Symptom guide
Car not starting? Watch the dash lights
Before you call anyone, turn the key and watch the dashboard. What the lights do in that moment narrows the fault down more than anything else.
Narrow it down
What the symptom usually means
Lights stay bright, nothing happens
Power is getting to the car but not to the engine. That points at the starter, or the wiring and connections feeding it. A single click is common here.
Lights dim or flicker as you turn the key
The battery can run the lights but can't handle the heavy draw of starting. A weak battery or a poor connection at the terminals is the usual cause.
No lights at all
A completely flat battery, a disconnected terminal, or a failed main connection. Check whether the interior light comes on when you open the door.
Engine turns over but won't catch
The starting side is doing its job. The problem is fuel, spark or something telling the engine not to run. This needs a scan rather than a guess.
Starts after a jump, dies again soon after
The battery isn't being recharged while you drive. That's usually the alternator rather than the battery itself.
This is a guide, not a diagnosis. Two cars with identical symptoms regularly turn out to have different faults — that's what the scan is for.
Worth knowing
Before you spend money
- Try it in neutral as well as park. A worn neutral safety switch stops the car cranking in one but not the other.
- Look at the battery terminals. White or green crust stops current as effectively as a dead battery.
- Note whether it happens hot or cold. A starter that fails only when the engine is warm is a strong clue.
- If a jump start works, don't assume the battery is the fault. Get the charging system tested.
Questions
Do I need to get the car towed?
No. We come to wherever it's sitting — your driveway, a workplace lot or the roadside.
What does it cost to find out what's wrong?
The diagnostic is $95, and it comes off the repair if you have us do the work.
Other symptoms
Where we come to you
Still not sure what it is?
That's what a proper diagnostic is for. Call or text and describe it.