car wont start or turn over radio dont work when it does start

100

Asked by KendraLyvers Aug 17, 2013 at 10:18 PM about the 2008 Ford Focus SE

Question type: Maintenance & Repair

I have a ford focus that will not turn over or make any noise at all when you try to start it. It
has a new battery and new alternator because we thought that was what it was but it still
does it and when we jump it it will start but the radio will not work could someone please
tell me what causes this

14 Answers

Sounds like a classic low-voltage condition...your battery is newer than five years old...these new tin/antimony (no Lead) batteries only last about five years before they will punish your alternator and will not supply adequate power for your accessories, either~ take a wirebrush to the connection from the 1/0awg cable to the vehicle ground and the place that the cable lug bolts to....brush it till shiny then reconnect with your NEW battery~

1 people found this helpful.

@Michael, were you thinkin' a fuse link or fuseable link that may fry if someone tries to jump start it wrong way 'round? this would be the only "fuse" other than the MEGAFUSE, which I've never seen in action~

3 people found this helpful.
100

the battery is only a month old the alternator was put in 3 days ago

2 people found this helpful.

I'm going to have to say then, the connection from the battery to the frame/chassis is bunged up with corrosion which DOES happen every time the car is started...a "weld" condition happens with every start, creating a insulation zone....not conductivity for amperage...which is what we need here...Amperage for the engine with it's own 1/0 connection as well to insure at least 300 cold cranking amps through the connection~....that's what the problem is here....corroded home connection of the ground side~

1 people found this helpful.
46,095

The main fuse box is under the hood, I would start by the fuses first. If the fuse all check good then I would start to check the wiring for a short.

1 people found this helpful.
100

there is no corrosion on the battery at all and if i start it and drive like 5 miles to the dollar store and turn it off it will start back so would it still be that but if i let it set for a while it will not start but the radio will not work at all

3 people found this helpful.
39,725

if it starts when jumped your newer battery is faulty or not fully charged .the focus if im not mistaken requires a full 12 volts to come to life. the lights will work and such, but it will not react , so maby the radio is on this same ''must have a required voltage to energize the brain"

2 people found this helpful.
95

Larry your starter may be going bad. when the brushes worn down it starts pulling circuit from your batt. as for your radio you may have a grounding problem.

2 people found this helpful.
25

I have a question. I have changed the starter, spark plugs, and the battery but my ford focus SE 2008 will not turn over. I was told it maybe the starter relay but autozone never heard of that

2 people found this helpful.
10

KendraLyvers, how did you resolve this? This is exactly what is happening to my daughters 2010 Kia Sportage (new battery, alternator)

1 people found this helpful.

I believe it’s the demobiliser I have this same problem in my 2001 Ford Mondoe and the radio wont turn on for me to enter the code into

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