QuestionOK..I tried to start it up and the lights on the dash light up and the headlights light up. The horn didn work but it may have not worked before.
When I turned the ignition key, it did nothing. No noise at all. The battery is a new one.
We even tried to jumpstart it and nothing.
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The text above is a follow-up to ...
-----Question-----
The battery in my son's '87 BMW 535i died because he is out of the country and I was supposed to be starting it up and I didnt do that. Anyhow, I bought a new battery today and put it in the car and the car will not start. It doesnt even make any sound when I turn the key. The cables are tight and on correctly. Please help, he will be home in a couple of weeks. Thank you.
-----Answer-----
Dear Anne,
When you turn on the key, does the dashboard gauges come to life? Check control display have messages? Are the lights and the horn working?
Is the battery a sealed type that does not need to be primed with electrolyte and charged first before using? Did you check if the battery has enough voltage or is working?
You may as a start check the fuses in the fuse box inside the engine compartment (check all of them). Also check if there are signs of rodent infestation in the engine compartment.
Verify all of the above and tell me about your findings before we go deeper.
Tino
AnswerDear Anne,
I can not tell you to check more things or replace this and that until you have checked the fuses. There are so many things that can go wrong in a car (ignition switch, relays, anti-theft control, engine computer,wires and cables, starter and solenoid, etc. etc.). But you have to start somewhere and that is to check the fuses. If the fuse box still have the description for each fuse, then your job is easier. If not then you have to check all of them just to be sure.
Tino
