Car turns "On" But Engine Doesn't Start

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KenBrooks

Member
I've read a couple of other posts that indicate this could be a dead battery, but I'm not sure. When I press the start button, the car behaves as if it turns on (IE: seat slides forward, stereo turns on, heat turns on, etc.), but the engine never cranks. Doesn't even sound like it tries to crank. Others mentioned a clicking sound, but I don't hear anything other than the radiator fan.

My parents used the car to pick my wife and I up from the airport last week, and my dad mentioned he had trouble starting the car. I kind of wrote it off because he's not terribly familiar with push button start, and he said that after pressing the brake harder it started. But now I think that event is related.

My dealership is 45 minutes away and I'd really love to avoid the tow charge to get my car there.

Anybody have some input?
 
If you're under warranty Infiniti roadside assistance will come pick the car up for free.

Sounds like a battery problem to me. Infiniti batteries are crap and I see you live in CT so I'm assuming that you're going through this same polar issue were going through so I'm sure the cold weather isn't helping with getting it to crank.
 
Fire0nic3FX said:
If you're under warranty Infiniti roadside assistance will come pick the car up for free.

Sounds like a battery problem to me. Infiniti batteries are crap and I see you live in CT so I'm assuming that you're going through this same polar issue were going through so I'm sure the cold weather isn't helping with getting it to crank.
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Thanks for the reply!

Unfortunately I'm just past warrantee (55K miles). I'm sure hoping it's the battery and not something more expensive. Found someone who will be here in about an hour to try a jump start. Guess I'll know for sure then.

Yep, it's been cold here, so I know that doesn't help. Still, it seems like everything else runs just fine off the battery when I turn things on. Stereo, climate control, seats, even windows… And I don't remember seeing any sort of warning light about the battery getting low.
 
KenBrooks said:
Thanks for the reply!

Unfortunately I'm just past warrantee (55K miles). I'm sure hoping it's the battery and not something more expensive. Found someone who will be here in about an hour to try a jump start. Guess I'll know for sure then.

Yep, it's been cold here, so I know that doesn't help. Still, it seems like everything else runs just fine off the battery when I turn things on. Stereo, climate control, seats, even windows… And I don't remember seeing any sort of warning light about the battery getting low.
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That happened to me on my 09 when I had it. It had sat for 5 weeks outside.
So I hooked up a battery charger and plugged in the block heater. I left it all night until noon the next day and it started up fine.
 
Mine is a first gen, so I don't have the issue since I turn the knob to start. But on my BMW with push button, this did happen for a while. Similar situation, sometimes it when I'd press the button, nothing would happen even though the car was on. Then I'd remove the key, press on the brake harder and it would start no issues. If I stepped on the brake really hard, it would start fine always. Thought there was an issue with the brake sensor. But after I replaced the battery, the issue went away.
 
Update:

I was able to jump start the car yesterday afternoon, which further indicated it was likely just the battery. I brought it straight over to Sears and had them install a new DieHard. Everything seems to be normal now. I've read a lot of positive reviews for the Optima battery, but I was happy to find a place where I could just pay $30 to have it installed for me. Hopefully DieHard will serve me well.

This experience makes me wonder why in the world there isn't some sort of error message for a low battery? This car has surround cameras, PSI monitors for all 4 tires, and all sorts of cool technology… Plus, it's clearly got some sort of sensor that won't send any sort of charge to the starter if there's not enough juice in the battery. So why on earth can't it then display some sort of message letting us know that the battery is low? I could imagine the fury I'd have if I had paid to have the car towed to the dealership, just so they could replace a battery!
 
I agree. It has a warning light when your key fob battery is low so why not one when your main car battery is low?
 
KenBrooks said:
Update:

I was able to jump start the car yesterday afternoon, which further indicated it was likely just the battery. I brought it straight over to Sears and had them install a new DieHard. Everything seems to be normal now. I've read a lot of positive reviews for the Optima battery, but I was happy to find a place where I could just pay $30 to have it installed for me. Hopefully DieHard will serve me well.

This experience makes me wonder why in the world there isn't some sort of error message for a low battery? This car has surround cameras, PSI monitors for all 4 tires, and all sorts of cool technology… Plus, it's clearly got some sort of sensor that won't send any sort of charge to the starter if there's not enough juice in the battery. So why on earth can't it then display some sort of message letting us know that the battery is low? I could imagine the fury I'd have if I had paid to have the car towed to the dealership, just so they could replace a battery!
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I believe Sears has a gadget that keeps 12 volts going through your system so you don't loose all your settings. It's not easy removing the battery in these cars. Since the battery is in the engine compartment pax side, close to the firewall, all plastic covers on that side must be removed to access the battery. Took me a good 30 minutes to install the battery couple of months ago, and reset all my settings.
 
KenBrooks said:
I've read a lot of positive reviews for the Optima battery, but I was happy to find a place where I could just pay $30 to have it installed for me. Hopefully DieHard will serve me well.
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Im sure it will serve you perfectly fine. The truth is I have read many people that swear by the Optima batteries and then a lot of people who will never buy another one cause theirs crapped out after only 2 years. I have heard that their product QC has gone downhill in recent years, but then you look at the posts and I see some saying this recently and some saying this as far back as like 2007-2008.

Then there are the crapload of people who say to just go and get a costco battery and replace it every 4-5 years. I think this is the best, as for the cost of an optima battery you can get 2 costco batteries which will most definitely last you longer than any optima.
 
I blew through my 3 Optima Red tops in 2004/2005. Optima issues aren't a recent thing. If they didn't look cool and advertise a lot, they wouldn't be as popular. I had better luck with a lightweight racing battery from Holley. Even though it wasn't rated for my car (meant for a Civic) and was tiny, it lasted over 3 years with a 2200W stereo running 4 amplifiers. Then I get the Optima because I had to relocate battery and it all went downhill.
meme405 said:
Im sure it will serve you perfectly fine. The truth is I have read many people that swear by the Optima batteries and then a lot of people who will never buy another one cause theirs crapped out after only 2 years. I have heard that their product QC has gone downhill in recent years, but then you look at the posts and I see some saying this recently and some saying this as far back as like 2007-2008.

Then there are the crapload of people who say to just go and get a costco battery and replace it every 4-5 years. I think this is the best, as for the cost of an optima battery you can get 2 costco batteries which will most definitely last you longer than any optima.
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We should all be glad we don't drive a hybrid. Replacing a battery on a hybrid after your warranty runs out is not cheap and not a DIY. You have to spend thousands on the battery and the beautiful labor rate the dealer charges.
 
My dad taught me that "Whenever the battery starts acting up, you just go replace it."
It may half assed work a couple times,but it'll leave you stranded shortly.
Get one with plenty of CCAs, go directly to the nearest seller, life will just stay simpler.
No one wants their baby towed.

I hear good thinks about interstate batteries, my last one went 9 years!
 
Raising a 3 1/2 year old thread?

In Canada, Canadian Tire sells a decent AGM battery for a good price. Bought mine 3 years ago I think and it's been cranking well ever since. WAY better CCA's than the OEM battery...
 
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