Getting into your car and discovering it won't start is one of the worst feelings in the world. This is especially true if you are far away from home. Below are four common reasons this is happening so you will know what to expect when you get it repaired.
Ignition Switch
If you try to turn your car over and it won't start, the first thing to check is the battery. One way to test the battery is to turn on your headlights. If they work, your battery is likely not bad because the battery controls the headlights. You will also see lights on your dashboard. With a good battery, the problem is likely the ignition switch. Touch the ignition switch carefully; if it feels hot, then it is likely bad. If you do not know where the ignition switch is, refer to the manual that came with your car. It should be close to the engine.
Fuel Filter
If you often run your car low on gas, the fuel filter could be the problem. This is because there is dirt in the bottom of the gas tank. When you are low on gas, this dirt is sucked up into the engine along with little gas and circulates just like gas does. The dirt then reaches the filter and it generally stops there. Over time the filter becomes clogged with this dirt. When it is completely clogged, it could cause your car not to start. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to repair because changing the filter generally fixes it.
Starter
If you turn your car over and you hear a clicking sound instead of your engine starting up, you could have a bad starter. There are solenoids in the starter, and when the starter is bad, the solenoids will engage and disengage rapidly, which is why you hear the clicking sound.
Electrical Problems
If just about everything else checks out okay, there could be an electrical issue. An auto repair shop would be able to diagnose this problem. They can test the electrical system with a special device, which will tell them exactly where the problem is.
If you have a new car, then it has computers and wiring systems that control everything, including your starter, ignition, etc. Even if you have an older car, it still has some type of wiring system. It could be something as easy as a loose wire somewhere, such as a loose wire on the starter, or it could be more extensive damage.
Share6 January 2017
About six months ago, I could tell that our car was really starting to have some problems. It was always acting up, it never seemed to run well, and I was always worried about it not starting up when it needed to. One day, I got stranded on the side of the road when I was on my way to work, and I realized that I needed to find a new car immediately. I took the day off to look for a new car, and I learned a lot about automotive shopping during the process. Check out this blog for more information about finding a great car.