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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.
5,524 Questions
What are the signs of a bad alternator in a Ford Expedtion?
A bad alternator will not give proper power to the vehicle. Dim lights, buzz in the stereo or a dead battery could all be causes of a bad alternator.
Is there any other reason the car won't start in the morning other than fuel system or battery?
Of course, there are other possible reasons that your car won't start.
Won't-start symptoms Are !Your car may not start for a number of reasons. The following list outlines the most common circumstances and tells you what action you can take to try to remedy each situation:- The car is silent when you turn the key in the ignition.Check the battery terminal cable connections. If they look very corroded, force the point of a screwdriver (with an insulated or wooden handle) between the connector and the terminal post and twist it to lodge it firmly. Then try to start the engine. If it starts, you need to clean or replace your cables.
- The car makes a clicking noise but won't start. This sound usually means a dead battery. If not, check the wiring to and from the starter for a loose connection.
- The car cranks over but won't start. Check the fuel supply to your engine. If that's okay, check whether the electrical spark is getting.
- The engine starts but dies. If your car has a carburetor, check your carburetor adjustment and your choke to see whether the choke is first closing and then opening. If you have fuel injection, you'll need professional help.
- The car won't start on rainy days. Check inside the distributor cap for dampness. If you find moisture, get some mechanic's solvent from your friendly service station - they use it to clean car parts - or buy an aerosol can of it at an auto supply store. To evaporate any dampness inside the distributor cap, turn the cap upside down and pour or spray some solvent into it. Swish it around and pour it out. Then dry the cap as best you can with a clean, lint-free rag and replace the cap.
- The car won't start on cold mornings. For vehicles with carburetors,check the choke. Is it closed? Does it open? If you have fuel injection, you'll need to have a professional diagnose the cold-start problems.
- The engine misses while idling. Check the points (if your car has a non-electronic distributor) and the spark plugs. Also check the fuel pump, fuel filter, and carburetor, if you have one.
- The engine misses or hesitates during acceleration.Check the accelerator pump in the carburetor (if equipped), the spark plugs, the distributor, and the timing.
- The engine knocks or pings. Check your timing; also check the octane rating of the fuel you're using. The owner's manual can tell you whether your vehicle needs regular unleaded or premium gasoline. Check the cooling system. Do a compression check on the engine cylinders.
Make sure the Car is in PARK, if it is in gear like Drive or Reverse, the Car won't start even if the battery and starter are fine.
Why won't your 2002 escort zx2 start with a new battery No lights will come on no power at all?
Have you tested the battery to see if it has power in it?
If it has have you made sure the contacts are good?
If they are is there a fuse that has blown.
Why wont your car turn over and start right away but after about 2 attempts it does?
Can be partially clogged fuel filter or a weak fuel pump this is about to fail. There are other things that can cause this but these are the main causes.
Check for loose or corroded battery cables Could be alternator is not fully charging battery - check with a voltmeter A fully charged battery should read approx. 12.8 volts without engine running - should read approx 13.8-14.2 with engine running Could be a bad starter or starter solenoid
Why Car doesn't start right away and smeels like gas after starting?
Check fuel injectors & or fuel pump.
Do you keep foot on gas pedal when starting cold car?
It may be different between cars but I generally find after starting the engine, give it a slow rev. before letting it idle. revving a cold car will use a fair bit of fuel. It's not so much about keeping foot on the gas when you start, just don't push the car in it's first few minutes as it's heating up (as you are driving), just drive efficiently.
this is just the case with my 1991 940 GL. hope it helped.
Al Sez;
You should not need to "give it some gass" with a fuel injected engine.
On the other hand I have lived for 30 years where it never gets below freezing. Practical experience in say Alaska may prove me wrong.
Won't start in damp weather 2003 dodge ram 2500 with 5.2 liter motor backfires?
Most likely you are in need of a tune up. When distributor caps and spark plug wires get old, they can leak and in wet or damp weather, the spark intended for one cylinder can jump to the wrong terminal under the cap or from one plug wire to an adjacent wire, sending spark to the wrong cylinder at the wrong time. If it won't start and it's dark,sometimes you can look under the hood and see the spark jumping around where it doesn't belong (to ground-the motor). Change the cap, rotor, wires, and plugs and you should be fine.
The problem could be with your cellunoid. They wear out. Its the part that produces the spark.
You replaced the Fuel pump for 1991 ford tempo and it still wont start?
If the steering wheel is being pulled to the side (like maybe up against a curb) it could cause the keyswitch to be VERY difficult to turn. Try even pressure on the keyswitch while you work the wheel from side to side.
97 Chevy venture wont start unless gas pedal is pressed and held a 2k idle?
Check the throttle position sensor or the idle control motor
check the solenoid wire at started for power when switch at start position.
If no power, check neutral safety switch, or main ignition switch on steering column under dash.
NOT the key tumbler assembly it has a rod that goes down column to the ignition switch
You must leave the key in the ignition on the "run position" for 15 minites until the theft light stops flashing then you are able to start the car (if you try to start the car before that you will have to start the time and process over again). If you have a aftermarket alarm in the vehicle you must disable the stock alarm through your dealer. if that is not the situation i would check the starter, wireing on the starter and or battery.
How do you replace at 1998 Toyota Camry Starter?
Very easy to do. Open the hood and work over the engine, not underneath the car. 1.) Loosen the terminal connectors and remove the battery from the battery tray. 2.) Remove the three bolts in the bottom of the battery tray. These hold the cruise control module in place. You will need to move the cruise control module out of the way to get to the starter which is underneath and attached to the engine block. 3.) There are two connectors on the starter that need to be unattached. One is attached to the negative terminal on the battery, remove the bolt holding it onto the starter. The other connector simply needs to be unplugged. 4.) Remove the two bolts that hold the starter to the engine block. I believe these are 10mm bolts. Remove the old starter by pulling it out horizontally and up. It is tight but it will come out. 5.) Put new (rebuilt) starter in following the directions in reverse. Remember to get the core charge money back when you take the old starter back to auto parts dealer. SUGGESTION: The above answer was very helpful for me, but you may consider doing step 4 before step 3. Disconnecting the negative terminal from the old starter was very difficult due to the placement of the bolt. After I got the starter off the engine block the bolt is right there. It would have been impossible to reconnect the terminal to the new starter after it was bolted in place.
Alternator Starter parts for Do It Yourself repairs?
Contact your local auto parts store, they will have or can get you the parts needed.
The car makes no sound at all when trying to start it?
Have someone test your battery with a load tester.
Why is my car not turning over?
Bad starter, or dead battery. :) Or you could have a bad wiring connection. Oh yes, and your starter switch (where you put your key) could be going bad.
How do you know if there is a chip in your car key?
If the plastic portion you grip is grey in color on the original you had or have now, that's pretty much a dead giveaway that yes you do have a coded chip key. I'd call your dealership and ask to be sure. If you need to get a second key made, don't pay outrageous dealership prices, when you can get a set from ebay at about $9.00. I needed to do this myself when my ignition switch failed. The dealership was going to charge $199.99 for just the keys! I was able to get the switch as well for less then half the price. Only warning is to never by china knock offs. This goes for any auto part needed for repair. Frills like cool seat covers? Well, you may be okay there.
Take the key to the Walmart auto section where they make keys. They can test it and tell you if it has a chip.
What could be wrong if you installed a new battery but the car will not start?
No modern vehicle with electronic systems will be able to start if you have fitted the battery the wrong way round - i.e. it should not have its positive terminal connected to the car's chassis and its negative teminal connected to the main 12 volt terminals on the starter and fuse box - so it is worth making certain that you know exactly which post on the battery is positive and which is negative and which cables have to be connected to each post.
Assuming the engine usually started reliably before the battery failed and that you made sure the new battery was fully charged-up before before you installed it - and that the battery has been fitted the right way round - then bad connections are the most likely reason the engine won't start.
Safety Advice
To avoid getting accidental sparks or bad shorts, which could easily melt your tools as well as give you a nasty burn - or even start a very dangerous situation if ever the battery's leads catch on fire - it is highly recommended that you fully disconnect both sets of leads from the + and - battery posts before you disconnect and re-connect any other leads elsewhere around the engine.
The next thing to do is: undo, clean and re-connect tightly all the terminal posts and terminal eyes for the ground leads you can see connected between the battery, the starter motor and the car's firewall and frame/chassis. Then clean and re-connect the leads to the battery posts.
If the engine still won't start, again fully-disconnect both sets of leads from the + and - battery posts and undo, clean and re-connect tightly all the other (non-grounded) terminal posts and terminal eye connections for all the other leads going between the battery and the starter and all other ignition and injection devices around the engine. Then once again clean and re-connect the leads to the battery posts.
If all those connections are definitely good - cleaned and tightened - but the car still won't start:
- if the starter motor is definitely turning:
- either the fuse feeding the spark-ignition system has blown
or, if that fuse is ok:
- there could be problems with the spark-ignition system (ignition coil and/or electronics) if it is a gas/petrol engine
OR
- either the fuse feeding the fuel injection management system has blown
or, if that fuse is ok:
- there could be problems with the fuel injection management system
(e.g. for a diesel engine or a gas/petrol engine having fuel injectors and no carburettor)
or
- there could be problems with the engine control/management unit (ECU)
- if the starter motor is not turning:
- either (if you don't get any "clicks" from the starter motor's solenoid) the fuse feeding the starter solenoid has blown and needs to be replaced
or, if that fuse is ok:
- (if you only get "clicks" from the starter motor's solenoid) the starter motor and/or its solenoid may need to be repaired or replaced.
- either (if you don't get any "clicks" from the starter motor's solenoid) the fuse feeding the starter solenoid has blown and needs to be replaced
Why would the battery come on but the engine not crank over on a 1994 Buick Park Avenue?
you have two systems that turn over a motor it could be your battery but it sounds like the starter or something in that system like the silinoid or starter relay or it could be just a loose or damaged wire.
