Car suddenly won't start.

[LaLady29]

I have a 2011 Rav4 that is only 2 years old. Without warning, it suddenly won't start. Yesterday I was able to jump start it. Today it won't even jump start. I have read it might be the battery. My neighbor said it might be the starter. I don't have a lot of money right now so I want to know what I am looking at (I could do the battery myself).

When you sit in the car, the dome lights are bright. The red light by the radio is flashing. The second you turn the key, the dome lights dim and flicker. The first time you try to turn it on you hear clicking. The second time you hear nothing.

Any suggestions? It is 1,000 miles out of warranty, but I did buy the extended warranty. Fifty miles from the dealership even if I could get it started! Thanks!

[LaLady29]

Oh, and the key buttons will not lock or unlock the doors. It will open the driver's door and that is all. This is when I realized there is no key hole for the very back door!

[Corrupt Politician]

Question, when you hear clicks, does that mean it makes the usual starting sound, and it's failing to start the car? Or do the clicks sound low and weak?

[LaLady29]

Yesterday it jump started right away. I didn't even turn the other car on. When I got home and turned off the engine it was total darkness. The outside lights, inside lights, everything went out. This morning when I tried to start it, the lights dimmed and there was no sound. My neighbor tried to jump it from his truck. The first time you heard the faint clicks. The second time it tried to turn over. Then we were back to nothing. It would never jump even with him revving his engine. Cables are clean and tight.

[Corrupt Politician]

Originally Posted by LaLady29

Yesterday it jump started right away. I didn't even turn the other car on. When I got home and turned off the engine it was total darkness. The outside lights, inside lights, everything went out. This morning when I tried to start it, the lights dimmed and there was no sound. My neighbor tried to jump it from his truck. The first time you heard the faint clicks. The second time it tried to turn over. Then we were back to nothing. It would never jump even with him revving his engine. Cables are clean and tight.

Not a mechanic, but I think this is most likely a defective battery. First it failed to hold a charge, now it fails to conduct a charge to the starter when you try and jump start it. The reason I'm not saying starter is because all the lights were off as well.

[LaLady29]

Thanks. Before I tow it to the dealership, my friend is going to drive me to the Auto Zone to have the battery tested. Never had a battery just suddenly die like that before. Especially at just 2 years old!

[Blogson]

Lots of early failures reported with RAV OEM batteries, at first with the Furukawas but now apparently also with the Johnson Controls batteries. My '11 still spins over quickly but I'm thinking that its battery could go at any time.

[vanib]

I will change mine this year. I have the original panasonic battery. Should be 5 years old soon. Never any issues with it. But I always change my batteries at 5 years.

My Kia Spectra 2007 battery just died at 5.5 years while I was on holidays. I suppose 5 years is a reasonable time to get a new battery, in colder regions at least.

Is the battery of a 2-year old car still under warranty?

[RTexasF]

Originally Posted by LaLady29

Thanks. Before I tow it to the dealership, my friend is going to drive me to the Auto Zone to have the battery tested. Never had a battery just suddenly die like that before. Especially at just 2 years old!

It's not unusual unfortunately. We have two 2008 models bought new and both are on their third battery. I'd bet that's your problem.

[steeringwithmyknees]

ReI think i remember seeing that the ignition coils on 06-08 ravs were defective. Might want to get those checked.