I recently had a major service done on my car (50000 miles) at the dealer. They also changed 2 ignition coils 1 and 3 and my drive belt and my spark plugs. Since then I have put on about 300 miles. This morning when I went to start the car it barely turned over but it did start. This afternoon when I went to start it, there was no juice so I got a boost and was on my way. The car ran great for 2 hours straight then I shut it off again. When I went to start it again 2 hours later, nothing. So I got some kids to push me and I bump started it, drove it to the shop and bought a new battery. I drove the car home and immediately installed my new battery (fully charged, maintenance free). I tried starting it and now there is even less than before, I can't even turn on my radio. I tried to boost it with my other car and nothing. I could tell it was drawing from the other car because my engine bay light on the other car was dimming everytime I tried to start the maxima. Some ticking noise and that was all. No turn over at all. Thought I might have smelled an electrical smell as well.
What gives? I thought starter motor but I can't even turn my radio on so I think it is electrical but haven't a clue where to start.

 

ehh.. maybe you need a new alternator? Sounds kinda weird but maybe the alternator isn't working and causing the batteries to die.

 

The first thing I would check is to make sure that + and - cables are properly secured to the terminals on the battery. Seems weird to me that after putting on a new battery you wouldn't be able to crank the engine. Thus the reason why I rule out the alternator at this time. I doubt it's the starter. You said you smelled something burning. Check all your fuses to see if any of them are blown. Lets us know what happens and well go from there. You might have a short. And when you try to start the car make sure all lights and stuff are turned off.

 

Your ground wire may not have a good connection.

 

Those are all posibilities but the batery is conected well and there is a current going as I am able to turn on the interior light (although it is quite dim). Remember I also tried boosting just now from my Jeep and that didn't work either. I was thinking fuses but I can hear ticking noises when I turn the key. I wouldn't even know which fuse to look at. I looked at the fuse box and read all the fuses and didn't really see one suited for my situation.
Weird. I will go to the dealer first thing tomorrow (if I can get the car started somehow) and see what they think. I will keep you posted.

 

Most likely? Cables corroded or broken, or poorly grounded, causing high resistance, or you got a dead battery. I'd put my money on the cables.

What to do?
1. Make sure battery is actually good.
2. Check resistance and connections of battery cables especially negative cable to ground and PDC (relay box) to starter cabling

You could quite possibly have gotten a bad battery. A battery must have at least SOME charge before you can try to jump-start it -- if it's totally roasted jump starting is pointless.

Highly unlikely, your starter motor may be bad (sticking, or drawing high amps...etc). Check for voltage at the starter with the key on and then with someone trying to crank the engine. Check for good voltage at the starter relay with the key on and with someone trying to crank the engine.

FYI -- It's not the alternator.

 

SO I think the new battery is dead. When I installed it, it was fine. I had it checked at the shop. After installing it, I left it for 2 hours and during that time something must have drained it. WHat would be drining my batteries so quickly? Nothing wsa left on.

 

Would you believe it was simply a dead battery. The new battery I bought was defective adn despite showing a full charge, was not charged at all. Took the car to the dealer and they did a check on the charge system of the car and everything was good. THey replaced the battery and everything is perfect. Go figure.
Thanks for the imput though guys.

 

voltage vs. amperage...........remember the papa roach song dead cell