My car totally dead? What could be the reason

[CoCoaButter85]

Hello, I just tried driving my car but it is totally dead. I couldn't unlock it, had to use manual lock. It does nothing when turn the ignition on. Completely dead. It's not new car but overall no issues and was fine just on Wednesday. I don't think we left lights on as would have noticed by now.

Is it dead battery? What could be causing it?

Need to try and jump start to see if it’s the battery maybe

Sounds like the battery. I’ve just had to replace mine and it was the same. Had to manually unlock, no lights on the dash etc..

battery. do you know anyone with jump leads?

Sounds like a dead battery. They can suddenly stop working like that !

Sounds like a flat battery. Perhaps an internal light was accidentally left on, you’re less likely to notice that.
Hope you get it sorted.

I forgot to mention it's an automatic. Would the jump start/ battery change be applicable in the same manner?

It doesn't make any difference whether it's a manual or an automatic. It sounds as if your battery is dead.
The cold weather isn't good for batteries and the car will need a good long run to charge it up.
Can you call the AA or RAC?

The most likely cause is a flat battery, that could be because of age, or there may be a short circuit. Worst case scenario is that the alternator has died.

I agree battery, and probably interior lights. Happened to me twice this year. Or depending on temperatures and if it's been sitting for a few days it might simply have died from cold.

Are you parked in the street or on a drive? If the latter and near an electric outlet, just get a battery charger thingy so you can fully charge up - much better than jumpstarting it.

Battery. Mine has done the same twice in the last week. Once because I left the lights on and once because of the cold I think. I got jump starts both times, same process for an automatic. Do you have a friendly neighbour with some jump leads? I had battery replaced today and all better now

Battery... they can just go, speaking from experience as someone who had a car battery fail suddenly on the way to the airport! 😪

Probably a flat battery, but I would get a decent "jump pack", anyway they are incredibly useful.

https://www.halfords.com/motoring/battery-maintenance/jump-starters/noco-gb20-500a-jump-starter-721880.html?_gl=11cq7xo_up*MQ..&gclid=CjwKCAiAmsurBhBvEiwA6e-WPMrTpRY4L7wOCBc5zGSjnyRFak_DQpYt6e6_6Ae5OuL2dGFoYI7iQRoC86kQAvD_BwE

Battery - it happened to me last year. I hadn't left any lights on but it just died. I got it jump-started and it ran okay for a while but the battery did get replaced at my next service as it was at the end of it's life.

It would be the battery - mine died just like that during the very cold weather.
I am not sure what has changed with cars but years ago - a decade- when I used to drive a MK4 Golf (K reg) there was always lots of warning for an impending flat battery. The car would get harder and harder to start but would turn over and sometimes eventually reluctantly start.
My current car 2003 vintage gave me no such warning last year - just clicked.

Thank you ladies. Fingers crossed it is just battery and nothing more serious as can do without spending more money. My husband is shit at this but he ordered some sort of battery charger. I will wait for him to try it out and if not will have to call AA or RAC

Thankfully it happened at home and we don't have to go anywhere over the weekend. It's my bday tomorrow so we were supposed to get some ingredients for the cake. Oh well, will make cake tomorrow instead

Do you have an immobilizer in your key fob. If the interior car lights come on but the car does nothing trying changing the battery in the key.

If no lights at all come on it could be a flat battery... That might be because the alternator isn't working. Leaving the lights on is not the only cause for a flat battery.

I would have expected a warning sign of some sort. All of a sudden absolutely nothing is working. I'm just grateful it didn't happen when anywhere outside.

We do have it just in front of the house. But not at the driveway. But we could use extension case it needs to be

Yes, I’ve had to jump start my automatic several times this year.

@Unescorted absolutely nothing is working. Dead completely without any warning. Did mot in Sep and nothing mentioned.

@ruby1957 it's Honda jazz. Some of the older cars are more reliable I think

Then it sounds like the main battery. In cold weather batteries aren't as effective so it might have had a lowish charge for a while. If you didn't leave the lights / radio on then it might be worth getting it looked at. Otherwise it will keep happening if it is not charging / holding a charge properly.

Mine was flat this week - couldn’t start- turned out the key fob battery had died! I’ve got an automatic Mini Cooper. Normally I depress the brake and press start but zilch. It did come up saying hold remote to steering column which I didn’t get/understand what to do for about 30 mins! I eventually pressed the dead fob near a key sign on side of steering column and it worked. I replaced battery on key fob (YouTube!) when I got home and all fine since- didn’t know it was a thing. 😂 Car wasn’t locked in a street all day!

How much and for how long do you drive your car? I've had loads of issues with the battery on mine as I don't use it enough and when I do, it's for trips of less than 30mins so the battery never has a chance to charge up properly.
A mobile mechanic would be able to jump start it for you and check it over to see if there are any things that might be causing a drain.

The MOT doesn't check your battery charge. Just safety things like brakes, wipers and fluid levels.

The MOT doesn't check your battery - you need a full service for that.