Q: Car not starting and battery draining

asked by on February 14, 2016

My car's engine won't turn over at all. I thought it might be the fuel injection fuse, but all the fuses that have to do with the engine look fine. Also, I charged the battery and the car seems to get power. But, if I don't disconnect the battery, the car won't turn off, and it'll just drain again.

Battery will not hold a charge Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

There is a component in your vehicle that is malfunctioning and causing the battery to drain down. There is a very specific way that this type of problem needs to be diagnosed, in order to find what the root cause it. I would ask for help from one of the mechanics at YourMechanic to come to you and diagnose what is causing your battery to drain down.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Power steering not working.
First thing to check would be to make sure the belt is still attached to the power steering pump and that the fluid is at the level mark, typically low fluid level indicates a leak somewhere in the system. I...
Transmission tapping on a 2011 Honda Accord
Automatics do have automatic clutches, but you have to rebuild the transmission to replace them, which on a 2011 Accord, a full rebuild starts at about 4,000 dollars. So just change the fluid in it every 30,000 miles and don't...
Floor mat entrapped accelerator, increasing speed, and destroyed engine
Hello. I have seen this occur several times on this particular model. Due to the design of the floor mat it comes loose and gets under the gas pedal which causes this to occur. This happens even more often with...
I was driving and my car started to slow down, and my gas pedal wouldn't work, and all the signs came on and the car light was flickering
Hi, thanks for writing in. It sounds like your battery (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/battery-replacement) has crashed. When the system voltage drops below a certain point, the electronics go haywire. The alternator is supposed to maintain the battery voltage at around 14 volts, and...
Powertrain malfunction indicator light is on
Hi there. From the description you have provided, driving your vehicle for about an hour, lost power, powertrain malfunction indicator illuminated, later the powertrain malfunction indicator and service engine soon light illuminated, is difficult to estimate the cost of repair....
Someone tried to steal my car.
I believe the part you are referring to is the ignition lock cylinder. This is the part that you stick your key into to start the vehicle. If the ignition lock cylinder has been damaged by vandals, unfortunately it will...
I have a 2016 qx60 the heat want go off none of the buttons work on the climate control and the radio or navigation screen don't
You can check the basics like fuses. The fuse panel diagram and location should be in the owner's manual. However, Infiniti's basic warranty for your vehicle is 4 years or 60,000 miles - whichever comes first. By that, your vehicle...
Buying used BMW 2009
Nothing adverse appears on the Carfax report. There don't appear to be any outstanding recalls. Inasmuch as used car repair, maintenance, and restoration costs are highly dependent on the actual, as found, condition of the vehicle, the only way to...
1995 f150 Possible blown head gasket
It sounds like you may in fact have a blown head gasket. A blown head gasket may cause a number of different symptoms. A head gasket that fails between cylinders will generally cause a misfire and potentially compression leaks from...

Related articles

How to Deal With a Car Battery For Long-Term Storage
If If you store your car for the winter, or for other long periods, it’s important to make sure that your car battery is properly cared for. Long term car storage can wreak havoc on your battery. Isn't it okay...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Instrument Voltage Regulator
Common signs include dim or flickering gauges, inaccurate or erratic readings from the voltage regulator, and an inoperable instrument cluster.
How to Buy a Battery for Your Car
Your Your car battery is a storage device for the electrical power you need to start your car and operate your car’s options. If your car battery isn’t working as it should, you may not be able to start your...