No start no power for headlights horn nothing has battery is good posts are clean

Clean the battery terminals and battery post , check battery is fully charged.

I would start checking fuses for power. It could be a battery cable issue or something in the fuse box. The dash lights would not be powered thru the key switch, but the other stuff would be. Provided the key switch is getting power for accessories.

Hi Judy,

I need more info - does the engine make any sound when you try to start it - does it turn over or does nothing happen?

If there is a clunking sound from the bottom of the engine then it may be your starter motor is stuck. If this is the case then put the vehicle in gear (make sure you are on a flat/level road surface) and release the hand brake. Rock the car forwards and backwards from the front five or six times and then reapply the hand brake, and after putting it in neutral, try to start it again. If it starts then the starter motor 'Bendix' drive is getting worn or dirty and is in need of a clean or replacement.

If there isn't a clunking sound to start with then let me know more detail of what happens when your try to start the engine. Such as any sounds or clicks etc. coming from the car.

Steve B
UK

No headlights, horn, or brake lights? I would expect nothing at the ignition switch, either, then? No warning lights or gauges with key on?

Any chance the battery is discharged? It would have to be very low or dead if connections are clean and tight. Inspect the cables, take them off and clean the terminals of corrosion, tighten them down good. Check the ground where it bolts to metal-if not a good ground, power will not flow. From the battery, power is sent through fuse links and maxi fuses in the power distribution box, to distribute power through all the car's circuits. Either a fuse link or a maxi fuse will send power to the ignition switch. Another will send power to the headlight switch, and another will send power to the fuse panel under the dash, powering those fuses that are hot at all times (like the brake lights and horn).
It sounds like your power is not getting from the battery to the power distribution box, if just nothing works. Bad battery or bad connection, possibly.

Tilt the steering wheel down all the way and see if it starts, if it does then there is a main power wire loose in the steering columb. Thats all which comes to my mind at this time.

It sounds more like a bad connection to the battery. Lose terminal, Broken cable are both posibilities. The head lights and horn should work regardless of the ignition being on or off. Check all your connections to your battery and you should find the problem.

Is the battery fully charged and are the connections clean and tight. Your ignition fuse seems to be blown. Check the big fuses under the hood. Will the headlights come on? will the horn blow? Good Luck!!!

If the battery is dead, the ignition keys will not come out of the ignition cylinder. Don't force the ignition key to ensure you do not damage the pass lock system in your ignition. Jump the battery or replace it to get enough voltage to remove the key's from the ignition and check the fuse box for any blown fuses. Good luck and keep me posted.

The ignition key will not come out of the ignition cylinder with a bad battery. There are jump post to the battery so you do not have to remove the battery cover to jump the car. Once you open the engine hood, look at the battery cover and look for the positive jump post, it will be marked and the ground will be anywhere you can ground the jumper cable in the engine bay. Once you have the engine running or you connected the jumper cables with the other car running, you can remove the key's from the ignition. Good luck and take care not to damage the pass lock system in your ignition lock.

Is there any indication of power anywhere in the car, radio, panel lights, interior lights when door opens, power anywhere??


Loringh