Why does the car dashboard not light up and the engine fail to start?
3 Answers
When the car dashboard does not light up and the engine fails to start, it is usually caused by a dead battery. The reasons are: 1. Additional installed components are draining power, causing the battery to continuously discharge without recharging, leading to a depleted battery. 2. The battery's lifespan has expired, making it unable to hold a charge, resulting in a complete discharge. Other reasons why a car may not start include: 1. Incorrect gear position. Solution: For automatic transmission cars, the gear should be in P or N position when starting. 2. Not depressing the clutch. Manual transmission cars will not start if the clutch is not depressed. 3. Excessive carbon buildup in the vehicle can also prevent the engine from starting.
I've been driving for over 20 years and often encounter friends asking about this situation. When the dashboard lights don't come on and the car won't start, it's usually due to a dead battery. Think about it - without electricity, the dashboard lights naturally won't illuminate, and the engine can't start. It could be that the battery has reached the end of its lifespan, or maybe you left lights or the radio on which drained the power. There might also be an electrical circuit issue, like a blown fuse or loose wiring connections. One winter, my car had the same problem - called for roadside assistance and they found low battery voltage. My suggestion is to first use a multimeter to check the battery voltage; if it's below 12 volts, replace it. If that doesn't work, check the headlight or starter fuse in the fuse box. Don't try to force-start the engine as you might damage the starter motor. It's good practice to check your battery's health every six months, especially for older vehicles.
This is a pretty common issue, let's start with the basics. Open the engine hood and check if the battery terminals are loose or corroded. Try tightening them with a wrench. If that doesn't help, it might be a fuse problem. Look up the fuse box location in the manual - usually there are fuses labeled 'IGN' or 'ACC'. Pull them out to check if they're blown, and replace them if necessary. If that still doesn't work, consider ignition switch failure or control module issues, like no signal from the engine computer. I once encountered a similar situation during a road trip - jump-started it temporarily and later found it was a backup battery failure. I recommend keeping an emergency charger handy, or visiting a repair shop to scan for trouble codes with a diagnostic tool. Don't delay, otherwise roadside assistance could be troublesome.
