Battery issue or something worse?
 

Hi. I uninsured my car for about a 2 weeks and I tried to start it up again
I put the key in power turns on and my system goes on but before the clock turns
on it resets and starts over and does it again
there's power but it won't start properly. And then I try turning it over but nothing
any help would be great before I have to pay for a tow to the shop

Jump it with a good battery...if it starts good.....put in a new one.....

If it doesn't...start looking for problems...fuses, corroded terminals/wiring etc

I'll try charging the battery more but I do actually have power
I've had a dead battery before and this didn't happen when I jumpstarted it
i put my key in turns on but before I get the time or anything
it resets again and again and I just geta click when I try to turnover

sounds like the battery is bad. Has some voltage, but no current to do any work .
Could be a internal short in the battery, It will show almost normal voltage.
should be 13.8 volts no load.
Have some one put a meter on the battery, before you turn anything on,
then get a reading of the voltage when you switch on,
if it drops to less than 11 volts, get a new battery.

I just had a similar issue and it was a bad battery. Car power would come on but it wouldn't start. Jump the car and it would run until you shut it off.

Got new battery and everything is perfect again.

Autozone and what not can test the battery for you and tell you if it's dead or not.

Just as ei8ht said, get a volt meter and check the battery under load. Also, check your alternator to be sure it is not bad.

As others have properly stated just because you may meter 12 volts off the battery (not running), you may not have the capacity (amps) to pull in the starter motor. "Amps do the work, but volts get the credit" [in this context].

Jumpstart off another vehicle and then when running meter the terminals to see if you have proper alternator output (should be around 14v; check belt tension - should deflect no more than 1/2" under strong thumb pressure).

If it will start off a jump, stay running [jump detached], and the alternator output is ok then bad battery.

If it won't stay running after a jump [detached] it could be both a bad alternator and battery.

^.................... :werd:

check belt tension - should deflect no more than 1/2" under strong thumb pressure).

WARNING WARNING Be sure you turn motor OFF, belt not turning when you do this.
Otherwise you may not have a thumb after the test. LOL

Correct. If the alternator output voltage is right and the battery won't hold a charge, it's the battery. Even if when you take the battery in to be checked they say it's OK. Especially if they say "It's OK, it just needs to be charged."

Twice (once with Sears, once with Pep Boys) I've had shops tell me my battery was OK even though it was going dead overnight. Both times a new battery (not from Sears and not from Pep Boys) solved the problem.

Ken

Thx everyone for all the help
I charged the battery and same thing except my screen didn't reset
so I thought it was gonna work still didn't
I went and got a new battery. Cause I lost my warranty papers
never had that issue of a bad battery. It was either dead or low
bt I got lots to learn about cars

I just had the same issue. I dont drive my car everyday and sometimes it sits for about a week at a time. Mine would crank but but no start. Our battery requirement is 630 cca (cold cranking amp) minimum. The one I just bought not knowing the required cca is 540. I was jumped the other day with a Optima Red Top battery pushing 700 cca and it started right up with no hesitation. My Optima will go in tomorrow. Good luck.

+1 excellent Huey
Both the battery and alternator work together.
They will not work efficiently with a problem with either one.

Batteries certainly do lose their electro-chemical capability over time. I know I've been stretching my own OEM Interstate (circa Jan '06 install). When I put my Battery Tender on mine this weekend, as part of the semi-hibernation routine, it indicated it was recharging and that was just after running the vehicle. There's a new battery in my Springtime plans, either Diehard Platinum P-5 or Optima Red Top.

Shhhhhhhhh.....don't curse you or me!
I'm still on my original battery since December of 05 when I bought the car!