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Home / Symptoms / No NoiseNo Start

Four common causes for a no noise/no start from the vehicle and their related parts.

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Is Your Car Not Starting And Making No Noise?

The cause for no noise when starting the engine is usually a dead battery. However, it can also be a faulty starter, which is related to the electrical system that actually initializes the car. Alternatively, it might even be a problem with the key fob.

We'll share everything you need to know about communicating with the mechanic if your car won't start. We'll also discuss what specific issues your car might have according to its symptoms.

Watch out: If your car makes no noise and fails to start, you must keep track of all evident symptoms. In this sense, note how the car behaves when you turn the key; does it make a click? Does it go completely silent? Any piece of information is vital at this stage. Remember that every detail helps the technician diagnose your car.

Let's Get To The Bottom Of It!

Did the problem persist even after changing the batteries?

Usually, this specific issue carries symptoms like the warning lights popping up on the dash and the car's inability to jump-start nor change behavior if you put it on "Neutral" or "Park." Commonly, the car shows these symptoms for a while, and changing the battery doesn't solve it.

Does your car use the "Engine start" button?

This issue is common in modern cars with an "Engine Start" button. If the brake light switch is the culprit, the car will typically show warning dashboard lights after you press the "Engine Start" button, but it won't start. In addition, it will not change behavior if you put it on "Park" or "Neutral," and it'll probably require a tow ride to go anywhere. Unfortunately, changing the battery doesn't solve the problem.

Is any part of your car's lighting or electrical system remaining on after you turn off the engine?

If the problem is happening because of a parasitic draw, check if the courtesy lights on the glove box, mirrors, and trunk are on even after turning the car off. This problem affects the car even if you've left it sitting in the garage for a few days — especially with modern vehicles. In this case, the car's been silently draining the battery. Still, you'll be able to jump-start it.

Do you notice if the engine overheats quickly?

Commonly, your car will display all the warning lights on the dash and gauges cycle if that's the case. Note that this problem usually appears when the engine warms up and heat soaks into the starter; your mechanic might know this problem as a "hot soak, no start failure.". You'll also notice no difference when switching between "Park" and "Neutral." Additionally, the dome light will turn on when you turn the car keys but won't dim as it usually does when the engine starts. Also, you won't be able to jump-start the vehicle even if it has a new battery until the engine cools completely.

Have you tried turning the car on with a different key fob?

In some cases, a specific key won't make the vehicle start even after you've put new batteries in it. But, when using a spare key, the car works as usual. So, the unresponsive key fob is behind the problem. This type of issue requires a visit to the shop; note that you'll have to bring all your vehicle's remotes along for testing and reprogramming.

Was your car taking too long to start before having the problem?

If it's a weak or dead battery, the car won't make any noise when you turn the key, but it'll work when jump-starting it. The symptoms you'll notice accompanying this problem are the lack of behavior when switching between "Park" and "Neutral" and the display of warning lights on the dash. Also, note that just because the radio plays and the lights switch does not mean the car battery has enough power to crank the engine. For instance, lights and radio systems require 10 amps to run, while the engine asks for 200.

The most common causes for the car not starting

The most common causes for a car not starting are:

Faulty starter motor: The starter motor uses power to send a signal for the spark plugs, creating the initial spark to start the vehicle. However, if the starter motor fails, it won’t produce any electrical signal, causing the vehicle to not start. The starter can fail due to electrical problems and overheating. For example, if it misses a heat shield, it might overheat and develop wiring issues faster.
Failed brake pedal switch: Most modern cars' computer systems expect you to press the brake while starting the car as a safety measure. However, if the brake pedal sensor isn't picking up on the pedal being pressed, the system won't allow the car to start.
Failed key fob (wireless remote): The problem can be an aftermarket key fob that doesn't match the OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) and isn't communicating correctly. This means that the key fob might show signals that it works and has power, but the vehicle's computer system isn't reading it.
Parasitic draw: A parasitic draw is a faulty electronic component on the car that's constantly draining the battery. This issue persists even if the vehicle sits in the garage with the engine turned off. Also, keep an eye out for constantly-lit courtesy lights in the glove box, mirrors, and trunk since they're common culprits. Consequently, the battery keeps being silently drained until it runs out, leaving the car dead.
Faulty battery: The battery powers the vehicle, from initial ignition to mid-drive functionalities, and even by feeding the alarm after shutting the vehicle off. Therefore, if the battery fails, it’ll not provide the necessary power for things like starting the vehicle, power steering, headlights, etc.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Did the problem persist even after changing the batteries?

Usually, this specific issue carries symptoms like the warning lights popping up on the dash and the car's inability to jump-start nor change behavior if you put it on "Neutral" or "Park." Commonly, the car shows these symptoms for a while, and changing the battery doesn't solve it.
Does your car use the "Engine start" button?

This issue is common in modern cars with an "Engine Start" button. If the brake light switch is the culprit, the car will typically show warning dashboard lights after you press the "Engine Start" button, but it won't start. In addition, it will not change behavior if you put it on "Park" or "Neutral," and it'll probably require a tow ride to go anywhere. Unfortunately, changing the battery doesn't solve the problem.
Is any part of your car's lighting or electrical system remaining on after you turn off the engine?

If the problem is happening because of a parasitic draw, check if the courtesy lights on the glove box, mirrors, and trunk are on even after turning the car off. This problem affects the car even if you've left it sitting in the garage for a few days — especially with modern vehicles. In this case, the car's been silently draining the battery. Still, you'll be able to jump-start it.
Do you notice if the engine overheats quickly?

Commonly, your car will display all the warning lights on the dash and gauges cycle if that's the case. Note that this problem usually appears when the engine warms up and heat soaks into the starter; your mechanic might know this problem as a "hot soak, no start failure.". You'll also notice no difference when switching between "Park" and "Neutral." Additionally, the dome light will turn on when you turn the car keys but won't dim as it usually does when the engine starts. Also, you won't be able to jump-start the vehicle even if it has a new battery until the engine cools completely.
Have you tried turning the car on with a different key fob?

In some cases, a specific key won't make the vehicle start even after you've put new batteries in it. But, when using a spare key, the car works as usual. So, the unresponsive key fob is behind the problem. This type of issue requires a visit to the shop; note that you'll have to bring all your vehicle's remotes along for testing and reprogramming.
Was your car taking too long to start before having the problem?

If it's a weak or dead battery, the car won't make any noise when you turn the key, but it'll work when jump-starting it. The symptoms you'll notice accompanying this problem are the lack of behavior when switching between "Park" and "Neutral" and the display of warning lights on the dash. Also, note that just because the radio plays and the lights switch does not mean the car battery has enough power to crank the engine. For instance, lights and radio systems require 10 amps to run, while the engine asks for 200.

Typical fixes to address the cause(s)

These are typical processes and repair services that fix a check engine light issue

The most common cause: Faulty battery

The most common reason for a car not starting at all is an issue with the battery. The battery has specific chemical reactions happening inside so it can perform properly and send power to the car. The battery also depends on connections, terminals, and wirings, which are prone to fail. However, if the battery develops an issue or gets too weak, it won’t provide enough power to feed many of the car’s demands, including the signal to start the vehicle.

Symptoms it causes: Apart from the vehicle not starting, you might notice engine stalling, battery warning light, loss of power steering, dimming headlights, radio issues, etc.
High risk of priority: The battery is the most vital electrical part of your vehicle, ensuring the car actually starts, works, and drives. Therefore, a faulty battery can lead to serious vehicle issues including sudden breakdowns.

How exactly do batteries fail?

A vehicle battery typically lasts roughly two years, but its life cycle depends on how much —and for what— you use the car. Batteries mostly die out of natural conditions, they have limited power which is periodically consumed until you need to replace them. However, batteries can also fail due to unpredictable situations, like internal short, chemical reactions, leaks, overstress, etc.

Go safe: Ask for a mechanic to inspect your vehicle’s battery and charging system to investigate if the battery is failing due to surrounding components and if there’s further damage to check out. Many shops do transparent vehicle inspections and lay out your options after investigating your vehicle’s conditions.

What’s a vehicle inspection? It’s “detective work” on your vehicle, checking its systems to see if anything prevents the car from working as expected. In this case, mechanics examine different parts of your vehicle to track if anything is causing the battery to fail. They’ll also check the condition of components during their inspection, noting which are causing the problem and which got affected by it, recommending to replace them in order of priority.

Transparency example in a faulty camshaft service

A charging system inspection is the most transparent process to understand why your vehicle’s battery is faulty. This is because many components surrounding the battery and charging system components like the alternator and serpentine belt can have a say in the issue, indicating the real culprits that caused it all.

Let’s read an example of how this kind of inspection helps to service a weak battery, fixing a starting problem.

Mechanics always perform Digital vehicle inspections on clients' cars. During the process, they perform battery tests. In this example case, in which we'll include an image at the bottom, it is an obvious failure. They'll replace and test the charging system to verify no other damages evolved.

A vehicle health inspection always includes a battery check, especially when considering symptoms related to electrical issues. The mechanic needs to ensure that the car doesn't have a weak or completely dead battery.

In the case image below, the battery failed the test. More precisely, the test indicated that the battery wasn’t supplying the starter motor with enough power to crank the engine. So, the technician replaced the battery.

Fortunately, in the case we're discussing, the battery damages didn't affect the alternator in time. So, it was a partially discharged battery situation. Hence, replacing car batteries saves customers from an extra headache.

Weak battery

In this case, the mechanic put the “Immediate Action” tag on the battery.

Similar Symptoms

Below are just a few examples of typical Symptoms and Fixes your car might be experiencing

Four common causes for a squealing noise from the vehicle and their related parts.