You've put the key in the ignition and turned it over, but nothing is happening. Your car isn't starting and you have no idea where. Here are the top reasons for cars not starting and how to deal with them quickly.
Your Battery Is Dead
A dead battery is one of the most common reasons for cars not starting. You'll usually get some of the lights to turn on, but the start motor doesn't turn. In some cases, your battery is so drained that nothing works at all and all you get is silence.
Check for any signs that you left your electronics on and consider whether push starting or jump starting is the best idea. Jump starting gives you the chance to ask your jumper nicely to allow you to get some charge to your battery first rather than getting the alternator to do all the work.
The Battery Connectors Need Cleaning
In some cases, it's not the battery but the connections. Check to see if they need cleaning or repairing. Sometimes, they just needed connecting back on due to accidentally being removed. You'll usually be able to tell if this is a problem because you'll just get silence when you turn the key.
The Ignition Switch Is Faulty
If you know the battery is fine and the connections are clean and working, it's time to look at the ignition switch. This is faulty if you see no lights appearing on the dashboard (and you've checked the other problems).
You Need Fuel
You'll be surprised at the amount of people who forget about this. If the car cranks over but doesn't actually start, it's a sign that you need fuel. This could be due to parking on a hill and your fuel collecting at the wrong side and you just need to roll down the hill to get it level and started.
Spark Plugs Are Faulty
When your car is cranking, not starting but the fuel supply is fine, it could be that your spark plugs aren't working properly. There should be a spark when you turn the key. If this doesn't appear, you'll need to get them replaced.
There are various reasons for cars not to start. Some of the most common problems are the easiest to fix, but what if it's not those problems? It's all about looking for signs and listening to the faults, so you can work out why your car isn't starting. Contact an auto repair shop if you need help.
Share4 May 2016
You get in your car, turn the key and nothing happens. Your day is immediately put on hold and you don't know what to do. Could it be a dead battery, a bad starter or some other unknown element in the car keeping you from going about your business? To learn about the many things that could be keeping your car from starting, visit through my website. Here, you will find a run-down of the many things that could be causing your problem, so that you can more quickly get the problem resolved and get back to your day as you had it planned.
