Car won't start or shift gears after dead battery
A dead battery can reset the vehicle's electronic control modules and disrupt the transmission computer, causing the car to fail to start even after a jump or experience severe shifting issues while driving. These computer resets prevent the engine from properly engaging and stop the transmission from switching gears, leaving drivers stranded with electrical components working but the vehicle unable to move.
What people tried
Every workaround mentioned in the threads below. We haven’t tested any of them — and nobody here is claiming they worked.
- 1getting a new battery soon
- 2getting the battery tested at a parts store
- 3Trying to jump-start the vehicle
- 4Tapping the starter motor with a hammer, block of wood, or mallet while someone turns the key
- 5Jumping the starter directly with a screwdriver
- 6Disconnecting and testing the battery level
- 7Having the spark plug hole rethreaded as a cheaper repair option
- 8Taking the car to the dealership for diagnosis
- 9Cleaning battery cable ends and posts
- 10Waiting for roadside assistance (CAA) for a boost
- 11Jumping the car using jumper cables
- 12Using starting fluid
- 13Clearing check engine codes
In their words
Unedited, most upvoted first, each linked to the thread it came from.
“Today my truck wouldn't turn on. I tried jumping it but it wouldn't work.”source ↗
“It seems that it is not the battery because the lights turn on and even jumping it nothing works.”source ↗
“If you listen close, you can hear the car try to crank but it just dies.”source ↗
“At first they said there was a loose battery connector, which they fixed. But it still has trouble starting.”source ↗
“The second time I went they literally couldn’t even replicate the issue (just my luck) and couldn’t find anything.”source ↗
“This came up on my 2018 Honda Civic EX. My car won’t start up at all and is showing this error.”source ↗
“I’m currently waiting for CAA to give me a boost, I left all of my jumper cables in the garage :(”source ↗
“The car now will not start unless jumped.”source ↗
“After getting it jumped, my car had trouble switching gears when driving home; I have never had that issue before.”source ↗
“2007 Accord V6, recently had a misfire on cylinder and found that the spark plug flew out and ripped the threads and destroying the coil at the same time, had someone rethread as cheapest option and now the car won’t start? I fear it may be low compression or timing related.”source ↗
“Since the battery was disconnected and reconnected, it won't start at all—we're back to square one.”source ↗
Where this came up
People with this problem also raised
- 52Vehicle cranks after fuel pump replacement but won't start
- 9Car won't start after replacing ECU and electronics failed
- 6Why does my car lose power for a second when starting?
- 3New car battery installed but vehicle still has zero power
- 10Car battery keeps dying even after replacing battery and alternator
- 2Why is my check engine light on after changing the car battery?