My car can't start but all the lights are on - Cars & Trucks

You need to determine if voltage is reaching the starter motor when you turn the key all the way to start. Since your headlights seem to be getting adequate voltage, your battery is probably OK. However, depending upon the make and model of the vehicle, it may have a lock out that prevents the car from starting if the voltage drops below a specified point. This is to prevent the starter to burn out if trying to crank the engine with insufficient voltage.

Without instruments, the simplest way to rule out a low battery is to attempt to "jump" it using cables attached to the battery of another vehicle. BUT TRY TO LOCATE QUALITY CABLES and do your best to ensure GOOD CONNECTIONS with the cables as follows:

1. Connect the positive terminal on one car to the positive terminal on the other car.

2. Then connect the negative terminal on one car to the negative terminal on the other. Leave the running car running - and in park.

3. Turn your key to attempt to the START position.

4. If nothing happens or if it just barely begins to turn over you may have a bad connection - common with today's inexpensive booster cables with lighter gauge wire. Be sure to connect the cables snugly and move the clamp back and forth a few times to ensure a clean connection.

5. Still nothing - check again for a tight connection.

Still nothing at all - it is time to try to narrow down the cause.

1. Turn on the headlights and watch them closely while someone else tries to start the vehicle. If you are lucky enough to be parked in front of a garage door or a wall, you can watch the reflection of the headlights yourself.

2. You are looking to see if the headlights dim a noticeable amount when the key is turned to the START position. If voltage is getting to the starter, the lights should visibly dim. If the lights dim and go off altogether when trying to start, then you either have a bad connection between the battery and the cable, or your battery does not have sufficient voltage to start the car.

3. If the lights to NOT dim at all when the key is in the START position, it is possible, but not likely, that you have a defective ignition switch. What is more likely is that you have a bad connection somewhere, or that the starter solenoid is bad. On some cars the solenoid is part attached to the starter. On others it is separate, possibly mounted on the inner fender, attached to the positive battery cable, mounted a couple feet from the battery. It is the job of the solenoid to complete the connection between the battery and the starter motor when it receives the signal from the ignition switch.

4. Depending upon your level of skill, daring, and wallet, you may try checking all of the connections, solenoid, etc.

5. Next to last option - Post an update here and include Make, Model, and Year of vehicle (with engine info if possible).

6. Still nothing - call the garage.

Good luck

Does the starter engage(try to start)?