Help, my car won't start, key fobs don't work, and can't lock or unlock doors from inside of car

[Anonymous]

I have no problem driving my car yesterday, and my car is 2016 toyota rav4 with 30,000 miles on it.

Today morning, I find my car won't start (dashboard not turned on, no engine start sound) when I insert my car key in, key fobs (new batteries) don't work to lock/unlock the car door, and I also can't lock or unlock doors from inside of car. I turned off engine yesterday afternoon without turning off radio & a/c, did I have a fuse blown? Or batteries dead? Or other possible reasons?

Right now, there are 2 neighbor cars parked next to my car on both side, so I can't jump start my car to see if it is battery problem. Help!

[Anonymous]

Car batteries typically last 3-5 yrs. Unless you've serviced it since you got your car in 2016 you've been on borrowed time.

[Anonymous]

Sounds like dead battery. Call AAA or another mechanic. They know how to jumpstart cars/test batteries without being able to pull up -- they either jump from the side or use the portable battery box.

Unless they find it was something really different, replace the battery anyway. It shouldn't have failed that hard and is probably weak. The original batteries that come with the car are usually crappy ones, and even the replacements don't last as long as they claim too.

[Anonymous]

Your battery is likely finished. Call a tow truck, they are used to boosting in tight space, as mentioned earlier. Then go get yourself a new battery.

I had one die overnight. It was tough to boost, and every time I shut it off that day it was hard to start. Get the battery today.

[Anonymous]

Dead battery.

[Anonymous]

Another vote for battery. At least it's an easy fix.

[Anonymous]

It's handy to keep a battery booster/charger as equipment so you can jump without electricity. Last winter I kept having dead battery, replaced the battery, issue happened again, turned out the new battery was bad. During that time my son loaned me his booster which saved me a couple of times. Then I bought my own. First time it was out of the box was 6 months after I bought it and it was still fully charged, a friend used it to start his vehicle. So they have to be kept charged, but once charged they will stay charged a long time.

[Anonymous]

This is op, forgot to up update that it was the battery problem. Once I got a new battery, everything goes well. But one thing was weird that they check my old battery was in healthy condition, but battery was really low, like 10 only. I don’t have any headlight or interior lights on the day before, not sure what things exhaust all power in the battery. I hope it is the generator problem.

I got rid of my previous car because of generator problem, and the car completely relied on battery to function, and power exhausted in a day or two. It had too many mileages, so I decided to get rid of it, not worth to repair it.

I don’t drive my car often these days because of working from home, but I drive about 2.5 miles in the morning, and 2.5 miles in the afternoon for drop off/ pick up kid. If it is generator problem, how long will it take for my car to die again?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op, forgot to up update that it was the battery problem. Once I got a new battery, everything goes well. But one thing was weird that they check my old battery was in healthy condition, but battery was really low, like 10 only. I don’t have any headlight or interior lights on the day before, not sure what things exhaust all power in the battery. I hope it is the generator problem.

I got rid of my previous car because of generator problem, and the car completely relied on battery to function, and power exhausted in a day or two. It had too many mileages, so I decided to get rid of it, not worth to repair it.

I don’t drive my car often these days because of working from home, but I drive about 2.5 miles in the morning, and 2.5 miles in the afternoon for drop off/ pick up kid. If it is generator problem, how long will it take for my car to die again?

I meant the alternator.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is op, forgot to up update that it was the battery problem. Once I got a new battery, everything goes well. But one thing was weird that they check my old battery was in healthy condition, but battery was really low, like 10 only. I don’t have any headlight or interior lights on the day before, not sure what things exhaust all power in the battery. I hope it is the generator problem.

I got rid of my previous car because of generator problem, and the car completely relied on battery to function, and power exhausted in a day or two. It had too many mileages, so I decided to get rid of it, not worth to repair it.

I don’t drive my car often these days because of working from home, but I drive about 2.5 miles in the morning, and 2.5 miles in the afternoon for drop off/ pick up kid. If it is generator problem, how long will it take for my car to die again?

I meant the alternator.

It's very easy to check. Get one of these volt meters that goes into your cig lighter:

https://www.amazon.com/Zeltauto-Cigarette-Lighter-Digital-Voltmeter/dp/B00VL9JZ0K

It should read at least 13.5 volts with the car idling and electrical things like the headlights and stereo turned off. Turning these things on, it should still read above 13 volts. Driving around town should read 14-14.5 volts.

If it falls below 13 volts, you should get the alternator checked out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:This is op, forgot to up update that it was the battery problem. Once I got a new battery, everything goes well. But one thing was weird that they check my old battery was in healthy condition, but battery was really low, like 10 only. I don’t have any headlight or interior lights on the day before, not sure what things exhaust all power in the battery. I hope it is the generator problem.

I got rid of my previous car because of generator problem, and the car completely relied on battery to function, and power exhausted in a day or two. It had too many mileages, so I decided to get rid of it, not worth to repair it.

I don’t drive my car often these days because of working from home, but I drive about 2.5 miles in the morning, and 2.5 miles in the afternoon for drop off/ pick up kid. If it is generator problem, how long will it take for my car to die again?

I meant the alternator.

It's very easy to check. Get one of these volt meters that goes into your cig lighter:

https://www.amazon.com/Zeltauto-Cigarette-Lighter-Digital-Voltmeter/dp/B00VL9JZ0K

It should read at least 13.5 volts with the car idling and electrical things like the headlights and stereo turned off. Turning these things on, it should still read above 13 volts. Driving around town should read 14-14.5 volts.

If it falls below 13 volts, you should get the alternator checked out.

your car is 2016 so 4 years old. it was time to change. i doubt you have an issue with alternator. is this your first car?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op, forgot to up update that it was the battery problem. Once I got a new battery, everything goes well. But one thing was weird that they check my old battery was in healthy condition, but battery was really low, like 10 only. I don’t have any headlight or interior lights on the day before, not sure what things exhaust all power in the battery. I hope it is the generator problem.

I got rid of my previous car because of generator problem, and the car completely relied on battery to function, and power exhausted in a day or two. It had too many mileages, so I decided to get rid of it, not worth to repair it.

I don’t drive my car often these days because of working from home, but I drive about 2.5 miles in the morning, and 2.5 miles in the afternoon for drop off/ pick up kid. If it is generator problem, how long will it take for my car to die again?

You are not driving it enough to charge the battery. The Alternator is not designed to recharge a battery. You would have to take a long drive. You may need a battery tender or charger.

[Anonymous]

I’d be getting rid of that car quick. Sounds like it’s about to become a money pit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is op, forgot to up update that it was the battery problem. Once I got a new battery, everything goes well. But one thing was weird that they check my old battery was in healthy condition, but battery was really low, like 10 only. I don’t have any headlight or interior lights on the day before, not sure what things exhaust all power in the battery. I hope it is the generator problem.

I got rid of my previous car because of generator problem, and the car completely relied on battery to function, and power exhausted in a day or two. It had too many mileages, so I decided to get rid of it, not worth to repair it.

I don’t drive my car often these days because of working from home, but I drive about 2.5 miles in the morning, and 2.5 miles in the afternoon for drop off/ pick up kid. If it is generator problem, how long will it take for my car to die again?

You are overthinking it.

Car batteries die after 4-5 years. It's what they do.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’d be getting rid of that car quick. Sounds like it’s about to become a money pit.

why? batteries are a consumable - same as brakes wipers tires bulbs...