It can be that you have a bad battery. Parasitic drain is another possibility.
But it does not seem to be the alternator. If it was the alternator then the car would not stay running after the jump start. Remember a car will run with a jump start just fine, even with a bad battery. It's just you won't be able to restart it after shut off.
I think next best step would be to get the battery tested. You can do a load test on your own or take it to your local auto parts store and they can use their machine to do the load test (more accurate).

Follow this guideline to do load test on your own:
https://www.2carpros.com/articles/car-battery-load-test

Let me know what you find.
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Saturday, September 25th, 2021 AT 3:48 PM
Tiny
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Hey, I tried to jumpstart my car again and my light and horn went on (flashing)? Please help.
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 2:07 PM
Tiny
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It sounds like the anti theft got triggered. Disconnect the negative battery cable and wait for about a minute. That should reset the system.
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 2:14 PM
Tiny
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Oh, but I read some post and some people say that using the key should stop it?
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 2:17 PM
Tiny
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What would happen if I did reset my system?
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 2:20 PM
Tiny
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Yes, you can stop it with the key. That is the proffered way. Only time you want to unplug the battery if your key fob is missing or not functional.
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 2:22 PM
Tiny
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All right. So, I just have to lock it and unlock it and it should be fine? Can I use the key button's function, or do I have to insert the key in the door?
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 2:26 PM
Tiny
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Was checking out my battery and noticed this. I don't know if it is new or it was always there.
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 3:40 PM
Tiny
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The battery cable is normal. I don't know why Toyota does not put an insulation on the wire at that connector.
Any time the alarm goes off you should be able to turn it off by pressing the lock and unlock button on the key fob. If that does not work, then you will have to put the key in the ignition and turn to on position.
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Friday, October 1st, 2021 AT 9:30 PM
Tiny
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Key fob button didn't work and didn't try turning on ignition didn't want to ruin it anymore. There was some electric spark or something when connecting the jumper cable (I forgot if it was the positive or negative cable that did it).
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Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 AT 10:25 AM
Tiny
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Got it. So as of now, what are you experiencing? Still not start?
Is your security light staying on?
Or were you able to jump start it?
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Sunday, October 3rd, 2021 AT 10:31 AM
Tiny
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Hey, changed my battery and now it works fine now. (:
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Friday, October 15th, 2021 AT 12:03 PM

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