A car always seems to break down at the most inopportune time. For many, it’s parking their vehicle somewhere and coming back later only to find the vehicle won’t start, leaving them stranded without transport or much chance of repairing the issue.
Even when a car doesn’t start at your home it’s incredibly inconvenient, especially when you have no idea what the cause is. Here are the five most common reasons a car won’t start and the things you should check first:
1. Dead Battery
This is one of the most common reasons for a car not starting and is easy to identify – check the starter under the hood and listen for a clicking sound when starting the engine. Clicking but not cranking in the engine may be an electrical issue, so keep this in mind.
Another way to check for a dead battery is trying to use connections such as windshield wipers or automatic windows, as these require power from the battery to operate.
While possible to fix with a jump lead, there is a chance the battery is beyond repair and you need to get towed to an auto shop that can replace the battery.
2. Ignition Switch
When the battery can be ruled out as the source of the issue, consider checking the ignition switch, which is quite easy to do. Simply check for a feature where the battery is needed to work – turning on headlights is a quick and easy way to determine this.
In most cases, if the battery is working but the car won’t start then there is an issue with the ignition switch.
3. Starter
The starter is quite like the ignition switch, being the main culprit for most cars struggling to start that don’t have dead batteries. Checking for this is easy enough – listen out for a clicking sound when turning the keys, as this is a sign the starter is broken.
4. No Fuel
You’d be surprised at the number of people whose cars won’t start due to a lack of gas in the tank! Sometimes the answer is staring you right in the face, as is often the case with an empty gas tank. Check your fuel gauge to see how much gas is left in the tank, as this happens more often than most people assume.
5. Fuel Filter
When a fuel filter is too clogged it prevents gas from reaching the engine, so the car doesn’t start. Remember that a fuel filter needs to be changed every 10,000 miles so be sure to change the filter at the next chance.
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