Hot racing action for East London's historic circuit

The lockdown blues are coming to an end in East London with the resumption of the ultra-competitive Polo Cup and SupaCup at the historic Grand Prix circuit in the city of East London? In the form of Potter’s Pass and Rifle bend, the circuit boasts with two of the fastest corners in South African motor sport that are renowned for sorting the men from the boys. 

“We are very excited to finally resume the 2021 racing season, and we can’t think of a better backdrop than the famed circuit in East London,” commented Mike Rowe, head of Volkswagen Motorsport. “It’s been nearly three months since we last saw racing, so I’m sure that all the competitors in both the highly competitive Polo Cup as well as the very popular SupaCup series can’t wait to resume their respective championship battles.”

 

The battle at the top of the Polo Cup championship points table has been the one to watch, and is set to continue this coming weekend. The three previous rounds were earmarked by exceptionally good and clean racing between youngster Leyton Fourie and Arnold Neveling with Fourie currently topping the points ladder with a tally of 123 points, courtesy of two race wins and a few bonus points for setting the fastest lap on three occasions.

Neveling, who also tasted victory twice has amassed 120 points so far and with 20 points available for each win, one can be assured that these two will throw all caution to the wind this coming Saturday. And they won’t be the only ones gunning for glory. Capetonian Jurie Swart, currently on 110 points is well within striking distance, and so is Clynton Bezuidenhout, just a further 5 points adrift. 

“There is no doubt that this weekend’s racing will play a massive role in the final outcome of the championship,” added Rowe. “These drivers have all to play for and the format on Saturday will see three races instead of the usual two. With that many points on offer, Saturday’s winner will take a big step towards earning one of the most coveted titles in motorsport.”

 

The standings in the very competitive SupaCup category of the Global Touring Cars series (GTC) are even closer, as there are no points separating defending champion Bradley Liebenberg and Volkswagen Motorsport’s Jonathan Mogotsi at the top of the points table. Liebenberg has stood on the top step of the podium on three occasions so far in 2021, but a non-finish three months ago at the Aldo Scribante circuit in Gqeberha saw him lose valuable points. 

Mogotsi on the other hand claimed his maiden victory in the same race, meaning that the duo are now tied on 95 points apiece. And they won’t have it their own way either as Jeffrey Kruger and youngster Saood Variawa will have every intention to join the battle. These two are currently sitting on 79 and 76 points respectively with Jason Campos also still within striking distance. 

“To see a full field of SupaCup Polos going flat out through Potter’s Pass and Rifle will be quite a sight. It’s a pity that there won’t be any official spectators due to the pandemic, but fans across the country can follow all of the action on our various social media platforms,” concluded Rowe.

 Supporting leopard and toad conservation

The most graceful of all the wild cat family, the leopard, is being helped by the Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF) that is lending a supportive hand to the Cape Leopard Trust (CLT) and the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT). 

The two Ford Rangers, which are provided to the Trusts for two years, enable the conservation teams to confidently complete their work which often involves travelling long distances and accessing remote areas.  

 

The CLT and EWT teams consist of passionate and enthusiastic members that have dedicated themselves to protecting threatened and endangered animal species. They have joined forces in a unique project that sees them working together to ensure the continued survival of the cape leopards and western leopard toads. By working together, the two organisations hope to improve awareness of two species that are important indicators of ecosystem health. 

“We really appreciate the support from the Ford Wildlife Foundation,” says Dr Kathryn Williams, Research and Conservation Director, Cape Leopard Trust. “The Ford Ranger allows us to improve our knowledge on the ecology, presence, and threats to both species in the Cape’s Overberg region.”

 

The project, affectionately named a Tale of Two Leopards, aims to investigate the presence of both the leopard and the leopard toad - an endangered amphibian named for its striking resemblance to a leopard - in order to ensure their survival, secure their habitat and prey base, and promote their coexistence with people. 

In addition to the Tale of Two Leopards projects, the Cape Leopard Trust is currently undertaking its largest ever camera survey, the first comprehensive such study of the Overberg. The camera survey seeks to improve knowledge of leopards in the Western Cape through a dedicated online app or data portal, which allows landowners, conservation NGO’s and local communities to become citizen scientists by reporting leopard sightings. 

Local community members can submit verifiable records of data, such as camera-trap photos, digital images of leopard signs such as droppings, scratch marks on trees or feeding sites and direct leopard observations to app.capeleopard.org.za. All submissions are kept anonymous.

 

“Broad-scale research is essential to conserve species that occupy large home ranges such as the leopard. It is extremely challenging for scientists to collect large quantities of data at this scale, but conservation stewards can help. Keep your eyes peeled for signs of this elusive cat and contribute your data to help us conserve leopards in the Western Cape,” says Dr Williams. 

For more than 30 years, Ford Motor Company of Southern Africa (FMCSA) has actively been involved in the conservation of wildlife and ecosystems in South Africa and sub-Saharan Africa. The Ford Wildlife Foundation (FWF), which was established in 2014, continues FMCSA’s long-standing support of conservation projects in Southern Africa through the provision of  4x4 Ranger Double Cabs to partner organisations. During the two-year loan period, the vehicles are monitored and serviced by Ford's extensive dealer network to ensure optimum performance and efficiency. 

For more information on the Ford Wildlife Foundation, visit the website: https://www.ford.co.za/about-ford/wildlife-foundation/

 Road Review - Hyundai Kona 2.0 Nu Executive

As the flames on the fire settle into a hypnotic rhythm on their way to being ready to accept the over-catered platters of raw meat, the conversation around the fire ranges from rugby through soccer to cars. 

In the sleepy seaside village where I live, this chatter is less about petrolhead favorites such as top speed, acceleration, power and torque and more about the practical aspects of motoring that suit the coastal lifestyle. 

Invariably I am asked for input on what a friend should buy for the next car and this usually comes with an options comparison of two or three possibilities. My standard response is always to say the car you buy is the one you feel most comfortable in, and not to worry about fuel consumption, resale value and those sort of things. 

It is a practical response because there is nothing worse than spending a lot of money only to find you hate the car because you just are not absolutely comfortable in the driver's seat.

 

On this occasion I put it to the test and got my mates to sit in the driver's seat of the  Hyundai Kona I had on test.  The lands are all different sizes yet all of them expressed surprise at being comfortable behind the wheel. 

The Kona in this case was the 2,0-litre DCT that ticked a large number of boxes in terms of practicality, being neither too large or too small for most business or social lifestyles and offering more than enough in terms of luxury and connectivity. 

The Kona has been a success story for Hyundai since its global introduction in 2017 and, in South Africa close to 1 700 units of this crossover SUV model have been sold since its local introduction in 2018. 

Design updates on the front and rear give the new Kona an even more sleek, sophisticated look and the handsome new front end design stands out giving the Kona a powerful look – supported by enhanced LED Daytime Running Lights (DRLs). 

On the lower bumper, the skid plate embraces the lower air intake, and visually complements the surfaces surrounding the main grille. Integrated into the bumper corners are vertically oriented aerodynamic inlets that improve air flow.

 

At the rear, the new tail lights feature horizontally stretched graphics and the rear bumper, which also follows the protective armour concept of the front and sides, is also built with a contrasting material. 

In addition, the latest model comes with an updated 17-inch wheel design for the Kona 2.0 Executive, which is now 40 mm longer than the previous version. 

A new console is disconnected from the instrument panel to emphasise the horizontal layout and the rear cargo area has been increased as has second row legroom, along with USB-port access for second-row passengers. 

As standard, the Kona has also been upgraded with wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, meaning customers do not have to use a cable to connect their phones to the 8-inch display infotainment system. A wireless cell phone charging pad in the centre console is also standard across the range.

 

Rear passengers can charge their cell phones from a USB cable port in a centre console, with a place to store the phone. 

All Kona derivatives are equipped with an Electronic Stability Program and Vehicle Stability Management, Electronic Brake Force Distribution, Downhill Brake Control and Hill start Assist Control. 

Static safety features in all derivatives include crash bags for the driver and front passenger, along with side and curtain bags. 

A Smartstream 2,0-litr Nu Atkinson naturally aspirated petrol engine, delivering 110 kW maximum power and 179 Nm peak torque, is used in the Kona 2.0 Executive, where it is linked with an Intelligent Variable Transmission (IVT).

 

Hyundai’s Smartstream refers to the ‘Smart’ technological objectives of saving fuel, improving performance, and reducing gas emissions, which are then applied to every step of the ‘Stream’ – the stream of air and fuel injected in the engine and its explosive power delivered to the wheels via the transmission. 

The Continuously Variable Valve Duration (CVVD) engine technology, a mechanical system which took Hyundai 9 years to develop and made its debut in 2019, is used in the Kona’s engines. It alters the way the valves operate to boost both engine power and efficiency, and to allow flexibility based on the driver's driving style. 

Typical variable valve control technologies manage the timing of the valve’s opening and closing (as in Continuously Variable Valve Timing – CVVT) or control the volume of air admitted by adjusting the depth of the opening (Continuously Variable Valve Lift – CVVL). Previous variable valve control technologies could not regulate valve duration, as the valve’s closing timing was subordinate to opening timing and could not respond to diverse driving situations. CVVD takes the technology in a new direction by adjusting how long a valve is open. 

When the vehicle is maintaining a constant speed and requires low engine output, CVVD leaves intake valve open until the middle and closes the valve near the end of the compression stroke. This helps to improve fuel efficiency by reducing the resistance caused by compression. On the other hand, when engine output is high, such as when the car is driving at a high speed, the intake valve is closed at the beginning of the compression stroke to maximize the amount of air used for the explosion, enhancing torque to improve acceleration. 

Optimised valve overlap duration for high-acceleration and high-economy driving needs also boosts performance and economy up to 4% and 5% respectively. Combustion efficiency is also improved, decreasing gas emissions by up to 12%.

 

The suspension has been re-tuned to improve driving comfort and the stabiliser bars were modified for better ride comfort and isolation. The rear bump stop was also modified, bringing benefits for primary ride and lateral body control. 

A McPherson strut type suspension is used at the front of the Kona, while a coupled torsion beam action type multilink is employed for the rear wheels’ suspension. 

All of this combines to provide a comfortable ride, even on rutted or potholed road surfaces and, while the Kona is not designed for performance motoring, it acquits itself more than admirably against its peers in terms of get-up-and-go and handling. 

The Kona is nimble enough for shopping mall parking and responds eagerly to more brisk action far from the madding crowd on the long swooping curves that characterise my test arena – making it very much a car for most occasions and one that is easy to live with (as witnessed by the bums on seats test alluded to earlier).

 

Included in the price are a 7-year / 200 000 km manufacturer’s warranty, a 5-year / 75 000 km service plan and roadside assistance for 7 years or 150 000 km.

 Epic battle for honours at Simola (Part 2)

The Modified Saloon Car category of this year’s Simola Hillclimb features some exceptional high-performance and race-bred machines across its various classes – and for B7, which caters for naturally aspirated cars with eight cylinders or more, it’s pure supercar territory. 

The line-up comprises several top contenders from Extreme Supercar and endurance racing, including the Lamborghinis of Ricky Giannoccaro (2014 Gallardo Super Trofeo) and the 2019 Huracan GT3 Evos of Charl Arangies and Silvio Scribante. Mixing it up in the class will be Franco di Matteo in his thundering 6,0-litre V8-powered Jaguar from the V8 Supercars championship, and Stiaan Kriel in a Lexus V8-powered Backdraft Cobra raced in the SA Endurance Series.

In class B3 for four-cylinder four-wheel drive cars, Simola Hillclimb regular Anton Cronje is sure to be a Top 10 Shootout contender once again in his powerful 2013 Subaru Impreza WRX STi. He will be competing for class honours against Pierre Bester (2014 Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG), Juan van Rensburg (2001 Audi TT) and Robby Ferroli in a turbo-charged 1980 VW Golf. 

There is also the pair of 2007 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9s of Capetonians Nic Schwerdtfeger and Shane Naidu. Having competed in every Simola event to date, Naidu is a regular hillclimb campaigner in his quick Evo 9 FQ360.

 “The Simola Hillclimb has become part of our family lives as we have been attending the event since it started in 2009,” Naidu says. 

“The organisers are passionate about the event and inviting not only  the professional  drivers but gentlemen drivers like myself who can come along in their road cars and sports cars and race at South Africa's premier event. The camaraderie amongst competitors is incredible, and the welcome we get from all the other drivers and the teams is rarely found in motorsport these days. It’s like meeting old family once a year.”

Simola regular Clare Vale will be back in action in class B2 for four-cylinder two-wheel drive cars, leading the charge in her distinctive 2013 Subaru BR-Z, along with Owen Bridger (2007 Honda Civic Type R), circuit racing ace Lee Thompson in a 2016 VW Golf GTI GTC2-category race car, and Bob Neill in a 2017 Ford Focus ST.

And now, for something completely different …

Pickups, or bakkies as they are known in South Africa, aren’t typically something you would associate with a motorsport event on a road course, however, they are ingrained in South African culture so it’s no surprise that they will feature at the Simola Hillclimb. 

The Lindenberg family’s brawny Road to Race (RTR) supercharged V8 Savage 660 Ford Ranger will be lighting up its tyres on the Simola Hill once again – but this time Peter Lindenberg and daughter Paige are trading seats, with dad competing in the ultra-rare Shelby Mustang in the Road Car and Supercar category, and Paige aiming to tame the Savage. 

“King of the Hill is the greatest event of the year for me,” she says. “For the past few years I have had the pleasure of racing a Shelby Mustang up the hill, but this year we decided to put a twist in the plans and my dad will be showing us what a Shelby Terlingua can do, whilst I pilot the V8 Savage 660 RTR Ranger up the hill. It will be a huge change and challenge, but one I am looking forward to.”

They won’t have the only bakkie in the line-up, as Francois Fritz will be fulfilling his long-time ambition of competing at the Simola Hillclimb. His weapon is in the form of a 2011 Toyota Hilux that had its normal 3.0-litre diesel engine replaced with Toyota’s Japanese-market 5,0-litre V12 engine, with twin turbos bolted on for good measure. 

At the opposite end of the spectrum, Ryno Scheepers will be back in his vintage 1976 Mazda F1000 – but this won’t be a shrinking violet as the tiny vehicle is powered by a high-revving turbocharged 13B rotary engine with an impressive power-to-weight ratio. Also expect Udo de Beurges to be in contention for class honours with his 2019 Audi RSQ3 performance SUV. 

The 2021 Simola Hillclimb takes place from 3 to 5 September 2021, starting with Classic Car Friday, followed by King of the Hill on the Saturday and Sunday. Due to COVID-19 regulations, no spectators are allowed, but the entire event will be livestreamed.

 Fiat 500 gets Cult status

Some 64 years after its birth in Turin, Italy the iconic Fiat 500 is only in its third generation and the new one looks set to continue the tradition established with the original version. 

The original version, beloved of the love generation of the ‘60s, is now transformed into a Fiat 500 Cult that rather aptly describes the emotions that surround the little car, owners and its global fan base. 

Running on 14-inch steel wheels with hubcaps and black exterior mirrors, Cult models feature LED day-time running lamps as standard, with halogen headlights.

 

The interior is highlighted by blue fabric seats with Fiat Monogram and body colour dashboard. A new option for Cult is a Techno Blue Matt dashboard and the standard list of comfort features remains high. UconnectTM five-inch radio with DAB, USB ports and manual air-conditioning are all standard, as is a speed limiter.

 

Adding onto the Cult standard specification, Connect models are identified by 15-inch alloy wheels and specific side skirts, rear spoiler and bumpers, including fog lights. 

New seats, which are height adjustable, enhance the interior along with a multi-function steering wheel with eight buttons. The dashboard can be ordered in Matt Silver. Cooler than ever, other interior upgrades include cruise control, Uconnect seven-inch infotainment with CarPlay and Android Auto, and two additional rear speakers. 

For the more avant-garde, Dolcevita models epitomise Italian style and flair with bespoke badging and chrome accents on the two-tone paintwork. With 16-inch alloy wheels, the Dolcevita also gets the Techno-leather multi-function steering wheel, glass roof, Matelassé fabric seats with techno leather details, and a 50/50 split rear seat. 

More sporty-minded customers will be attracted to the Sport upgrades that include 16-inch alloy wheels, Sport badging, and specific side skirts, bumpers and rear spoiler. The new Cloud Grey colour looks particularly good against the new ‘arrow electro’ seats and Titanium dashboard with red 500 logo. The TFT seven-inch digital cluster accompanies automatic air conditioning.

 

Fiat 500 is powered by Fiat’s TwinAir two-cylinder turbo-charged petrol engine. While this engine incorporates state-of-the-art technology and efficiency, it also pays homage to the original two-cylinder engine from the 1960s concept. 

The advanced 875 cc engine is a high-performance unit designed with major innovations developed by Fiat for petrol engines. The ‘downsizing’ technology reduces the engine power, the number of cylinder and the size of the engine, resulting in a drastic reduction in fuel consumption and emissions levels (up to 30%) but, as it is matched with the turbo-charger, its power and performance remain the same. 

It delivers 62,5 kW at 5 500 r/min and 145 Nm of torque at 1 900 r/min, offering combined cycle fuel consumption of 4,0 l/100 km while still accelerating around town in very respectable times (0-100 km/h in 11 seconds). 

Particularly useful in the A-segment is the fact that Fiat 500 is available in manual and automatic. The five-speed manual MTA transmission allows the convenience and comfort of two-pedal motoring while remaining affordable and reliable when it comes to maintenance and running costs.

 

All four trim levels of the Fiat 500 are available in hatchback guise, while the cabriolet 500C is reserved for Dolcevita and Sport derivatives. Manual transmission is available in Cult, Connect, and Sport hatchbacks, as well as the 500C Sport, while MTA is reserved for 500 and 500C Dolcevita models. 

With seven crash bags as standard, the Fiat 500 set the benchmark for safety in the segment. Anti-lock braking is standard across the range, as is Electronic Stability Control, hill holder and speed limiter. 

Onboard infotainment systems include the Uconnect seven-inch HD touchscreen with ‘tablet effect’ and HD display that includes a range of function, including a hands-free system, Bluetooth technology, and voice recognition. Available with Apple CarPlay and Android AutoTM compatibility, the system has a user-friendly interface that will allow you to easily manage maps, music, contacts, and more. 

MODEL	TRANSMISSION	RETAIL PRICE
Cult 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 219 900
Connect 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 260 900
Sport - 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 269 900
Dolcevita 0.9L	FWD 5AT	R 274 900
Sport Cabriolet 0.9L	FWD 5MT	R 319 900
Dolcevita Cabriolet 0.9L	FWD 5AT	R 324 900

Entry-level variants for Sonet range 

Kia South Africa has expanded the Sonet range with two entry-level LX derivatives that lack nothing in terms of safety and luxury specification. 

Lke its EX sibling, it comes with a 1,5-litre MPI naturally aspirated petrol engine delivering 85 kW at 6 300 r/min and 144 Nm of torque at 4 500 r/min. Customers have a choice between a 6-speed manual gearbox or a continuously variable transmission (CVT).

 

Feature highlights include an 8,0-inch HD touchscreen infotainment with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, remote central locking, air-conditioning, Bluetooth, front and rear power windows, Electrically operated mirrors, 6 speakers, 15-inch steel wheels, height-adjustable driver’s seat, automatic headlamp activation, rear-view camera and combination artificial leather and cloth seat trim.

 

Key safety features include Electronic Stability Control (ESC), anti-lock brakes with EBD, Hill-start Assist Control (HAC), dual front crash bags and ISOFIX child-seat anchoring points. 

“The popularity of the Kia Sonet has been overwhelming, and we’re delighted that so many customers are choosing Kia’s newest model to begin their SUV life,” comments Stephen Crosse, Sales and Marketing Director of Kia South Africa. “There is nothing ‘entry-level’ about the Sonet LX derivatives when it comes to comfort, convenience and features, and we’re confident that the LX’s value proposition will further bolster the Sonet’s popularity.” 

Pricing

Sonet 1.5 LX Manual                               R269,995

Sonet 1.5 LX CVT                                   R290,995

Sonet 1.5 EX Manual                               R289,995

Sonet 1.5 EX CVT                                   R310,995 

All Sonet models ship as standard with Kia’s Unlimited Kilometre, 5-year warranty (inclusive of Roadside Assistance), as well as a prepaid 4-year / 60 000 km service plan.

 

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

You went through the trouble of buying a new battery and installing it and your car still won’t start! What else could it be? A bad ignition switch may be your root cause. Can you even turn the ignition switch? If not it may be a sign that it is broken, or you have the wrong set of keys which is an easy mistake to make if tired. Although more cars are turning to the ‘push to start’ ignitions, many vehicles on the road still rely on a key and standard ignition switch. The ignition switch has a few positions, off/lock, accessory, on, and start.

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/