Put in new battery and car won't start

If it's never started with the new battery, it probably is dead. Seldom happens, but that's what it sounds like. I really doubt you've connected it backwards.

Perhaps there is corrosion in play here.

The battery probably needs to be charged. If you can find a gas station that still does more than sell muffins and gas, they'll be able to charge it in a few hours for you. If it doesn't hold the charge after that, next thing to look at would be the alternator.

Gotta agree w/roger - doubt you did anything wrong, and while a dead-off-the-shelf battery is rare, it happens. Gus may have something there re corrosion, but while even that's not real likely, it is good practice to thoroughly clean terminals and connectors when installing a new battery.

You say you get "Nothing" when you turn the key - does that mean no buzzers/chimes, courtesy lights or dash lights as well, or does that mean the starter just won't engage? If you've got sounds and lights, the battery isn't dead, but it well could be insufficiently charged. If it was a "bargain" battery, and/or if it was purchased from a retailer that does not do a fair volume of battery sales (ensuring enough product turnover to prevent a unit sitting on a shelf for many months), the odds of an undercharged or discharged battery increase significantly.

Let us know what you come up with - and good luck.

I used to have a Datsun pickup with a dodgy starter that wouldn't turn over sometimes. Something got hung up inside it. About every third time I'd try to start it, I'd just get a faint click and then nothing. I kept a ball peen hammer under the driver's seat -- a gentle thwack on the starter would free up whatever was stuck and then the truck would start right up.

Every now and then I'd hop in late at night after a bonfire on some remote beach or other and get that click. If I had a passenger who was new to the truck I'd play it up like the battery was dead and we were stuck on a remote stretch of Highway 1 in the wee hours. Some people react better to that sort of thing than others. No cell phones back then...

Eventually I saved up a few bucks to buy a new starter and put the hammer back in the toolbox.

This inspires me to start my own auto question thread, wait for it! Tomorrow..

In any case, if it will jump start, don't let it die and keep it running long enough for it to charge enough to start the next time you need it.

<VisualizesRoxxxanne>

You won't believe this! I changed the battery in the dark, I forgot to take the pastic cap of the positive terminal, this after I took the new battery out and put the old one in!

This is defintely a typical thing I would do when I try to do something mechanical! So the old battery is holding the charge fairly well, I will shange the battery tomorrow while the sun is shining.

Funny, the guy who came to jump me didn't notice it either, but he told me anytime I need a jump just call him on his personal cell... oh Geico will cover it? I asked,..he said, don't worry will come to jump me anytime on him.

I brought my car in for standard maintenance recently. The third break light bulb was out. The mechanic tried replacing it and he said "this new bulb doesn't work. You must have something electrical going on". I told him to try another bulb. Of course, the new bulb worked fine. The mechanic shook his head and said "well, I'll be damned".

So don't complain when he shows up at your house and jumps you!

Just a quick word to the wise: If you ever do have a completely dead battery, and you own a newer smaller car, you'll want to charge the battery before you start your car. Unlike the old American alternators; some of the new high output alternators will burn up in a single incident if you tax them that hard. Or so I've heard...

So, was he cute?

BATTERY
Roxanne,

I think Ratz---------- is right. Clean the ground cable and it's surface attachment. Clean the battery posts. If you don't do this, your're new
battery won't last long.

I'm having the same original problem as you, but i made sure i took the caps off. and I'm getting nowhere fast, my car has power like the radio and lights are working but it wont start like its as if the starter is getting no power. any advice?

S/he has a whole lot of other problems I bet you don't have .

Hey. I have the same problem with my car. i put the battery, lights come on but car won't start. Did you find the solution?

Yea my car won't start help me please

You didn't mention the age or make of the car, but on many newer cars if you don't hook up an external or auxiliary power source you may have to reprogram the computer if you take the battery clamps loose--even if the current battery is already dead. I found this out the hard way on my 2007 Fusion. Worse things can happen as well, my car's throttle body had to be replaced.

I got my battery at AutoZone a couple months ago Thursday the CSC light came on and then when I would come to a stop the battery and the seatbelt lights started blinking , in Friday nite drive to church and after church drove to drop Someone off and it wouldn't start made ur home got the cable tightened drive to church again tonite made it home with the lights blinking again and it won't start it makes a clicking sound