What To Check When Your Car Won't Start: Part I
by admin on Nov.10, 2008, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
What To Check When Your Car Won’t Start: Part I
When you turn the ignition and your car fails to start, the feeling is a mixture of dread and growing anger. Not only is the problem inconvenient, but it all but promises a large repair bill. The fact is, there’s a lot that could be causing the problem. Unless you’re a trained mechanic, identifying and fixing the problem yourself may not be feasible. That said, if you approach the issue methodically, you may actually find the root of the problem. Below, I’ll provide a bird’s eye view of how you can troubleshoot a car that refuses to start.
Start Simple
Even veteran technicians will first look at potential causes that are both simple and obvious. You should do the same. Begin by looking for buildup on the battery posts. Grime and corrosive material can accumulate over time. When it does, it can prevent your battery from sending a current to your starting system. Disconnect the cables and clean the part that connects to your battery’s posts. Then, clean the posts themselves. Reconnect the cables and try starting your car again.
It’s also possible that your battery has died. You can measure the ampage or have someone jump start your car to verify whether that’s the problem.
Next In Line
Assuming your battery is not causing the starting problem, you’ll need to check the ignition switch. It’s not as difficult as many people think. Stick the key into the ignition and turn it halfway. In this position, you should see warning lights on your dashboard. If you don’t, that implies that the ignition switch is malfunctioning.
Another way to check it is to turn your car’s lights on and then attempt to start the engine. If there’s a reduction in the light output, it’s likely that your ignition switch is not the problem. However, if there’s no change in the light output, you’ll probably need a new switch.
Check The Starter
Next, test your starter’s connection. As part of your car’s electrical system, it’s susceptible to the buildup of corrosion (similar to your battery’s posts). If you see any corrosive material, try to clean it off. Then, use a circuit tester to check whether the starter is receiving a current. If it is, but you don’t notice anything moving, you may have just identified the reason why your car isn’t starting.
Part II: Coming Soon
The car parts that I’ve described above are the easiest to check when your car won’t start. Believe it or not, checking the battery, ignition, and starter resolves the problem in a huge number of cases. However, it’s also possible that the reason your car won’t start is found deeper under the hood. In part II, we’ll explore some of these potential roadblocks.