Car won't start (not even a click), but radio comes on...and stays on

Ronin · Oct 23, 2012

This is really weird. Mechanic buddy has not even heard of this. I went out to the car, starting cold from about 4-4.5 hours ago, key in, turn, nothing...but the radio comes on, and the dash lights up. Key out...radio STAYS on, as do lights. Headlights work. It had a dead battery a few days ago, but clearly it's not dead. There is some corrosion on the positive terminal, going to try to clean that off, see if it has an effect.

stingracer · Oct 23, 2012

It sounds like your battery might be bad. Cleaning the terminals is a good start. Any Autozone or Pepboys can test it for you. The radio running is not indicative of the battery's state.

Good luck

ttocs · Oct 23, 2012

just because the lights are on or the radio doesn't mean its good. The starter is a high-torque starter that needs some juice to get moving so it might be below the threshold voltage needed to kick it. Go to vatozone and have them test it, take some coca cola and a wire brush to the battery terminals and make sure they are put on tight.

CC'S95GT · Oct 23, 2012

also ck the leads themselves for corrosion inside of the insulation.

Nightmare · Oct 23, 2012

It could be you dropped a cell in the battery. Only other thing that I think it could be is you have an issue with the PATS system

ttocs · Oct 23, 2012

battery could be good and your alt is going bad and not charging it enough as well. Again vatozone can test it.

Ronin · Oct 29, 2012

It's in the steering column. He said it was some sort of connection in the column (forget the name) and unfortunately may have to take the whole thing apart. Weee.

Musturd · Oct 29, 2012

Sounds like a pats issue

MustangChris · Oct 29, 2012

sounds like issues in the column. theres no reason for the radio to stay on after the key is removed. Luckily, once you get in there, its just one wiring harness and the ignition cylinder.

Nightmare · Oct 29, 2012

Musturd said:
Sounds like a pats issue

I win LOL

FrankenStang · Oct 29, 2012

ive had batteries run a system but not be able to start the car...the battery tester even said it was good....*****ed up a storm and argued and got a new battery, installed it and never a problem...dude at the store was cocky and all and said my car still wouldnt start, lol i DID drive back there since it was on the way home and told the guy to look at my car running...but then he said of course itle die and do it again...NOPE

rz5.0 · Oct 30, 2012

Musturd said:
Sounds like a pats issue

This..

ttocs · Oct 30, 2012

one piece of advice on batteries when you get them tested is to leave it for a while at vatozone while they hook it up. Let them finish charging it and then disconnect the charger, then wait a few hours to see what happens. I too have seen batteries test as good but then when you leave them alone hooked up to nothing they will still bleed off voltage and loose power. No matter what the computer said if it looses voltage when not hooked up, its bad..