What Can Cause a Car to Not Start?

I have a '97 Chevrolet Cavalier. So I clocked out from work today, and happily made my way to my car. Wouldn't you know it, it wouldn't start. It wouldn't turn over or anything. Just dead silence. I got a friend to help me jump the battery, and was able to make it home. I got the battery about 2 years ago. I know they should last longer than 2 years. There was a tiny bit of corrosion around the posts, but I've seen cars with far worse corrosion than mine. Besides the battery, what else could cause a car to not start?

Suggestion:

If you have complete silence as you stated…..dead battery or loose or dirty connections. Batteries are sold pre charged now and many companies have lots of stock sitting around. Just because you bought it 2 years ago doesnt necessarily mean it is 2 yrs old. could have been sitting in store a while. On average most folks should replace battery every 4 years. You will hear people say "My battery is six years old and works fine". Well, they got lucky. I check date of battery Im buying to make sure its new and replace every 4 years cause getting stuck with a dead car is no fun. I learned at a young age while driving late at night on a curvy road and my headlights went dead. You will never use an old battery after that!

What else can make a car not start? Lots of things. If it is just clicking, either starter solenoid or connections to starter got loose or corroded. If it cranks but doesn't start then you have a list of things such as no fuel, jumped timing, no spark, etc. Maybe your alternator stopped working and was not recharging your battery. Autozone will check battery and alternator for you for free. Just drive in and ask them. Also, you can go back to the store where you purchased the battery from. Good luck!

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