i don't know if this is the right place to start this, but my car is having problems starting. it's as if the battery is completely dead, but i just changed the battery like 1 yr ago. when i open my door, the door light on the dashboard that says a door is open doesn't turn on, and when i put the key in to start, absolutely nothing happens. it happend a week ago, and i left it alone for like 20 min and then it started again, and now it happend again, it's been 45 min and it's still not starting. i put the key in, and tried to turn the car on but nothing. it's not even making a clicking noise or anything. what's wrong? i don't know anything about cars btw lol

 

That sounds like electrical. Hope you have an idea by now.

 

first off, give the model year and mileage, and any modifications that have been done to it. also, manual or automatic.

so you say you open the door and the dashboard lights up, when you turn the key in the ignition, do the warning lights and such come on at all? it could be that the starter motor is dead, or that the alternator isn't recharging the battery enough to start the car, but usually that would make the clicking noise when you try to start.

 

Check your grounds!

Your car needs 3 things to start; Air, fuel, and spark. Find out what is there then you can work on whats not there.

 

the dashboard lights DO NOT light up. nothing turns on...its as if the battery is dead but i doubt it bc i just changed it a year ago.

i have a 2005 scion tc. 48,000 miles. automatic.

 

how do i check grounds?

 

Wiring diagram stickied on the interior page. Make sure your battery is hooked up right and make sure any black wire is connected. Tug on a wire or two (lightly) they should not move if they are grounds. Really if you don't know that much about cars you shouldn't mess with it. It could also be something as simple as a bad starter but you should get lights atleast.

Do you have a DMM? Or a Voltmeter?

 

check the battery cables and battery first. Maybe a loose cable or dead battery. I know you said it's new but maybe you had a parasitic draw. Have you tried jump starting it?

 

can you jump start our cars.. i know some you cant it will destroy the electrical

 

try removing and cleaning the battery terminals and the posts on the battery with a wire brush, the make one for battery cleaning, you can pick one up at a parts store.

 

you should be able to jump start any car really.

 

try jumping the car, maybe u left something on? then check the battery connections. if possible go to a shop and get the alternator and battery tested. (i know snap-on makes a tool to test that) you said you changed a battery a year ago, but if you alternator is not charging, the car is running off battery life therefore decreasing the life of it

 

I know this is a very old thread, but I'm having the same issue. I have a 2010 Scion tC don't remember the mileage, but I drove it to the store fine, went to leave, used factory remote to unlock the door, and had no power at all. Let it sit over night. Next day came back, had power, tried to turn the key and back to no power at all. I've tried to jump start it, and after having it towed, the person used a jump pack that jumps 18 wheelers, and nothing, no power. The battery is only a few months old, there's no corrosion on the terminals, I've done the battery, and motor ground upgrade with 1/0 gauge wire. Going to do the battery to alternator soon, but the connection is good and solid. I even charged the battery on a 2 amp trickle charge. I tried to look at the 120 amp fuse, but couldn't get the fuse panel out of the box, but after flipping and turning the box around, the car started, I drove it to the front of the neighborhood and it started to die out again. Radio lost all power, had to quickly gas it up. It's been home now, but I've been told the 120 amp fuse might be weak and unable to handle the current. No other problems then that. I do have a aftermarket stereo installed. Any ideas of what could kill power to the car like this?

 

uh no... 120-amp fuse is more than tough enough. Only needs 60-70 amps to start car. This is 5-minute fix with multimeter:

1. measure battery voltage with everything OFF. Volts = ??
2. trace starter-circuit from battery, through fusebox, through ignition-switch to starter
3. measure voltage at each junction. Where power stops is your problem.

Before doing any of that, pull ALL fuses and fusible-links one at a time and measure resistance across their legs. I'd be billionaire if I had penny for every time I heard, "Fuse looks OK!" but actually didn't conduct electricity.