Q: Engine slowly cranks but won't start, battery sign/engine maint lights up.

asked by on September 17, 2016

Engine cranks slowly but won't start. Battery and maint require lights up on dash board. Battery is only a year old and I was driving fine yesterday. I don,t drive much and car is parked under the extremely hot sun of South Florida. My guess is alternator.

My car has 89000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

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

Burning smell from under the hood
Hello. A lot goes on under the hood and many of the components can reach high temperatures. Any fluid leaks coming into contact with these hot components can burn the fluids and cause an odor. An example would be a...
Car won't crank warning lights came on and the words service advance trac came up on the dashboard
Hello. For your car to suddenly act like this, it is typically the result of a loss of voltage. The battery itself may have failed. When this occurs, other warning lights come on because there is not enough power for...
My truck just ovetheated i shut it down let it cooldown made sure coolant was full now it wont crank
Whenever an engine is overheated there is always the possibility of engine damage to the cylinder heads and gaskets, along with engine sensors that may get damaged by heat or coolant contamination. You will need to have the engine scanned...
Can't find oil plug
Hello. The drain plug for the oil (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/how-to-change-your-oil) should be underneath the truck in the oil pan of the engine. There may be a splash shield covering the oil pan. If there is, this will need to be removed to...
2005 Liberty V6 cranks but won't start - it also shows various MIL codes
Extended cranking can set the P0522 code for lack of oil pressure. The P0581 code has to do with the cruise control circuit. I wouldn't concern myself with this one until the car is running. It may clear itself at...
Jerking reaction when accelerating
This may be related to potentially either a transmission problem such as low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) creating a lack of hydraulic pressure or potentially a bad control solenoid. This may also be related to an engine fuel supply issue such...
Car goes into limp mode when the check engine light and VSA light comes on
The lights that you have on and the vehicle going into fail safe mode is an indication you have a major system failure that will require computer to be tested for codes first. There are many possible codes it can...
Can brake problem cause engine problem? 2006 VW Jetta
Hi there - the brake booster on your Jetta uses an engine-driven vacuum pump (https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-brake-booster-vacuum-pump) - rather than vacuum from the engine intake system and a vacuum booster cylinder as many cars have historically used. It sounds like your mechanic...
4l60e transmission shifting problem
The 1-2 shift failure on the 4L60E is often due to a faulty throttle position sensor (TPS). Test the sensor (there should be a smooth, linear electrical response over the range of motion) or substitute a known good unit. A...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Honda CR-V
The The fourth generation Honda CR-V was unveiled in 2012 with a total redesign. One of America’s favorite compact SUVs got a new look and a lot of great new features, including an all-wheel drive (AWD) option, as well as...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Honda Pilot
If If you’re in the market for a larger SUV, you might think that you have to resign yourself to a gas-guzzling monster like a Suburban or a Chevy Tahoe, but that’s really not the case. With the 2012 Honda...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Dog Breeder or Trainer
These These days, dogs are more and more likely to travel with people than ever before. After all, what dog doesn’t ride in a car? As a breeder and trainer though, you’re probably more likely to carry along dogs than...