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Car Starting Problems

Some of the common car starting problems stem from a discharged battery, a bad fuel pump (or no fuel), a weakened starter motor, or a broken electrical connection. Checking each part will help troubleshoot why the car won’t start.

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How do you change the battery on a 2003 Cadillac CTS?

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Asked by Wiki User

Make sure the keys are out of the ignition first. Then check to see if your vehicle has any braces holding it in place. Once you've taken any braces off, disconnect the ground wire(black), it useally takes a 1/2 inch wrench. Then take your hot wire off(red). These are all the workings of a person being self sufficient. Good luck.

Where is a fuel pump relay on a Opel Astra?

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Asked by Wiki User

The fuel pump relay is situaded behind a cover next to your pedals on the right hand side.If you removed it you will find your computer box allso there that's on the astra F so I hope it will help

Why does a Saturn L300 stall but restart after a little wait?

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Asked by Wiki User

i too had the same problem with my L300. after about a year of this problem i replaced the crankshaft position sensor...it was extremely easy to do myself. the car has not acted up since. hope this helps.

After two weeks of the fuel pump constantly running today i went through a puddle and the 1993 Chevy G-20 V8 van shut off and wont start again whats wrong?

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Asked by Wiki User

bad ignition switch. the fuel pump will not turn on unless the key is in the ignition and in the on position. your battery is probably not strong enough to trn over a starter or the pump itself has shorted out from an issue before or at the sending unit

Why might a 1990 Mercedes 300e not start?

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Asked by Wiki User

I had this problem that was intermittant on my 1992 300E. after alot of searching, they discovered it was a crankcase sensor that was broken. does not show up on computer. it only happened when the engine was warm. the car would shut off after i had driven it 10 miles and would not restart till it cooled down. ANSWER 2 I think you will need to give LOT more information than this. Dead battery, corrosion built up on battery terminals, dead fuel pump, bad sensor, blown fuse, blown wiring, corroded wiring, bad distributor, bad spark plugs, out of gas, clogged fuel injectors, blown motor, dead cat caught in your belts, packrat taken up residence in your crank case, you ran it with no oil and it has seized up, I mean I could really go on and on. Please give specifics.

1999 neon new starter just clicks?

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Asked by Wiki User

If you have already replaced the battery, then you have a few other things to look at.

  • It could be the starter itself
  • it could be the starter solenoid which might be integrated with the starter or mounted somewhere in the engine compartment. You can find it by tracing the thick positive wire (red - about the size of a finger) to where it goes. If it goes directly to the starter then the solenoid is integrated and more difficult to test
  • It could be the positive wire itself and is not making a good connection to the battery or starter/starter solenoid
  • It could also be the ground wire (Black - about the size of a finger). If this wire is not making a good connection from the battery to the engine block, it will keep the starter from working

I would start with the wires, making sure you have a good connection and then work your way to the starter. The clicking is usually a result of the starter not getting enough current to crank the engine.

Why does a 1996 Ford Ranger XLT 4.0L start when you cross the posts on its solenoid but not when you turn the key in the ignition?

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Asked by Jwm00

the solenoid itself is probably bad, if not that probably the ignition switch I agree 100%, check the solenoid first then the switch.

You have a 1991 Plymouth voyager se and it turns over but wont start we have checked all the fuses and cant seem to come up with anything we checked for spark and have none what else should we check?

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Asked by Wiki User

Go back to the basics, look at fuel delivery, ignition and compression. If you have all 3 and everything is adjusted properly, the engine will start. Try spraying a little starting fluid into the air intake while someone is trying to start the engine. If the engine briefly catches while you're spraying starting fluid, the problem is fuel delivery.

Where is the starter on a 2002 Saturn vue 4 cylinder?

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Asked by Wiki User

The starter on the 2002 Saturn vue is located on the front underside of the engine, follow the positive(red) cable from the battery and it should connect to the solenoid which is part of the starter.

What happens if the crankshaft positioning sensor fails?

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Asked by Wiki User

If your car uses VVT(Variable Valve Timing) or adjusts its ignition timing it could cause poor fuel economy, misfires, keep the car from starting. If the car is fuel injected the timing of the injectors is tied in with that too. In short nothing could, if the car manages to keep running it could lead to a blown motor depending on how you drive.

What is problem when my 2000 jeep Cherokee won't start because the Key won't turn and ignition is locked up?

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Asked by Wiki User

Try tuging on the steering wheel while trying to turn the key. Check the position of the front wheels, they can transmit tension back up the steering colum and lick the ignition switch.

Car will not start after replacing harmonic balance and crank sensor?

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Asked by Wiki User

Some cats can go on either way but some can't did you put it on the right way

Could a bad key switch cause the positive battery terminal to get hot?

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Asked by Wiki User

No, the battery terminal should be able to handle as much electrical current as the vehicle should ever use, WITHOUT heating up. Clean or replace any battery terminal that is getting hot.

What makes steering wheel shake when stepping on the brakes?

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Asked by Wiki User

If its shaking side to side could be a tire out of balance or maybe a mechanical issue (wheel bearing, alignment, etc). Probably not a safety issue, but it can wear the tires out prematurely which can be expensive. Warped brake rotors are the most likely cause if the steering wheel only shakes when applying the brakes.

How to tell if fuel pump is bad on a 2001 for Taurus?

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Asked by Wiki User

Park the car is a quiet location and turn the ignition key on but do not start the engine. Listen carefully for the sound of the fuel pump. It will run for a few seconds and then shut down which is normal. If you do not hear the pump, either the pump is bad, the fuse is blown, or the fuel pump relay is defective. You may also hear the pump and it can still be pumping with so low a pressure as to be defective. Make sure your problem is not a clogged fuel filter. Replace the filter asap. If the car has over 100,000 miles on the Odometer you probably need a new pump, especially if you have neglected to replace the fuel filter every 50,000 miles. A clogged fuel filter will burn a fuel pump up very quickly.

Where is starter located for 2001 Dodge Caravan?

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Asked by Wiki User

Its at the front of the engine, low down just on driver side of centre of car. You have to be on the ground to see it.

Your 17 hp Briggs stratton engine on your craftsman lawn tractor makes a clicking sound but won't start any advice?

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Asked by Wiki User

That question will need much more detail before it can be answered. For an engine to run it needs fuel, air and spark. Without knowing which of these the engine has or does not have the question can't be answered.

1984 Cadillac Sedan De Ville will turn over but won't start what should i do?

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Asked by Wiki User

If by nothing you mean it acks as though there is no battery in the car try this it worked on my (1990 DEVILLE ). Put the car in park ,Attach a remote starter switch to the starter,remove the air cleaner,turn the key to the on position, put approx one teaspoon of gas in the intake manifoil throat and try to start the engin using the remote starter. If the car starts the problem is somewhere in the pass key decoder circuit which includes the starter enable relay ,the fuel pump relay,key warning ,seat belt warning ETC. Your car has on onboard diagnostic computer which will give basic problem codes you can find out what the codes mean in a Haynes Repair Manual for your car. I repaired my car by bypassing the starter enable relay and the car works fine (but if the battery is disconnected for any reason I must charge the engine with a teaspoon of gas to restart the car GOOD LUCK a repair is $600+

What is wrong if the starter clicks but won't start if the radio works so it can't be the battery and it has a new starter?

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Asked by Wiki User

Why CAN'T it be the battery? The radio uses far less electrical energy than does the starter. To KNOW that it's not the battery, use a volt meter and have someone attempt to start the engine while you hold the voltmeter contacts to the battery posts. If the voltage drops below about 10 VDC, it's probably a discharged or faulty battery.

Try jump starting it and see if that solves the problem.

If you can get the engine started, use the voltmeter again and see what the operating voltage is. You should get about 13.5 to 14.5 VDC if your alternator is functioning properly.

If you've isolated all other possibilities, it's probably the starter solenoid. It's integral to the starer so unless you've rebuilt starters in the past, don't bother getting a new one.

But before you just throw replacement parts at the problem, CHECK FIRST! Make sure that's what's really wrong.

A car uses too much oil when what parts are worn?

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Asked by Wiki User

If your car is using to much oil, you'll need to find out if your oil is leaking or not. If the oil is leaking out and this is the cause of the lowering of the oil level, you may have a worn gasket or plug in your sump, sump gasket, engine head gasket ect. If your oil is not leaking, but being burnt by your engine, the most common cause is the rings on your pistons are worn. This will cause oil to get past the sealling surfaces of your piston rings and enter the combustion chamber where it is burnt along with the fuel. The tell tale sign for this is excess exhaust smoke. The smoke will also be a blue colour.

What would cause car to slow down lose velocity and not start?

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Asked by Wiki User

It could be fuel vaporisation if the engine gets hot and the fuel vapourizes out of the float chamber.To fix it direct cool air from the front of the car onto the carbs.hope this may have helped