If you are trying to troubleshoot and diagnose why you have a new battery but car won’t start without a jump, it is important to keep in mind the most common car won’t start symptoms, the problems you might experience with the car’s alternator, and the safest way to jump start a car!
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Car Won’t Start Symptoms
Your car might not start for numerous reasons, however if you just got a new battery but your car still wont start without a jump, this could be due to other causes – like faulty alternator that we will address later. Let’s check out the most common car won’t start symptoms and what you can do to troubleshoot these problems.
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The car is silent when you turn the key
If this is the case, check the new battery terminal cable connections to see if there are any loose wiring connections or damage between a connector and the terminal post. If it starts when you turn on the engine, then you might need to check the cables on the new battery.
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The car makes a clicking noise and won’t start
If you realize that you have a new battery but your car won’t start without a jump, this could be due to an improper battery installed in your car. In rare circumstances, mechanics would install a dead battery in your car during a replacement and cause your car to make a clicking noise and not be able to start.
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Car cranks but won’t start
If you hear noises but your car still won’t start, then you need to check the fuel supply to your engine by analyzing the fuel filter, the fuel lines, and the fuel injector to ensure they are all working properly. If they are all in good condition, then check the spark plugs and see if they are sending the necessary electrical sparks and timing to your ignition to spur the internal combustion.
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Engine starts but dies very quickly.
If you use a car that has a carburetor, then check to see the choke and see if it is closing and opening at the right intervals. If you have fuel injection, you can’t do this diagnosis on your own and will have to bring your car to a mechanic to see why you have a new battery but car won’t start without a jump.
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Car won’t start on rainy days
If the problem of your car having a new battery but car won’t start without a jump only occurs in certain weather conditions, this could be due to excess dampness inside of the vehicle. Have you or a mechanic check the inside of the distributor cap for any wetness or dampness,checking to see if the moisture has harmed the internal components. If this is the case, try to get rid of the dampness by evaporating it inside of the cap by using an aerosol can of a solvent.
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Car won’t start on cold mornings
Similar to the rainy days car won’t start issues, the car also might not start on very cold mornings due to the choke in the carburetor or a more serious issue directly related to the fuel injection system. If this is the case, you need to bring your car to a mechanic to determine why you have a new battery but the car won’t start without a jump.
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Engine misses while idling
Check the spark plugs to see if they are firing at the correct times and providing the necessary spark to power the engine. You should also check the fuel system, like the fuel pump, fuel filter ,and carburetor to see what parts are not working correctly and how to troubleshoot these problems to prevent you from having a new battery but car wont’ start without a jump.
When figuring out why your car won’t start even with a new battery, there are some main causes as to this issue appearing in your vehicle. One of the main reasons why your car may not start without a jump is the alternator – if this part becomes damaged or is not working properly, the new battery will not solve any of your issues and you will still need a jump to continue driving as normal.
The Alternator
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What is the alternator?
The alternator generates electrical power and plays a vital role in your vehicle’s charging system. Almost all cars with an internal combustion engine contain an alternator. When the engine is running, the alternator’s job is to maintain a charge in the battery and supply power to the vehicle’s systems. The alternator is connected to the engine and is controlled by a drive belt. If the alternator doesn’t charge, then the engine won’t work properly and you might notice that you have a new battery but the car won't start without a jump.
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Signs of a bad alternator
Dashboard light
The most common sign there is a problem with your charging system is an icon on your dashboard, usually the symbol of a battery. The word “CHARGE” might also appear. Typically, this warning light comes on when you turn the ignition and then disappears when the engine is started. If it remains illuminated, then this means your car has a new battery but the car won't start without a jump.
Dim Headlight Brightness
Another bad alternator symptom is the dash lights and headlights will get lower when your car is idling but become brighter when you rev your engine. This means that you could have a weak alternator or a damaged connection. You could also have a loose drive belt, which would result in a lack of power and cause your car to have the new battery but car won't start without a jump problem.
Slow Engine Cranking
When the alternator is damaged, the car’s engine will slowly crank. To figure out the cause of the slow cranking, you need to check the ignition system before making a decision. The inability to crank might also be paired with loud noises due to a worn-out drive belt, causing your car to have a new battery but car won't start without a jump.
How to Jump Start a Car
If you realize that your car has a new battery but car won’t start without a jump, it is time to give your car a little boost to see if it can run properly after being turned on. If your battery has died, using jumper cables to power up your vehicle can get it back on the road. Make sure that the battery that you are using and the one you are charging has as much voltage as your own, so that the voltage does not transfer or get lower during use.
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Take out your jumper cables
Fthe first step is to get all of your equipment and gear ready to learn how to jump start a car. You might want to buy a set of jumper cables to keep in the trunk of your vehicle in case anything happens unexpectedly. If you do not have any jumper cables, you might need to borrow some or visit your local mechanic to prevent having a “new battery but car won’t start without a jump” situation. \
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Place both cars in Park or Neutral
Once the cars are sitting still, place both vehicles in the Park or Neutral position and turn off the ignition in both cars. This ensures the cars do not move while you're going to jump the car and that they will not roll away and harm anyone around you.
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Attach a red clip to the POS terminal of your battery
The positive terminal of your battery will either be marked by “POS” or the “+” sign, and will be bigger than the negative terminal. This will make it easier to find and can help you find out why you have a new battery but the car won’t start without a jump.
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Attach the red clip to the positive terminal on the other car
You need a connection to send the power and the voltage between the two vehicles. Without attaching a red clip to each car, the power would only be flowing in one direction and would not jump start anything. By connecting a red clip to both positive terminals, the positive electricity will flow between both vehicles to properly jump the car’s engine that is not working.
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Attach one of the black clips to the negative terminal on the other battery
The black clips and the negative terminal will be easy to tell by their color and by the “NEG” or the “-” icon on the terminal, indicating that it is the negative terminal and not the positive one. This can help you diagnose why you have a new battery but car won’t start without a jump.
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Attach the final black clip to a metal surface on your car away from the battery
This black clip just needs to be attached to an unpainted metal surface on your car that is away from the battery and will not get in the way of the other connections. Ensure that the surface is unpainted and that it is something that does not have other wires attached to it, like one of the metal struts that can hold your hood open.
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Start the working car and let the engine run
This allows the engine to warm up and provide the necessary power to the new car that is struggling to perform at the necessary level.
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Try to start your car
If you find that you have a new battery but your car won’t start without a jump, this is the point in which you will realize that there is something else going on, since the jump from the working vehicle will not power up your engine. However, if your car does come on after a jump, you have figured out that the problem can be easily fixed and that it is not extremely damaging to your vehicle. In this case, you do not have the problem of a new battery but car won’t start without a jump.
Conclusion
As you can see, having a new battery but car won’t start without a jump is a common situation that can arise from problems with the alternator. You will be able to notice these prevalent problems by the engine not being able to start, rough idling, the car not starting on rainy or cold days, and the car making clicking noises while you try to rev the engine.