A car that refuses to start while happily powering its headlights, radio, and dashboard can make anyone question their understanding of electricity. If the battery were dead, wouldn’t everything stop working? Not necessarily.
Your car’s electrical system has different jobs, and starting the engine demands considerably more power than illuminating the dashboard. That means working lights don’t automatically clear the battery of suspicion. They also don’t rule out a failing starter, damaged wiring, or an electronic problem.
