Car does not make cranking noise - does that mean it’s the battery?

[Anonymous]

Car would not start this morning. Turned the key and all the lights came on on the dash, but no cranking noise. Does this mean the battery needs a jump start? Or could it be something else? Will waiting a bit help any? It’s a 2016 Subaru Outback and I think it has the original battery.

[Anonymous]

I don’t know a lot about cars, but have dealt with dead batteries a couple of times and what you describe is exactly what happened.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Car would not start this morning. Turned the key and all the lights came on on the dash, but no cranking noise. Does this mean the battery needs a jump start? Or could it be something else? Will waiting a bit help any? It’s a 2016 Subaru Outback and I think it has the original battery.

Jumping is the easiest way to find out. It's completely dead overnight?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Jumping is the easiest way to find out. It's completely dead overnight?

Yes, completely dead from sitting overnight. I will call AAA and see if they can jump it. Thanks for the quick responses.

[Anonymous]

Could also be the starter. No harm in calling someone for a jump start to find out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Jumping is the easiest way to find out. It's completely dead overnight?

Yes, completely dead from sitting overnight. I will call AAA and see if they can jump it. Thanks for the quick responses.

My bet is the battery. But see what AAA has to say. Good luck.

[Anonymous]

Battery is possible, but there are other explanations as well including a blown fuse or even a busted starter (did you hear a clicking noise?).

Easiest and quickest is to get a jump. See if that gets you running and then suss out a replacement battery if needed.

If that doesn't work, then look to some other possible problems. But always start with the easiest first.

[Anonymous]

AAA will test it and tell you if you need to replace it and sell you a new one off the truck if you do. Their prices are good and they have a great warranty on their batteries. I had one that I bought from them go bad after a couple of years and they replaced it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:AAA will test it and tell you if you need to replace it and sell you a new one off the truck if you do. Their prices are good and they have a great warranty on their batteries. I had one that I bought from them go bad after a couple of years and they replaced it.

Walmart, suprsingly, sell good batteries at good price/warrenty. You may want to check it out while waiting AAA

[Anonymous]

If no sound at all, usually alternator. If it’s the battery it can be jumped. If not, usually the alternator.

[Anonymous]

^^sorry, starter not alternator.

[Anonymous]

Will waiting a bit help any?

Sadly, I've never had a car problem that went away if I ignored it...

[Anonymous]

You should also check to make sure that the battery terminals are making good contact with the battery. If there is any rust or corrosion or such on the terminals disconnect, clean them, and re-connect.

[Anonymous]

OP, update us. What was the problem?

[Anonymous]

Sounds like either a mostly-dead battery, orca bad starter solenoid.