Posted on 1/30/2026
It’s a weird feeling when the dash lights up like everything’s fine, but the engine refuses to start. The radio turns on, the headlights work, maybe the screen boots up, and yet the car won’t crank the way it should. This is one of the most common scenarios we see, and the fix depends on one key detail: what happens when you turn the key or press the start button. The difference between a click, a slow crank, or a normal crank that never fires tells you a lot. Why Lights Can Still Work When The Engine Won’t Start Your lights and accessories need far less power than your starter motor. A weak battery can have enough voltage to run the dash, but not enough capacity to spin the engine. Think of it like having enough water pressure to wash your hands but not enough to run the sprinkler system. That’s why “the lights come on” doesn’t rule out the battery at all. Connections matter too. Corroded terminals or a weak ground c ... read more