My 2002 s2000 wont start. NO lights on the dash, NO click or noise from the engine, my key fob wont unlock or lock...... nothing at all. It has 140,xxx miles, took it to a mechanic a month ago because the aftermarket stereo (with a small sub) was shorting the engine and it ran fine for a little over a month. Has a new battery replaced it like 2 months ago, the starter and alternator looked fine as well. I'm going to have the battery tested later but I dont think it should be the battery since i just bought it not that long ago. I must admit i dont drive the car as much as I'd like, its a weekend car for me, so sometimes it does sit for a couple days or longer if i get busy on the weekends. I havent tried jumping the car either because I was running late to work and didnt have time to do such. I am pretty sure it will start right up with a jump though.

Any ideas, if the battery comes back fine and it still doesn't start AND or if the battery comes back bad on what is draining my battery?
My battery terminal does look a little warn out so I might start with that if the battery comes back fine.

Anything else I should consider if the terminals aren't it either???

Thanks in advance

 

Way too many options, so need to troubleshoot in order.

If you have no lights, no starter, no click then there is no voltage.

First thing is check the battery. Using a voltmeter set to DC voltage it should read 12.6 or so (not below 12 and really should be close to 12.6) with the car off.
If it reads proper voltage you need to check the terminals. Clean them with a terminal cleaner tool (a few bucks at an autoparts store) and make sure they are connected and tight
Then see if you have any lights when the switch is turned on. If not, then there are other items to check (main ground, main fuses, etc). Also, at this point would be good to have the battery load tested as well. But if without charging it it still reads 12.6V then it likely is not the battery since it has not been depleted and is new.


If you want a quick check if the battery is dead, do not jump it (charging from a dead battery can sometimes damage the alternator). Disconnect it and connect a set of jumper cables to another good battery in a non-running car. Try to start your car. If it starts you have eliminated the switch, wiring, etc.

If the battery is dead, then you need to then figure out what is killing it. Step one would be to get the car running (charge off of a running car or a battery charger for a bit, turn off other car/charger and then start your car) and check the voltage at the battery with a voltmeter. It should be reading 13.4 - 14V volts or so if the charging system is working.

If that is good, then turn off car and use and ammeter in line between the battery cable and battery to test for parasitc draw on the battery. See how much there is and report back.

A lot of this is assuming you are comfortable using a multimeter and have access to one.

 

i dont have access to a multimeter and have only used one once. not that comfortable using one. was going to have the battery tested at an auto place after work

 

what main fuses should I check

 

In the under hood relay box, Fuse No. 41 (100A) and 42 (40A) are in line with the ignition switch. Fuse No. 3 is connected between the ACC HOT line on the ign switch the Engine Start Switch but if you have no dash lights then that one would not affect that.

Without the key in it do the headlights come on when you turn on the headlight switch? I am guessing the answer is no but just checking as that would further isolate the issue if they do work.

 

Okay i will for sure check those fuses today.
Yeah they dont turn on, the headlights

 

Also, while those fuses most times will show clear visible signs if they are bad, they do not always. They are best checked with a meter or a test light. You can get a test light for very cheap (grounds on one end, probe end for power) and you should see voltage on both sides of those terminals. The two main fuses are very easy to find in that fuse box. They are labeled Ign Main and Battery I think. They are in the lower center and right hand corner looking at it with the label right side up

 

If those look good, I would still remove the battery cables, clean them well and re-attach just to be sure that is not the entire issue. The tool is a metal can looking device with a female end that has a metal brush around it and a part you pull out that has a metal brush to clean the inside of the terminal ends. Good to keep around and good to remember to give them a quick clean when you remove the battery cables.

 

 

Fuses look fine to me