Neither Radio Transmits or Recieves

I'm about to move and wanted to use the rados for the long trip because of bad cell phone reception on the highway,
however neither radio will transmit or recieve anything.
The radios still make noise when the buttons are pressed but I'm having no luck getting them to transmit out or recieve.
I'll press the PTT but the other radio won't recieve. It's the same with the other radio too.
Also - on one radio there is a little red light that comes on (I'm assuming to let me know the microphone is active) but it only applies to one radio and not the other.
Are these radios worthless? Or am I overlooking something entirely obvious?