Anyone who has owner a car for any length of time has had this experience. You stick the key in your ignition, turn it and nothing happens. It is something that always seems to happen right before you have to head off to work or make that all important appointment. A car that won’t start is one of the most frustrating experiences any car owner could ever have happen to them.
Before you begin your anger fueled tirade however, it is important that you take a time out and carefully thing about the problem before you. There is a specific reason why your vehicle won’t start and most of the time it is something that is very easy to fix. Today we are going to cover the top reasons why your car won’t start, as well as give you some quick fixes to get you on your way.
1. Your Battery Is Dead
While this may seem to be a no-brainer, it does warrant a mention. If you turn your key and the car just makes a clicking sound, then you have fallen victim to a dead battery. Your battery requires a sufficient charge to turn over your engine and if it doesn’t have it, then your car won’t start. Try turning on your headlights to see if they come on. If they don’t, then either replace the battery or get someone to jump your car. [editor's note : Costco sells a jump starter that actually works pretty well].
2. Loose Or Damaged Battery Connections
Another thing that may prevent your car from starting is a loose or damaged battery connection. Pop your hood and make sure that all of the connections to your battery are snug and that their isn’t a large amount of corrosion on them. Also check to make sure that your battery cables aren’t torn or frayed. If the problem is that the connections or terminals have too much corrosion on them, you can easily clean them with a commercial cleaner or even cola, in a pinch.
3. Blown Fuse
Many times the problem can be simple as something as a blown fuse. Check out your fuses and replace any that may need to be replaced. This step may require you to refer to your owner’s manual to identify the fuses in question.
4. Check Fuel
Like the battery issue, this one may seem basic but is worth investigating. If there isn’t enough gas in the car, then the car won’t start. Check to make sure their is gas in your car. If you smell gasoline, then you might want to check the underside of the car to make sure that the gas tank hasn’t been compromised. One final thing to consider for this step concerns older vehicles. Owners of older vehicles should check the carburetor and make sure it isn’t flooded.
5. Check To Make Sure Car Is In Park
Some people don’t realize that the transmission usually has to be in park in order to start. Even when it looks like it is in park it may not be in park, so be sure to check this out to see if that is the case.
This concludes the list of the top reasons why your car won’t start. In 99% of the cases this list will usually solve your problem and allow you to hit the road. If you try these steps and still can’t find the solution to your problem, then it may be time to secure the services of your local mechanic.
About the Author
Christian Glover has been involved in the automotive industry for forty years. Christian was an auto mechanic for the first ten years of his working life, and has since gone on to become an auto insurance broker at Kanetix. Keeping your car in proper running order will save you money on repairs, and can prevent accidents. This saves money on insurance expenses over the long haul.
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