What To Check When Your Car Won't Start – Part II
by admin on Nov.10, 2008, under Car Maintenance, Car Tips
What To Check When Your Car Won’t Start – Part II
There are plenty of parts under the hood that can prevent your car from starting. When any of them act up, locating the cause of the problem can be difficult. Last time, I described how the problem could potentially be with your battery, ignition switch, or a malfunctioning starter. Those parts are usually the easiest to check which is why mechanics often recommending checking them first.
But, let’s assume that your battery is fully-charged, and your starter and ignition switch are working properly. What else could be causing the issue? Today, I’ll describe a few more car parts that you should check while hunting for the problem.
The Ignition System
In most cases, the reason why your car won’t start is because the engine is not receiving an electrical current. Specifically, the spark is probably not being created. The next stop is your car’s ignition system. The first part of the system you’ll want to check is the ignition coil. Ideally, you should test it with a multimeter. As long as you know the resistance specs of your coil, you can use the multimeter to measure its ability to carry a current.
The next component to check is your car’s distributor cap. In my experience, the cap is seldom the problem. That said, it’s not uncommon for moisture to collect during the rainy season. It’s possible for this moisture to prevent the voltage transfer. Take the cap off and wipe it down to get rid of any moisture.
The Fuel System
By now, most of the easy parts have been checked. If you haven’t found the problem in your car’s ignition system, it’s likely in the fuel system. Checking the system completely will require taking you car to a repair shop. However, there are a few components that you can check at home. A lot of cars today have fuel injection systems. Before anything else, check all of the connections to make sure they’re snug. If they are, pressure test your fuel pump if you have the tools (most people don’t). If you don’t have the tools, a mechanic will need to do it.
Next, put your key in the ignition and put it in the “on” position. Then, use a circuit tester to measure whether the electrical current in the fuel pump is sufficient. If the tester identifies a current, the reason your car won’t start may be because of a bad pump relay. If you’ve checked all of those things without finding a problem, the fuel filter might be backed up or blocked. They’re inexpensive (usually under $20), so consider replacing it.
At this point, there’s very little else that you can diagnose at home. You probably won’t have the necessary tools you’ll need to check other components and parts. But, many of the issues that prevent cars from starting can be traced to the parts that I’ve described in this article and in the previous installment. If you can fix the problem on your own, you’ll save time and money.