If the car won’t start when you turn the key, don’t give up. In this blog, we have compiled a couple of tips on what to do if your car won’t start. Before you call for a tow truck, try these troubleshooting tips.
Why Doesn’t Your Car Start?
If you can’t get your car to start despite checking the steering wheel and gas, there are a few possibilities:
A dead battery
The most common cause of a car not starting is a dead battery. Check your battery’s strength with a battery tester if you have one. Use a set of jumper wires instead if you don’t already have one.
A corroded battery
A corroded battery might be a disaster waiting to happen. Try starting your car again after cleaning and inspecting your battery posts to ensure a clean, full connection. When it comes to cleaning your battery, an auto parts shop staff can point you in the proper direction and provide advice.
Ineffective starter motor
The starting motor engages when you turn the key, causing the engine to turn over and light on. A new one will have to be installed if this is the problem.
Faulty timing belts
Your engine’s timing belt is the most critical component in terms of routine maintenance. Because of the timing belt, the valves and pistons in the engine never come into contact with each other during normal operation. The engine might be severely damaged if the timing belt breaks, necessitating a new one. In most cars, the owner’s manual specifies how often the timing belt should be replaced. A 60,000-mile or five-year interval is commonly used as a guideline (whichever comes first).
The distributor cap that is missing or damaged
The engine’s ignition coil feeds electricity to the spark plugs through the distributor cap. If water seeps in under the cap, your automobile may have issues. Before reinstalling, give it a good wipe down with a dry towel. If a cap becomes damaged, it should be promptly replaced.
Faulty ignition coil
The ignition coil converts a battery’s voltage into an electric spark. If the coil is destroyed, there will not be enough power to start the engine. An electrical multimeter is required to measure the intensity of the electrical current flowing through the coil.
Clogged fuel filter
The engine won’t get enough gasoline if the fuel filter is blocked. An alternative must be found when this is the case.
What to Do If Your Car Won’t Start
Your car fails to start despite the starter going “click”
- Try turning the key back and forth for a few seconds. Watch the dome light while you try to start the engine by turning it on. You know your battery is low when the light goes off.
- The “key cycling” approach (it’s all about continually turning the key to the start position for roughly 10 seconds, taking a brief pause, and then seeing if you can get the engine to run) can be used to warm up the battery, terminals, and starter. Nevertheless, if the dome light remained lit even after you turned the key, go to the following step.
- When you’re stuck without equipment, you cannot clean corroded battery connections, so try tapping on them. You can also move or jar the terminals to improve contact. By following these tips, you can increase the life of your automobile battery.
- If you can reach the starter motor, use the tire iron from your car jack to hit it. Sometimes, a touch on the electrical connections may liberate them.
There is no sound or click when you turn the key to start your car
- With your foot on the brake, turn the shift lever to neutral and attempt to start the engine. You can try again if it doesn’t work. The transmission range selector’s electrical contact can be reestablished by shifting the gear lever occasionally (also known as the neutral safety switch).
Your car is idling and won’t start
- Swap the relays and see if that helps. Turn the key to “Run” and listen for a buzzing sound for two seconds while the radio is off. Fuel pump-priming the injection system is what you’re hearing. If there is no sound coming from the gasoline pump, then the relay or the pump itself may be failing.
- To begin, look in your owner’s handbook or on the legend of the under-hood fuse box lid for the position of the fuel pump relay. Switch out the gasoline pump for a relay of the same component number. After that, try starting the vehicle again. You may jar the gasoline pump motor by banging on the fuel tank with your shoe.
- If you smell gas, your engine is flooded and has to be unflooded. Keep your foot on the accelerator as you crank the engine. There’s a chance you can make the computer think you’re trying to start a cold engine because of a vacuum leak or a weird temperature sensor. If you’ve done everything else and the engine still won’t start, you may try pressing the accelerator halfway and see if it helps. This will inform the computer to increase the fuel supply.
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Sara Sam may not look like your typical car and finance expert, but don’t let that fool you. With over four years of experience in the industry, she knows all the ins and outs of cars, car insurance, and refinancing. You can trust Sara to help you navigate the often-confusing world of automobiles and financing.
