It is common that your car has no power but battery is good. The culprits may lie in some faulty engines of your vehicle, which will be properly explained below.
Keep scrolling down for further information!
Car Has No Power But Battery Is Good – The Reasons Why?
Following are notable rationales behind this nagging problem:
- Fuses and fusible links
- Ignition switch issue
- Failing starter
- Problems related to the battery
- No cranking
- Brittle wiring
- Clogged fuel filter
- A low level of gas in the fuel tank
- Ground cable problem
- Damaged timing belt
- Weak ignition coil
- A faulty spark plug
- A bad distributor cap
Let’s take a closer look at each case.
Fuses And Fusible Links
If the battery is good but no power to car, you should immediately check a fusible link or a blown fuse.
This is boiled down to damaged metal wires in the fuse box, which could obstruct the transmission flow of power to the starter relay.
Ignition Switch
Ignition is a switch belonging to the control system, responsible for activating some electrical engines inside your vehicle.
In other words, suppose this motor part is on the fritz; the power is not evenly distributed, causing your car to die while the battery is in decent shape.
Here are some warning signs of a bad ignition switch for you:
- Sudden engine stalling
- The keys do not turn in any direction
- You hear an unusual noise from the starter
Failed Starter
The starter has various components, namely a solenoid, a motor and a flywheel, which operate harmoniously to crank the engine with the prospect of enabling your car’s ignition.
When it gets broken, the battery is still not affected, but your car lacks the power to turn on.
There are some symptoms as follows:
- Corroded battery terminals
- Loose connections
- Jiggling the key to activate your car’s engine
- Your automobile may start while it is in neutral or park
- The whirring or clicking sound
- Intermittent starting issues
- An overload of smoke
Issues Related To The Battery
Although your car battery is generally good, there could be some issues you must take notice of.
If the problem above occurs, it can be attributed to the improper installation of a battery, inducing a power shortage for your vehicle.
Besides, your battery’s quality might be bad, so it runs on too little power.
Due to this, your car is not provided with enough power for the operation process.
It is strongly recommended that you use a hydrometer test to examine.
Watch below to know more detail about hydrometer test:
No Cranking
When the engines show no sign of cranking, engine deterioration may be a primary factor.
Over time, engines may get vulnerable to corrosion or external damage, so their functions are not ensured.
In addition, a faulty alternator also takes charge of this issue. The alternator converts the mechanical energy to the electrical source under the current form.
If it is out of order, no or insufficient power is provided, hindering the cranking process of the engines.
Brittle Wiring
The wiring system is of paramount importance, as it helps connect different engines and equipment in an automobile.
When something wrong arises, the powertrain control module (PCM) could receive and send signals via these wires to detect.
Suppose wires become brittle and corroded; the PCM cannot send the signals, forcing a battery to run.
In turn, the power supply within your car is cut off, causing it to be dead.
The Clogged Fuel Filter
As its name suggests, a fuel filter helps clean the fuel passing through the pipes to fuel injectors by removing harmful substances, such as crud, debris or dirt from gasoline.
Due to the constant exposure to these contaminants, they easily get clogged.
The impact is huge, as it impedes the flow by reducing fuel pressure, so the engines, especially fuel injectors, receive no gas.
Your car would not consequently start.
A Low Level Of Gasoline In The Fuel Tank
Another culprit is that your fuel may run low.
When this happens; your vehicle will stall immediately and stop operating while the battery’s condition is still good.
Here are some factors behind this matter:
- The fuel reading gauge is faulty, so the gasoline amount left in the fuel tank is incorrect.
- You purchase poor-quality gas. This fuel type is more susceptible to degradation and loses its combustibility after six months.
- You can utilize some approaches to test for bad gasoline.
- In winter, the fuel lines of your automobile are also badly affected by the cold temperature.
- Excessive evaporation is rendered, heightening the gas loss to a greater extent.
Ground Cable Problem
The ground cable is a generator connecting one of the battery’s two ends to its body.
Specifically, it is an essential part of the vehicle’s electrical system since most components relying on the electricity power of your car runs through it.
When damaged, the power flow is inclined to be eliminated, and other engines receive no input vital for their operation.
To check whether your ground cable is broken or not, a list of warning sights below may come in handy:
- A defective fuel pump
- Intermittent flashing check engine light
- Dead battery
- Difficult setting
- Sporadic sensor defection
- Broken battery cables or throttle
- The clutch slippage in the AC compressor
Damaged Timing Belt
The timing belt is a rubber strip, managing the rotation of both crankshaft and camshaft and ensuring their smooth working simultaneously.
It also guarantees the opening and closing of the motor valves at the recommended intervals.
Concerning a failed timing belt, the engines are unable to function well, and even some irreversible damage is caused.
This is because it might prevent the combustion procedure, rendering engines and vehicle equipment not to turn over.
Oil leakage is one notable symptom of this issue, denoting that your timing belt is busted.
Weak Ignition Coil
The main ignition coil’s mission is to turn the battery voltage into an electric spark.
If something abnormal with the device happens, like wear and tear, the coil is not powerful enough to accomplish this task, giving rise to the power shortage problem for your car.
If you doubt whether your ignition coil ruins or not, cling to a multimeter for the current examination.
It can still work properly when a reading states 12,000 volts or more. Otherwise, you could consider some striking symptoms to know:
- Engine misfires
- The car suddenly dies when it stays idle
- The car surges when you press the accelerator pedal
A Broken Spark Plug
To start the internal combustion engine, your car must be equipped with a spark plug, which facilitates the air-to-fuel ratio.
If it is faulty, the fuel ignition would be prevented, so your vehicle may not move.
There are some common signs that a bad spark plug often shows:
- Great reduction in fuel economy
- Acceleration problems
- Rough idling or parking
- Engine misfires
A Bad Distributor Cap
Together with a spark plug, a distributor cap helps regulate the high voltage current of gasoline flowing through the spark plug.
It is usually fitted with a rotor or rotating arm that protects its internal engine components from damage.
Once a distributor cap gets tight or stops working well, the flow is hindered, causing the spark plug to fail and following consequences as presented above.
You could detect a bad cap by hearing tapping or sputtering sounds.
What Should You Do If Your Automobile Has No Power?
Below are four inspection approaches you should pay close attention to.
Check The Battery
When you have used your battery for a long time, about over three years, it might fall victim to the aging problem.
Gradually, its connection becomes loose, so the battery power supply cannot be maintained as it used to.
The battery is also subjected to rusting due to its reaction to water droplets. After a while, if this issue persists, the scenario of electrical short will likely follow.
Check The Alternator
As mentioned earlier, an alternator is created to power your vehicle after you start the engine. If it is on the fritz, your car will lose power and finally stall all of a sudden.
The alternator failure is ascribed to defective electrical components, particularly the belt. The optimal formula to decide whether your problems stem from the failing alternator or its parts is to jump-start your automobile.
If it starts, there is a likelihood that your issue is underlyingly rooted in the damaged alternator. The contrasting result denotes that ruined components are responsible.
Check The Starter
A bad starter is one of the outstanding contributors, like the alternator. Once it is damaged, the internal engines and systems cannot start and work properly because it initiates their operation.
Therefore, it is advisable that you must examine the starter motor when your car has no power at all but battery is good.
Check The Fuse Box
A blown fuse is another indicator, inducing your vehicle to run out of power by obstructing the electrical current. You could check it by using a multimeter.
To dive deeply, you need to set the multimeter and switch it to the “ohm” state before connecting two leads to the fuse box’s terminals.
A reading figure will show on the screen. Should it appear zero, it is high time that you replace it instantly.
How To Solve The Issue?
These remedies may offer a helping hand for you:
- It would be best to take a replacement of the dead battery, as some of its parts are defective inside although the overall condition is great.
- You should clean a clogged filter once a month to remove it from contaminants.
- You need to change the fuel injectors every 20,000 miles as well.
- If your automobile is low on fuel, you should add clean fuel to the gas tank.
- When the gas displays some signs of degradation and loses its combustibility, you must add fresh fuel to the old one for sufficient generation of combustibility.
- Have your timing belt replaced by qualified mechanics. If your car belongs to the old-manufactured line and cannot be fitted with a high-quality timing chain, you should choose a belt lasting longer than the rubber belt.
- Replace your fuel pump, ignition coil, distributor cap or spark plug in case they are prone to wear.
- It will help if you tow your car to a reliable workshop for quick examination and maintenance. Avoid repairing your vehicle at home unless you are well-informed about the automotive field.
The Bottom Line
Hopefully, after this post, you will gain deep insights into the fact that your car has no power but battery is good and learn how to handle this problem effectively.
Remember to inspect the battery periodically to make sure it’s in its best condition.
Thank you, and have a nice day!