Car wont start, dashboard and radio shows power, break paddle is locked and car will not start

You may have simply blown a fuse. I'm always surprised by the things that your group together in car fuses. Are used to have a Chevy Astro where if the fuse for the CD player blew the back door lock stopped working.

Press through the buttons on your dash. They may stick a bit. Pressing them might break up any dried crud. Then, check the fuses. A quick google search for "where fuse radio (year model of your car)" will save you some hassle as they tend to be tucked out of the way and some cars have more than one.

use a scan tool to reset the ECM first as the CPU program in the ECM may be corrupted from the battery change

I agree with Jerry - sound like perhaps your ECM fuse is blown which would prevent your car brains from working. Take off the cover, invest in a tiny fuse puller - you can see the break in the "U" shaped metal or black splat if the fuse cut-loose. Also, make sure you don't have anything plugged-into your cigarette/power outlet(s) and after checking/replacing fuses, retry restarting your car. Also, what red light is on - the two zig-zag lighting bolts, or all/some of your lights?

Hi,
the car is not recognising the key, try first to replace the key battery, also if you have another key try to use it.

also if u take battery off for 10 mins, hook battery back up again, turn car on, hold in break paddle for 35 seconds, then still holding in break paddle hold in handbrake button for 10 seconds, release all and start car up, press break button a few times, turn car off again take out key, lock and open car then press break button again and now all should b back to normal

I recommend you have your battery tested. The starter requires MUCH more power than the radio does. You could also see if the car starts with a jump start. Also, as a general rule, a battery is only good for 3-4 years so if it is older than that it wants to be replaced anyhow : )

Good luck!!!

My 2005 Chrysler Pacifica dashboard lights are completely black. I was driving along and I applied the brakes and the whole car went black. It didn't shut off but all the lights went out in the inside. I pulled over and turned the headlights off and back on and the radio, temp, and headlights came back on. But the cluster instrument panel (dashboard lights) wont. We have changed the fuses several times and the panel lights up for a couple of hours, but every time we apply the brakes to stop the fuse blows and the panel is back dark. Help me plz, I am a single mother, full worker and full student on a tight budget and I need all the help possible. plz email me at [email protected] if you know whats wrong with my Pacifica.

neutral-park brake safety switch,it is connected at top of break paddle on fire wall it is a little button that goes in when brakes are pressed

factory immobiliser by the sound of it ,dealer only

this is a shift actuator fault