Suzuki alto refuses to start why?

Answer 1

Check the battery condition visually.

If you see any acid leaks, cracks or any other damage - replace the battery. Make sure the battery terminals are tight and not corroded. Corroded terminals will cause many troubles.

To start the engine, the battery, the starter and the starter circuit should be OK.

If the engine won't start - there's no magic - one of these things is probably missing. Most often it's a spark- or fuel- related problem, but often it could be very simple things like dead battery.

If the car won't start, check simple things first:

Make sure you have a fuel in the tank, oil in the engine and the battery is OK

Discharged or dead battery is one of the possible reasons for a car not to start. Very common is situation when we forget to turn lights OFF overnight (for example, dome light) which causes the battery to discharge. In this case when attempting to start a car, all you will probably hear will be clicking noise - there won't be enough power to turn the starter. Here is the simple way to check if the battery is discharged: Turn the ignition on, with the engine off, switch the windshield wipers on. If they move way too slowly, much slower than usual, the battery is probably discharged.

If the battery is relatively new, it can be recharged. All you need to do is to boost your car and let the engine run for a while to charge the battery.

However if your battery is more than three - four years old, you will probably need to buy a new one. Sometimes, an old battery may even die with no apparent reason, even if day before it was OK.

Now simply answer the questions, press "Yes" or "No" (If it's blue, follow the link).

- Do you hear the cranking sound when you're trying to start your car? (Yes No )

- When you switch the ignition ON before starting a car, does the "check engine" light come ON? (Yes No )

If you don't hear the cranking sound when you're trying to start your car, means that starter doesn't work - something could be wrong with the starter, starter wires, relay, or the battery is dead. Also check battery terminals, they could be corroded or loose.

- When you switch the ignition ON, do you hear fuel pump buzzing sound from the gas tank area? (Yes No )

When you switch the ignition ON before starting the car the "Check engine" light supposed to come ON indicating that engine computer is powered. If you won't see the "Check engine" light after switching the ignition ON, there is no power coming to the engine computer. It might be a broken wire (common problem on 2001 - 2002 Nissan Sentra, for example) or faulty relay, burnt fuse, etc.

Before your engine died, did you experience any prior events such as:

- leaving the lights ON overnight (Yes No)

- driving through a deep puddle, or washing the engine compartment? (Yes No)

- trying a jump start? (Yes No)

- having only a little fuel in a tank? (Yes No)

- having had the engine repaired recently? (Yes No)

If your vehicle's engine was repaired just before it died, call back to the repair shop and ask them to check it. May be they just forgot something to connect back.

- the engine was overheated? (Yes No)

If the engine died after it overheated and won't start even after its temperature is reduced, there is probably a severe engine problem (like broken pistons, blown head gasket, etc.). Check the coolant level. It should be between "low" and "full" marks in the expansion tank (look at the image). If it is too low, add a coolant fluid. Even If the engine starts after the temperature is reduced, you have to find reason of the overheating, because the engine overheating may result in serious engine damage. Have your car inspected by the mechanic.

- extremely low oil pressure? (Yes No)

- unusual noises such as knocking, pinging, whistling? (Yes No)

- smoking from exhaust pipe? (Yes No)

- strong smell of a gas? (Yes No)

- black smoke means the engine runs very rich - too much gasoline goes to the engine which most likely means there is something wrong with fuel- or ignition system. For example this may happen when one or two cylinders misfire.

- stinky blue or white-blue smoke means burning oil as result of serious internal engine defect (like broken pistons or piston rings).

Now, let's try again. Turn off the radio, try to crank the engine one more time, and listen carefully. Is the cranking sounds different than it used to be? If it's different, does it looks like the engine being cranked by the starter too slowly? (Yes No)

If you note, that the engine is not being turned over by the starter or being turned over too slowly, it may be because of a(n):

- discharged battery

- a starter defect

- bad connection with the battery terminals

- internal engine defect (bad oil, lack of the oil, etc.)

Is the engine being cranked too fast? (Yes No)

If while cranking the engine is turning over too fast, it means there is probably no compression in the cylinders. It could happen because of engine internal problem (broken pistons, or valves) or if the timing belt breaks or jumps.

If still on midway contact a mechanic soon