Car Not Starting? 6 Reasons and How to Fix
This is probably one of the worst ways you can start your day. Imagine getting out of bed and getting through your daily routine just to walk to your car and find out it won’t start, guess you’ll be late to that meeting or appointment you have.
Cars are exceedingly complicated and have thousands of moving parts that help you get from point A to point B so when your car won’t start you can only really only begin to guess at the reason why. Is it mechanical, is it electrical, can you even tell the difference? We will help to determine some reasons why your car won’t start and how to potentially fix them.
Broken down car by Joel Carranza / CC BY 2.0
The cost to have your car towed can be very expensive
depending on how far you need travel. You can avoid getting your car towed if
you can determine why your car won’t start and potentially fix it yourself
before paying for a two and a mechanic.
Dead Battery
One of the most common reasons your car won’t start is
because of a dead battery. The battery is what provides the initial power to start
the car and can run the electronics even if the vehicle is not running. Batteries do
need to be replaced every few years or so but can die much quicker if
you leave your lights on overnight. Like any other battery, if drained
completely of its energy it becomes useless. So, if you turn your key and you
hear it cranking but not actually starting it may be an indicator your battery
is dead or just doesn’t have enough power to fully get the starter going.
Another way to check is by trying some of the electronics in your car. If you
can’t even turn on the headlights then it’s a good sign it’s the battery.
However, sometimes you may be able to turn on the headlight and not actually
start your car. This is because turning on your car requires more energy to
start than just turning on your headlights.
Now that you have determined it is a dead battery what are
you supposed to do next? Jump starting a car with the help of pal and their car
is an immediate way to get your car started.
After jumping your car, you will want to give it a decent
drive so your alternator can recharge the battery. If your battery is old and
near the end of its life the jump start may only be a temporary fix so you
should opt into buying a new battery. What if there is nobody around to help
jump your car and you can’t get to the store to buy a new battery though? A
great device to have on hand is a battery charger. A device like this plugs
into your outlet and actually has jumper cables to attach to your battery.
Bad Ignition Switch
If your car suddenly stalls while driving
it can be a sign of a bad ignition switch. The car would stall because it is
failing when in the on position, which is the position meant for powering the
ignitions and fuel systems. Sometimes you will be able to start the car and
then it abruptly stalls without even the chance of driving it. This is due to
the same issue of the ignition switch failing in the on position. When turned
to the start position it will briefly provide energy to the ignition system and
fuel pump, but once returned to the on position the power will be stopped. This
can be frustrating to say the least and isn’t necessarily an easy fix but can
be done by yourself if you have the available tools and time.
Try trouble shooting the ignition switch a little more by
checking it in the accessory position. When the key is turned in this position
the electronics in the car should be working. This includes interior lights and
your center console. If your accessories remain off while in this key position
it could be another indicator of a faulty ignition switch. This could be just
one of several possible reasons why, so if you are still uncertain going to a
trusted mechanic to diagnose is your best bet.
If you are feeling ambitious and want to try and replace your ignition
switch yourself, follow the steps
listed here. The steps will vary from vehicle to vehicle but for the
most part they are all similar.
Broken Starter
The starter is another important component to the starting
system in your vehicle and like the other parts, if it’s broken or faulty your
car won’t start. The starter is a small motor that receives its power from the
battery to initially get the engine going. If the starter is broken or faulty
then your car isn’t going anywhere without a tow. A broken starter may be tough
to determine and can have similar symptoms to an ignition switch, but there are
some ways to help determine which is exactly the problem. Listening to the
noises from your engine when attempting to start will be a good way to check.
When turning the key to the starting position listen carefully for a clicking
noise. If you’re uncertain about the noise you can also try jumping your car
too and if this doesn’t work it is another indicator it could be the starter.
Unfortunately, a car starter is not that cheap of a part and can be difficult
to install yourself without a lift and proper tools so you will most likely
need to enlist the help of a mechanic to replace.
Although this particular car starter has a warning right
on it not to hit with a hammer, an old school technique to trying to get it to
work is to, well, gently knock on it with a hammer. The same way you would tap
on a malfunctioning television or electronic to maybe knock a wire back in place,
could be attempted on a car starter at your own discretion. Although not
recommended this could be a last-ditch effort while troubleshooting.
Clogged Fuel Filter
The fuel filter is another potential reason why your car
won’t. As the name implies, it is a filter in the fuel line that keeps any
debris or material out of the fuel before reaching your engine. Your owner’s
manual should indicate how often to replace, but some mechanics recommend
replacing every 20 000 kilometres or so because of the importance of clean
fuel. If left unchecked they can potentially get clogged to the point where
your car won’t even start. You may notice your car driving sluggish in advance
to a full blockage and if you don’t handle it then it will become even worse to
the point your car won’t even start. Keeping up on the basic maintenance
of your car or RV is important and will help to avoid these types of
issues.
fuel_filter by InfoCog / CC BY 2.0 Bosch is just one of many reputable brands that offer affordable fuel filters for a variety of vehicles.
Empty Fuel Tank
One of the more obvious reasons your car won’t start could be from an empty fuel tank. We have all skipped out on getting gas once or twice, whether it be you’re in a rush to get home or maybe you think you have enough left even with the gas light on. But if you’re ‘running on fumes’ and decide to just get it tomorrow you may be causing more problems than you think. For one, your fuel pump works better with a substantial amount of fuel, but you also need to have enough fuel to actually start your vehicle. If you are also dangerously low on gas and park on a significant hill the little gas you have in your tank may not be reaching your fuel pump so in turn that gas won’t be enough. This is a relatively easy problem to fix but can still be annoying.
If
you don’t have gas on hand, you will have to get to a gas station and fill up a
jerry can, the classic red containers you probably have seen lying around your
garage. Typically, they hold right around 5 gallons but that should be more
than enough to get you the closest gas station.
Photo by Michael Anderson from FreeImages The classic red gas can, also known as a jerry can, can be purchased at most gas stations or online. It’s not a bad idea to have one on hand and filled but keep in mind gas does have a shelf life and cannot sit untreated forever.
Locked Steering wheel
Another potential reason your car won’t start is because of
a feature put in place on some vehicles that will lock the steering wheel, and
in turn stop the ignition switch from initiating. Thankfully this won’t require
buying any new parts or taking your care to the shop. The first thing you will
notice is that your steering wheel is probably turned at a pretty drastic
angle. This could be done on purpose for the previously mentioned reasons or
could be done unintentionally if you are just squeezing into a tight parking
spot and didn’t straighten out all the way. Either way the wheel will be locked
at that angle and only have a couple degrees of wiggle room. The most common
way to solve this is by turning your wheel, key ignition, and stepping on the
gas all at the same time. If done correctly your car will start and the
steering wheel will unlock.
Basic Troubleshooting Steps in Order
- Is
your wheel locked? Check your owner’s manual to see if your car comes
standard with this anti-theft feature, or if it has safety features to
keep it locked when the steering wheel is turned while the car is off.
- When
was the last time you got gas? Check how much gas is in your tank and if
you are near empty this is most likely the cause.
- Check
your headlights to see if they turn on, if those lights dont turn on it is
most likely a dead battery. If you need to buy a new battery we recommend getting
a higher end model so you don’t have to replace it as often. If you’re
an RV
enthusiast good batteries are a must.
- Try
turning the key in the ignition switch. Listen when in the starting
position. Does it sound like the engine is struggling to turn on? This is
also a good sign the battery is dead. Even if your lights are still able
to turn on, the car starter needs more power than your lights so don’t
rule out the dead battery too quickly.
- Turn
the key to the start position and release it back to the on position. Did
the engine start but then stall. This is a potential sign the ignition
switch is broken. Does it run for a little bit, then abruptly turns off?
Another sign of a potential broken ignition switch.
- Not
getting any of the above symptoms? Think about the last time you drove.
Was your car driving sluggish or seemed to be underperforming? Could be
from a clogged fuel filter. See if you can remember the last time it was
replaced or call your mechanic and ask him if they had done within the
last 20 000 kilometres or so.
- Since
broken starters aren’t all too common you can probably have this last on
your list. But when troubleshooting it’s important to cover all your bases
so try turning your key to the starting position again and listen for a
clicking noise. If jumping your battery didn’t work and you hear the
clicking noise it could be a broken starter.
Conclusion
There is no exact science for a normal driver to diagnose a
car that won’t start, but having the basic knowledge of the related car parts
can help to give you an idea of the potential problems and how to fix them.
Since each car model has their own nuances, Googling why your particular car
model won’t start may help to give you a better idea of the part that is
malfunctioning or broken. But as always, sometimes it is best to have a
mechanic investigate because there could be underlying reasons that are not
obvious to even the most informed driver and safety is always the top priority.
In co-operation with
Your RV Lifestyle: https://www.your-rv-lifestyle.com/car-not-starting/
