Replaced battery....car is still dead, need help

[Orange Poison]

I replaced my battery today, and no lights...no power, nothing. Dead as a door nail.

Couple of weeks ago I tried starting my car and I knew the battery was getting weak due to lack of me driving my car enough. I tried starting it and all I was getting was that clicking sound.

A week later, I go to disarm my car, and nothing...no interior light or anything.


Today I replaced the battery and I still nothing....like as if I have no battery at all. I don't have a volt meter to check if it's the battery, but I'm assuming the battery is fine.

Could this be the culprit of a blown fuse?

Any suggestions are appreciated..:beer:

 

[SicStang03]

what happens if you turn the key over?? Do a voltage test.. Maybe alternator

 

[Casper cobra]

Maybe alternator

 

[Orange Poison]

When I turn the key over....nothing happens....no life anywhere, no lights, no sounds.

I don't believe it was the alternator, the car has been sitting for a while and the last time I took it out, which was about a month ago, it ran perfect. Absolutely no signs of an alternator going out.

Something makes me think it was possibly a fuse that went out, cause let's say if it was the alternator....at least after putting in new a battery, I would have at least interior lights, right?

 

[SicStang03]

Very weird... Keep us updated and let us know what the culprit is when you find out

 

[suaveflooder]

The car would actually start and run if it was the battery. Just found out that the car can run for a couple days on the battery alone. Mine when out Tuesday. I drove it Wednesday and Thursday unaware. It wasn't until Friday, mid day that the car came close to dying. Granted I only drive about 10 miles a day.

 

[suaveflooder]

Question: Did you try and start the car right after you put the batter in, or did you wait a day or so? If you waited check and see if the battery is charged. If it's not, it actually could be the alternator.

 

[Orange Poison]

Question: Did you try and start the car right after you put the batter in, or did you wait a day or so? If you waited check and see if the battery is charged. If it's not, it actually could be the alternator.

Oh yes....I tried starting it immediately after putting in the new battery, usually the alarm goes off when I connect the positive post, but this time...nothing. I knew there was a problem.

About a week ago, when I went to get in the car...it was the same. NOthing.

 

[BAFRAID]

Check all your fuses and also check the battery cables themselves. Maybe you lost a ground and didn't know it.....

 

[silvercoffin]

...

Cant hurt to check your fuses.....

Read the manual and that doesnt explain it, buy a fuse checker at the auto parts store. Quick way to check all fuses..

On my truck I had a strange power outage to just the rear power outlet and turned out to be on a fuse that was not even listed in the manual. Dealership kept telling me it was on the same fuse as the front outle/cig lighter but it wasnt.


I want to know what it was.

 

[suaveflooder]

yeah...I'm going to go with the last two posts then....just check the basics...connnections and fueses. It shouldn't be the alternator. It might be bad as well, but it's not the main problem if the car won't start with a new battery.

 

[Orange Poison]

Ok thanks guys....I'll try this out.

I'll keep everyone posted what I find out.

 

[chevysRslow]

Should have started with the new battery. Sounds like you have a bad cable or no ground. I'd start with the ground and make sure it's not loose or corroded.

 

[silvercoffin]

...

Even if the alternator was completely dead you should still have started up when you put the new battery in. Check the wires on the battery and isnt there some kind of ground right from the battery? Check those battery wires at both ends.

My alternator died and finally completely died after only giving low volts to the car on and off for a while.. I bought a new battery and it started right up but thats when I found out the alternator was completely dead.

 

[silvercoffin]

...

Even if the alternator was completely dead you should still have started up when you put the new battery in. Check the wires on the battery and isnt there some kind of ground right from the battery? Check those battery wires at both ends.

My alternator died and finally completely died after only giving low volts to the car on and off for a while.. I bought a new battery and it started right up but thats when I found out the alternator was completely dead.

What kind of battery did you put in?

 

[o4nccobra]

fusible link?

 

[ShelbyGuy]

I smell an aftermarket alarm. contact your alarm vendor for technical support.

 

[SlowSVT]

ShelbyGuy may have the answer Actually the stock alarm system will drain the battery after it sits for a while. Before I bought mine from the dealer they had to jump start both Terminators I test drove due to the drain the stock alarm system put on the car. I don't hear much of this happening on this web site but that mobile battery box seemed to get a lot of use at Star Ford. They told me this was a common occurance

There may be a short somewher in the system. Try jump starting the car, drive it for a few miles to charge the battery and let it sit overnight to see if you can get it to turn over the next day. If it does it's a good bet that is what the problem was.

 

[Dana]

Did you install the battery correctly? Was it a brand new battery?

If so, then go get a voltmeter somewhere. It will probably be almost impossible to determine the problem without one.

 

[306fordgt]

I also think the alarm could be the problem. A lot of aftermarket ones have an ignition cut off of some sort that will need to be reset when you install a new battery...most of the time it is just a switch. Hope this helps and good luck!

Paul