Car Starting Problems

If you don't have spark at the plugs, or at the distributor cap, the problem is probably a faulty ignition module. This is located under the distributor cap and ignition rotor. You need test equipment to check the coils, modules and pole pieces.

The best answer is to follow the recommendations for maintenance in your particular car's owner's manual. A rule of thumb is every 30,000 miles for standard plugs and 60,000 for platinum or other precious metal plugs.

Don't forget the ignition system's secondary wiring. Worn plugs and damaged wires can cause ignition coils and other ignition components to fail prematurely.

1. Battery is weak
2. Battery posts are dirty and not allowing good connection
3. Wires are not in good condition
4. Bad ground to engine from battery
5. Wire not tight on starter
6. Solenoid is defective (on fords and other cars with separate solenoids)
7. Defective starter (even new ones can be. I bought a bad one in Sept.)

These answers by mechanics about dead batteries are amazing me. I am a girl...really into cars because I have had a few. I just had this problem in my 1989 classic Saab. The problem is your starter...The clicking sound means that the pin inside of the starter is not projecting itself and thats why when you turn your key you hear a clicking. Get your starter tested

Any car after going through deep water will have problems starting.

cars aren't meant to be used as boats without proper protection, which could be costly.

cars need oxygen and gas to run (obviously), they take in air just like a motor bike.

you most likely flooded the entire engine with muddy water.

Your car requires three things to run. Air, fuel, and a spark. So the most logical way to figure it out is make sure it is getting all three. The actual method you choose can be dependent on the car you have. For instance, some cars have a fitting on the fuel rail to check for fuel pressure with a gauge.

I thought a full tank would help but after I filled the tank, the problem has WORSENED. Its very difficult to start it now as it knocks like crazy. The car idles smoothly sometimes esp. before engaging the drive gear, after that it simply stalls. If the filter is clogged then the car would not start at all. Right? Please suggest. Thanks. check to see if your fuel filter is clogged..also might need a fuel pump

The easiest and most accurate way to check the fuel pressure, on your 2001 Chrysler Town and Country is to use a diagnostic tester. The diagnostic tester will tell you the exact fuel pressure at various RPMs.

check all the fuses, check fuel pump, check power to ignition coils

You might also check to determine whether the timing chain is broken. Have had previous experience with cranking but no ignition with the timing chain as the culprit.There are many reasons on why it might not run, There are many sensors that might be the blame for the motor not to stay running. The crank position sensor or the cam position sensor which is located on your distributor. Your distributor cap and rotor can be worn. Your O2 sensors. Your throttle position sensor. All of these are ran by your computer(ECM), and if any go bad they can cause your computer to freak out and run very poorly or not run at all. I hope this has helped any if not at all.

Check your battery. Most likely the culprit is a dead battery. A quick check across its terminals with a voltmeter will tell you.

The easiest way to reset your car alarm system is to remove the car alarm system fuse. You can also remove the positive cable from the battery. In both cases return the component to its original position after 10 seconds.

it may be an electrical problem (personal experience ground wire from engine itself came loose, vehicle just cut off and would not start again) re attached the wire and work like a charm.2 years ago and still working. check your ground wires trace them to chasis or back to batery,check your fuel injection(if so equipped) also check your ignition system.

changed seliniod on starter and on firewall ,checked fuses still won't turn over, if I cross the upper seliniod with a screw driver it turns over but won't start?

With the car in the off position, remove the negative battery cable and use a multi-meter to test continuity between the positive battery terminal and the engine block. If there is continuity, you have a short.

Probably the battery or alternator. It could also be the starter malfunctioning but it is easier to check the cheapest and most accessible components first. Bring your battery to an NAPA Autoparts or similar and they will check it for free or even charge it up again. If it keep dying on you, then you have a problem with the electrical system. Next up on the list is the alternator. Take off the belt, unbolt the alternator and bring it to NAPA or similar again and they will test if it is broken or not. You can change it right there and bolt on the new one. Worst case your electrical system is shot and there is a fault somewhere in the system. Takes some time to find out the gremlin in the system, if you have the patience and the tools (electrical tester, light, etc...) then you might want to do it yourself. Otherwise, if you have exhausted all the options above, your only two choices are replace the wiring harness, (about 70-200 usd depending on car and maker) or bring it to a shop and ask them to figure it out, but make sure you tell them what you did and checked for so that they wont check over what you already replaced/fixed and waste time and money. Good luck.

The reason is: When you completely run out of gas your gas lines are completely drained of fuel. When you refuel the car the fuel lines are still empty, and you will need to crank the car until the fuel pump has filled the gas lines and established the correct fuel pressure. it's possible you burnt up the fuel pump running it with no gas.

This problem is caused by the GM Theftlock system which is a security system that whenever the ignition is tampered with the vehicle cuts off fuel and refuses to start. The problem with this system is that there seems to be an issue in many GM vehicles where the system is faulty and constantly is tripping the system at random leaving owners stranded. The quick solution that is located in your owners manual is to leave your key in the "ON" position for appx 10 minutes until the "Security" or "Theft System" light stop blinking and become solid... then turn the key to "OFF" and attempt to restart the vehicle. This has never failed for me.. but is becoming annoying. My mother drives a 2004 Grand Am SE1 V6 and it has just started this problem... also I own a 2002 Chevrolet Malibu which started with this problem a few years ago which finally got fixed when I had my mechanic completely replace and re-key my ignition.. which may not be a solution for everyone.. but I am glad it worked for me.

Won't turn over?

1-Bad starter

2-No power to starter: discharged battery, bad battery or loose connection

3-No signal to starter: bad ignition switch or starter relay or blown fuse or security

4-Engine stuck: Belt driven accessory problem (remove belts) or hydraulic lock (remove spark plugs) or seized engine or transmission problem

1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2 clockwise rotation

facing front of motor drivers side cylinder id 1 3 5 7

passenger side 2 4 6 8 1 8 4 3 6 5 7 2 clockwise

If you mean the starter will not turn over the engine, check the battery. vbd

Ford cars have always had very poor tolerances, they are smokers. not very reliable at all.

It is part of the fuel pump module in the tank.

replace starter motor

Check voltage AT THE STARTER SOLENOID. If there is a good connection at the LARGE connector to the starter solenoid, next check the voltage from the keyswitch to the small wire on the starter solenoid. That's the cylindrical thing attached to the starter. If you have voltage to the small solenoid wire when someone engages the starter at the keyswitch, AND you have a good connection directly from the battery to the Solenoid AND the battery is fully charged and the starter still doesn't engage; you need a starter. On the other hand, if you're not getting voltage to that small wire it could be that you have a problem with the neutral safety switch. Try messing with the shift lever while you hold the keyswitch to the start position. If the starter briefly engages when you do that, it's the safety switch. On the other hand, it could STILL be the safety switch.

It really hurts your truck to run it out of diesel fuel. But if you do find the need to do so, lets take these steps every time this happens. 1st always keep about a 1 galon gas can full of diesel fuel if you like doing this often. Your truck has a large fuel filter that looks like a really big oil filter near the intake lines to the intake manifold. when you fun the fuel dry, this huge filter becomes empty and until it is compleatly full again, all your engine will do is suck air. If there is any air what so ever in this filter the engine will take a while to start running again and with deal damage to the engine. first take off the filter, fill the filter half full of diesel and swish it around a little, continue filling the filter until it over flows. being careful not to spill anymore, screw the filter back into place. And don't let it happen again, you'll thank me when you don't have to replace that 9 thousand dollar engine of yours.

Your situation is called an airlock, as expected a diesel engine will not run on air. If there is air anywhere in your fuel system it will be difficult or impossible to start the engine. There are different procedures for different engines. Read your manual. A generalized procedure is to fill the tank with fuel, fill your fuel filter if possible. Crank the engine, some engines have an air bleeder, and some you will have to crack an injector line to let air escape (you should see some fuel weep out). Once you get a cylinder firing let the engine run until it smooths out.

If its anything like a 93 all you do is disconnect the battery, disconnect and mark for reinstallation the wires at the starter. Remove the two bolts that hold it, and drop it out. Make sure to hold on to any shims that might be there.