2009 Chrysler Aspen battery

Of course a bad battery will prevent the engine from starting. That's what it's there for.

As for "not starting", there is nothing to agree or disagree with. There is no way for anyone to know the cause of the problem except for the person doing the diagnosis. We don't even know what the symptom is. "Not starting" is as descriptive as "I'm in pain". You don't know if I have a stomach ache, a hang nail, I cut my foot off with a chainsaw, or my girlfriend came back.

First you have to tell us what is happening. Do any dash lights turn on? Do you hear anything when you try to start the engine? If you turn on the head lights or interior lights first, do they dim or go out when you try to start the engine? Does the engine crank normally but doesn't start and run? Does the engine run normally for two seconds, then shut off? All of these symptoms fall in the "no-start" category.

A simple test with an inexpensive digital voltmeter will tell if the battery has a shorted cell and must be replaced or if the battery is good but just discharged from something like leaving a cell phone charger plugged in. If you could tell me the battery voltage I could tell you if it is bad or just discharged. Of all the things that could cause a no-start condition, the battery is by far the most common and the least expensive repair. They rarely last more than five years, and most of the time they give up due to a shorted cell which occurs in an instant with no warning.