If your vehicle won't start, it's usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables , a bad alternator or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you're dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.
Why does my car not start right away when I turn the key?
If nothing happens when you turn the ignition key to the “Start” position, it means that the starter motor doesn't turn over the engine . Most commonly this could be caused by a dead battery; read above How to check the battery.
What can cause a car to not start right away?
- Dead battery. A dead battery is the most common reason why a car won't start. ...
- Battery corrosion. Corrosion on your battery can spell trouble. ...
- Bad starter motor. ...
- Bad timing belt. ...
- Broken or cracked distributor cap. ...
- Bad ignition coil. ...
- Clogged fuel filter.
What causes a car to take longer to start?
The reason for your car taking longer to start can depend on a variety of conditions including weather, battery health, starter health, fuel pump health , and other factors. If your vehicle is slow to start, or if something seems to be wrong with your vehicle, it can be tricky to find the cause.
What is wrong if your car hesitates to start?
A lag between when the ignition key is turned to “Start” and when the starter kicks the engine over could be caused by a corroded or poorly connected high current connection to the starter – say a battery cable connection.
Why won't my car start but my radio works?
If the lights and/or the radio come on but the car does not start, you may also have dirty or corroded battery terminals . The terminals are what connect the electrical system to the battery. ... If you can get the car started by jumping it, it's a good bet that your battery was the problem.
What does it mean when your car won't start but all the lights come on?
This is usually due to battery failure , which is due to something being left on and causing the battery to drain. It could also be due to poor connections, damaged battery terminals, or a bad or dead battery. Sometimes, this could even be due to the starter, with the control terminal becoming corroded.
How do you tell if its your starter or your battery?
Last, Check The Starter
The battery sends a burst of energy to the start which uses this energy to turn the engine over and get it car started. If you put the key in the ignition, but only hear a click when you turn the key, you've got a problem with your starter.
How do you tell if it's your starter or ignition switch?
Test the Starter
It is under the hood , usually on the passenger side at the bottom of the motor next to the transmission. The ignition switch is a set of electrical contacts that activates the starter and usually is located on the steering column.
What are the signs of a bad ignition switch?
- Car Won't Start. If you turn your key and the car attempts to start, but fails, then you might have a broken ignition switch. ...
- Key Won't Turn. ...
- Car Stalls. ...
- No Noise From The Starter. ...
- Dashboard Lights Flicker.
What are signs that your fuel pump is going out?
- Sputtering Engine. Your fuel pump is telling you something if your engine starts to sputter once you've hit the top speed on the highway. ...
- Overheating Engine. ...
- Low Fuel Pressure. ...
- Power Loss. ...
- Surging Engine. ...
- Gas Mileage Decrease. ...
- Dead Engine.
What are the signs of a bad battery?
- Dim headlights. If your car battery is failing, it's not going to be able to fully power your vehicle's electrical components – including your headlights. ...
- Clicking sound when you turn the key. ...
- Slow crank. ...
- Needing to press on the gas pedal to start. ...
- Backfiring.
What do I do if my car wont start but the battery works?
Dead Battery
Once you have your car jump-started, the alternator should recharge the battery as long as the car is running. If this problem happens frequently, you may be able to help the problem by cleaning out any corrosion that has gathered around the battery terminals.
Why would a car not start if the battery is good?
Another common reason for your car won't start, but the battery is good is a bad starter . Your vehicle's starter is responsible for transferring the electrical current received by the battery to the starter solenoid to crank the engine and get it going. ... Your engine will not start. Your engine might crank very slowly.
How do you diagnose a car that won't start?
- 1) Is the engine cranking? ...
- 2) Check the trouble code memory. ...
- 3) Check the crankshaft/camshaft sensors. ...
- 4) Check the fuel pressure. ...
- 5) Check the spark from the ignition coil. ...
- 6) Check if the injectors are opening. ...
- 7) Check the crankshaft/camshaft timing. ...
- 8) Check compression/leak down test.
What causes no crank no start?
If the fuel pump is not working correctly , the engine won't be able to run, and it will shut off. If the fuel pump, fuel injector, or fuel filter is damaged, this can cause the no crank/no start condition. ... You also should check the fuel filter, as that could be the main problem.
