Car won't start...
By DE
@DaddyEvil (168016)
United States
December 23, 2025 7:41am CST
We've been very careful to drive at least once a week or start the car and let it run for 45 minutes to an hour once a week... We drove to the store last Thursday. Today I had a doctor's appointment and when I went out to start the car, the battery is dead.
I KNOW there is something wrong but the garage keeps saying there isn't anything wrong with the car or the battery. We bought this battery early this year after replacing the last battery in December of last year.
I called and canceled the appointment and left a message that I'd need to reschedule it. The doctor will need to refill the steroid eye drops and then check my eyes later. He only gave me a three week supply and that ran out this morning.
If it's not one thing, it's another.
24 people like this
24 responses
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
23 Dec
Yes, I should be able to get it replaced with the warranty since the battery isn't a year old yet.
4 people like this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
23 Dec
I agree... I don't understand why two different garages can't find a problem when there's obviously a problem going on. They both tell me to start the car and let it run at least once a week for half an hour. We drove to the store to shop last Thursday and then drove to the doctor's office in town for Pretty's appointment last Thursday.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
23 Dec
@porwest Exactly and both have been tested.
1 person likes this
@porwest (111868)
• United States
23 Dec
@DaddyEvil Yeah, this is just weird. I mean, you'd think two things; either the battery or the alternator. But both would show up on a diagnostic test.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185545)
• Boise, Idaho
23 Dec
It's too bad you don't have someone who is a car whiz and could check your car for you. Do you have a pharmacy nearby? We are lucky that we have an Albertson's just two blocks away. And there's a convention store just across the street.
I hope you get it figured out sooner rather than later. Does it have an alternator?
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185545)
• Boise, Idaho
26 Dec
@DaddyEvil ........If it were my car I'd start it up more often. Not just once a week. Maybe ever couple of days. Does that particular model car have certain problems that might cause this to happen. It seems like some cars have a weak spot in some areas. Do you see what I mean?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
27 Dec
@celticeagle Yes, apparently, they do... I've had one before that didn't have any problems while I owned it but this one is getting up there in years.
1 person likes this
@celticeagle (185545)
• Boise, Idaho
28 Dec
@DaddyEvil .......We all know how that effects humans not just cars. 
When I had my Subaru the mechanic I used said that that make had an issue with the drive shaft, I think it was. So, when I had the money, I had him look it over and take care of it. I guess all makes probably have some weakness or oddity to it. I hope you can get it running well again.
When I had my Subaru the mechanic I used said that that make had an issue with the drive shaft, I think it was. So, when I had the money, I had him look it over and take care of it. I guess all makes probably have some weakness or oddity to it. I hope you can get it running well again.1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (16990)
• Torrington, Connecticut
23 Dec
You could have a bad alternator that isn't charging the battery when the car is running, the cold temperature doesn't help either
2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
23 Dec
They checked the alternator and said it was good at both garages I use. Our temp is only 50F this morning. We haven't been down to freezing since I drove it last Thursday.
1 person likes this
@BACONSTRIPSXXX (16990)
• Torrington, Connecticut
23 Dec
@DaddyEvil That's weird then, hopefully you can figure out what's going on with your car
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
26 Dec
Merry Christmas! Neither garage I use was open. This is a little city and nothing is open during the holidays.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
27 Dec
@noni1959 There are two good garages that I use here and they're both closed over the weekend. I'll have to wait until Monday to call somebody to jumpstart the car.
1 person likes this
@noni1959 (12518)
• United States
27 Dec
@DaddyEvil I hope it all gets fixed soon if wasn't yet. Our little town has one mechanic and he is not to be trusted. I drove to the larger little city to get my truck fixed a couple weeks ago. I've only been able to drive it twice since due to weather and this property mud.
1 person likes this
@Kusumakrishna (1237)
•
26 Dec
Sometimes we are so better than garage.I also faced similar issue with my PC ...I don't feel they pay attention to the detail sometimes.Our Time,Luck and their laziness all comes together.It is good that battery still covers warranty
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
26 Dec
But I don't know how to do the work myself. I am dependent on mechanics in a garage to do the work.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
27 Dec
@Kusumakrishna I'm glad you can. I'm not a mechanic.
1 person likes this
@Kusumakrishna (1237)
•
27 Dec
@DaddyEvil we do .but we can guess more accurately than mechanics sometimes
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (167736)
• United States
23 Dec
That is so frustrating. A long time ago this was happening to my brother. He accidentally solved the mystery when he went outside at night. For some reason the trunk was not shutting tightly and the little light in the trunk was draining his battery. I hope you get your battery replaced and maybe solve your mystery as well.
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (167736)
• United States
24 Dec
@DaddyEvil Some kind of glitch somewhere. I hope you get it figured out.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
24 Dec
@GardenGerty Thanks. It's been happening for a year now and two garages can't figure it out.
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
23 Dec
Thank you... I can see my car from the living room and the kitchen and no lights are on in it. We've had it checked out by two different garages and they can't find anything wrong.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (10127)
• Philippines
9 Jan
I hope it is already fixed.
Eye check up is very important.
1 person likes this
@luisadannointed (10127)
• Philippines
9 Jan
@DaddyEvil Great to know. have a great weekend.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
9 Jan
It is fixed and I have a new appointment for the eye specialist. Thank you.
@RebeccasFarm (91220)
• United States
24 Dec
Oh gosh it wouldn't be the starter would it or the alternator?
So sorry. Or a fuse ...
There are a bunch of helpful videos on YouTube that might help..at least maybe give you an idea of what could be wrong..
If your battery is good and your car wont start..that is what I searched for.
Is it an older car or new?
1 person likes this
@RebeccasFarm (91220)
• United States
26 Dec
@DaddyEvil hmm well is it starting now?
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
26 Dec
@RebeccasFarm No. I'll have to call for a jumpstart when a garage is open.
1 person likes this
@Marilynda1225 (88659)
• United States
29 Dec
That has to be so frustrating not to have the car start. Hope by now you've been able to get it running.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
29 Dec
Nope... The garages were closed over the Christmas holidays. They should be open again today but I don't want to go outside at 18F with strong winds. I can try calling them tomorrow when it reaches 40F in the afternoon.
Thanks.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
30 Dec
@Marilynda1225 Thank you. It just needs to be jumpstarted, I'm sure...
@Marilynda1225 (88659)
• United States
30 Dec
@DaddyEvil I would be doing the same as you and waiting until the weather isn't so cold and windy. I hope it's an easy fix when they get to look at it
1 person likes this
@garymarsh6 (23828)
• United Kingdom
30 Dec
Oh dear drats about the battery. Happy New Year to you wishing you good health for 2026.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
30 Dec
Thank you. I hope you have a wonderful 2026, as well! Happy New Year!
@LindaOHio (213900)
• United States
24 Dec
Sorry that happened. I'm still waiting for cousin #2 to call Carvana.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
29 Dec
I haven't gotten anything done about it yet. It's too cold outside to bother with the car today. (-7C right now and the high today will reach 0C.) Tomorrow it will be 5C and I'll be willing to go outside and see about getting a mechanic to come jumpstart the car.
@aureliah (24687)
• Kenya
29 Dec
@DaddyEvil Thats pretty cold. All the best in sorting it out
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
30 Dec
@Dreamerby True. I don't like the cold.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
30 Dec
It's below freezing here and I don't want to go outside. Nothing has changed.
1 person likes this
@Dreamerby (9920)
• Calcutta, India
30 Dec
@DaddyEvil Yeah it's difficult to get out of the house then.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
28 Dec
I called in before they were in the office. I haven't heard anything from them. I did say I'd have to reschedule when the car is running again, though.
Thank you.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
24 Dec
Thanks. Two garages have gone over it and can't find any problems. I'm at a loss on what to try next.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
27 Dec
Yes, they are since I can't diagnose or do repairs myself.
1 person likes this
@DaddyEvil (168016)
• United States
24 Dec
I agree... I'll have to get it jumpstarted, have the battery checked and start it the day before we need it and let it run for a while that day.
1 person likes this
