When your automobile won't start, conduct some preliminary troubleshooting. Although you may be able to address some of the more common issues on your own, such as a dead car battery or cold engine oil, specific scenarios necessitate a professional or roadside assistance intervention. Your car's sound can indicate what's wrong under the hood and if you should contact a tow truck or try to fix it yourself. Read on to learn more in this article of shine armor blog!
Troubleshooting Car Starting Issues
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Here are some of the common problems;
Cranking at Breakneck Speed with a Revolving Noise
A faulty timing belt is a possible cause. The engine's top and bottom halves are no longer joined together. Because some valves are still open, the pistons can move up and down faster than usual. You should immediately cease cranking and contact a towing service; this is a dire situation. Maintaining your vehicle regularly should include changing the timing belt to help avoid this issue.
The Sound of a Clicking Engine
Perhaps it has anything to do with the battery being low. What you should do is activate the headlights. Bright illumination indicates a healthy battery; clicking sounds indicate a loose connection or a malfunctioning starter. If the lights only turn on softly, the battery is probably weak and needs to be jumped.
There is No Sound and No Light
It could be a problem with the battery connection. Examine the cable connections at the battery. They may appear in good condition, but try twisting and turning them by hand; if possible, the connection is loose. Remove them, wipe them down with a paper towel or rag, reconnect, and try again. Also, it could be a dead battery. What you should do is try a jump start. You'll need wires and someone with a car to connect your batteries to theirs.
There is No Sound, Yet the Dashboard Lights Illuminate
It could be that the vehicle is not in park or neutral or that the park position switch on the side of the transmission has failed. Change the gear to neutral and try starting the car by pressing the brake pedal.
It could be a faulty starter motor, a faulty ignition switch, or faulty connections that connect the ignition to the starter. Request a tow and get to a repair shop as soon as possible.
It could be a key fob issue, such as a malfunctioning transponder or a dead battery. There should be a way to start your car even if the battery in the fob is entirely dead. Consult your owner's manual.
A Crank That Makes a Grinding Noise
It's possible that the starter isn't engaging the flywheel. It could be a key fob issue, such as a malfunctioning transponder or a dead battery. Even if the fob's battery is completely dead, you should be able to start your car. Consult your owner's manual. Turn the key on and off three to four times; the flywheel should catch and start. However, this indicates that you have damaged teeth on your flywheel, so take your automobile to a mechanic immediately.
Car Won't Start Tips
Here is a list of tactics or tips to try if your car won't start, and none of them need any tools. They're organized by symptom, and you have nothing to lose by giving them a shot if your car cranks but won't start. Of course, these won't cure the underlying issue, but one might get the engine started so you can get to the nearest mechanic to fix it. Here are some tips you can try if your automobile won't start;
Try Pressing the "Start" Button
Try banging on the starter motor with the tire iron from your car jack if you can get to it. Tapping on the electrical contacts will sometimes get them unstuck.
Toggle the Gear Shift Lever
Shift into neutral by pushing the brake, then try to start the engine. Try putting it in park again if that doesn't work. Shifting gears can restore power when the neutral safety switch (transmission range selector) loses contact.
Striking the Gas Tank Might Help
The fuel pump motor can be jarred into working order by repeatedly striking the bottom of the fuel tank. The next step is to try to start the car.
If the Engine Turns Over but Won't Start
Try changing the relays around. Turn the key to the run position without the radio on and wait for a buzzing sound to last two seconds. The sound you hear is the fuel pump pressurizing the fuel injectors. If the gasoline pump isn't making any noise, the relay is broken, or the pump is dying.
To begin, consult your owner's manual or the legend on the fuse box cover beneath the hood to see where the fuel pump relay is located. Lift the relay for the gas tank's fuel pump. Find a different relay with the same component number, then switch it out with the gas tank. Just drop it in the hole. Afterward, try cranking the engine again. Lastly, call a tow truck if you've tried everything else and still can't get your car going.
