Q: Starting issues, battery is fine

asked by on June 27, 2016

My car has difficulty starting when I jump-start another vehicle. I had the battery checked. However, the car wouldn't start and the headlights along with the interior lights do not work. What could be the problem?

Battery is dead Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Many different things can cause the vehicle to have a no start condition. The most common are the battery, battery cables, ignition switch, starter, or fuel pump.

With the headlights not working there is a good chance that the fault is electrical. I’d recommend having a qualified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, inspect your vehicle. They will be able to diagnose the issue with your battery and perform any repairs required.

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

What does the Tire Learning Active message mean?
The Tire Learning Active message can appear on the driver information center (DIC). This alert is displayed by the DIC when the system is adjusting to a new set of tires.
Jeep idling rough.
The rough running engine may indicate a miss fire in one or more of the cylinders or the crankshaft sensor may be intermittently not registering. The most common problem is fouled spark plugs and would require plug replacement to fix...
Speedometer off
Hi. The cluster will most likely need to be replaced as they can not be re-calibrated. To test the cluster, a certified technician would be able to hook up a computer to the car to read out what the various...
There's a ticking sound by the engine, does the timing belt need replacing?
Hello there. The ticking sound coming from your Ford Fiesta isn't necessarily caused by the timing belt. In fact, most ticking sounds are caused by lubrication issues, when oil is having difficulty reaching the top of the cylinder head. The...
losing power
Hi there: In most cases acceleration issues are caused by restriction of fuel or air into the fuel injection system to be burned inside the combustion chamber. This could be the result of damaged mass air flow sensors, EGR valve,...
Stalling at low speeds and idle.
This may be a result of a dirty or failing idle air control valve. The idle air control valve (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/idle-control-valve-replacement) reads the air intake as it is mixed with fuel prior to being injected into the engine at low speeds...
How many spark plugs and does it have a coil pack
Hi There, Your vehicle should have 6 spark plugs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/spark-plugs-replacement); one for each cylinder. You should also have 6 coil packs (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/ignition-coil-replacement); again one for each cylinder. Should you need further assistance with changing these, I would recommend having a...
Will I have to take out the whole transmission or apart just to get to to that piece (transmission speed sensor
The output speed sensor is replaced from outside the transmission and is located on rear of transmission. No need to remove transmission.

Related articles

What Is Key-Off Battery Drain?
Many Many things in your car continue to work even after your vehicle is turned off – radio presets, security alarms, emissions computers and clocks are just a few. They continue to draw power from your car battery, and the...
A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Mercedes-Benz R-Class BlueTEC
The The R-Class isn’t a minivan. It’s not a station wagon either – though it bears the slight air of one. Mercedes deems it a crossover, and that may be the closest appropriate designation but it’s not an exact match...
Symptoms of a Bad or Failing Battery
Common signs include a rotten egg smell, slow cranking when starting, the Battery Light turning on, and vehicle electronics not powering on.