The car won’t start – possible problems

You need to go somewhere, get in the car, start it and the car won’t start, what should you do? What could be impacting the operation of your vehicle? Do you need a mechanic?

Well, it is important to know that for the vehicle’s engine to work correctly, several elements need to be working, but the good part is that many of the functions of these components can be checked and some can even be solved at home.

Here are some of the most common possible problems when the car won’t start:

Dashboard won’t light up

The dashboard of any vehicle is essential for driving. The dashboard is the first thing to light up before we actually start the car, and if it doesn’t light up when you half turn the key, you can be sure that something is wrong.

If your car won’t start and the dashboard won’t light up, the problem is most likely with the car’s battery charge, so that something has drained it while the car was idle, or that it isn’t holding a charge.

If your car starts but the dashboard won’t light up, the problem could also be in the vehicle’s electrical system, and it is essential that it be replaced.

Fuel not reaching the engine

For a vehicle’s engine to work, air, fuel and a spark (which will be responsible for the initial combustion) are needed. If the fuel doesn’t reach the engine, the spark won’t have anything to do with the combustion and the engine won’t start.

In this case, you need to check the dashboard and see if the vehicle has a good amount of fuel or if it has been running low for some time. If the latter is the case, it is very likely that your car needs more fuel to get going again. In rarer cases, it is also possible that the fuel level indicator is faulty, and your car has run out of fuel even though the dashboard shows otherwise.

If you have recently filled up, the problem is probably with the fuel pump, which is responsible for correctly sending fuel to the engine.

Key won’t turn

Among the problems of failure to start the car, this is one of the most common. If you are unable to turn your car’s key, it is possible that the problem is with the reading, since each key has a unique decoding system. In this situation, the problem may be with the key itself, which has suffered some type of damage, or with the car’s reading system, which does not recognize the key.

Some vehicles also have the security system that prevents the key from turning. Its action is common in some situations, such as when the steering wheel locks with the car turned off or in some modern car models where the system works in all cases.

Engine does not produce a spark

If all other components are working properly, but the engine does not produce a spark that causes initial combustion, the engine will certainly not start. In this type of situation, the problem is probably located in the spark plugs (responsible for producing a spark in the engine). If the spark plugs are malfunctioning, the engine will not produce the spark necessary for combustion and the vehicle will not start.

Another related problem can be found in the ignition coil, responsible for the electrical signals that will produce sparks in the engine.

Read more about engine components by clicking here.

How to solve possible problems

Although some possible solutions for mechanical problems in general are presented here, we recommend that in all cases the car be taken to a mechanic’s shop first, preventing further damage and providing an ideal repair.

Dashboard does not light up

In this case, if the problem is in the car’s battery, it is possible to make what is popularly known as a “jump start”, which would be a parallel electrical connection between two batteries. In this case, you will need appropriate cables for the connection, the ones with clips on the ends.

The poles (positive and negative) should be connected to their corresponding poles on the other battery, and with the car running, the other pole should try to start the car.

If the problem is in the electrical system, you can check the fuse box and look for (according to the car manual) the one responsible for the starting system.

Fuel is not reaching the engine

If you suspect that the level is not showing correctly, it is possible that your vehicle is actually out of fuel. Before taking it to a garage, it is worth adding more fuel as a test and seeing if the engine will work. If this is the case, the problem will already have been identified and you can save a few bucks at the mechanic’s shop.

If your car is a flex-fuel car and you recently changed the fuel, it is also possible that the engine is not correctly identifying the new fuel, and in this case, it would be an alternative to add the old fuel so that the system recognizes it and makes the change.

If the problem is with the fuel pump, we do not recommend that readers without experience try to open it, as it is a complex system.

Key does not turn

It is important to first test the car’s spare key, as this will allow you to identify whether the system is recognizing a key or not. If the car works normally with the spare key, the problem is solved. If it does not work, the problem may be with the car’s recognition system, which will require specialized assistance.

In cases of safety locks, if your car is a newer model, it is worth trying to start the car by pressing the clutch, as some vehicles only work this way. Other tests that can be done, this time on any car, are: starting the car by pressing the brake, pulling the steering wheel to the left or right and trying to start it, and trying to open and close the door before starting it.

Engine does not produce a spark

In this case, it is important to try to clean the spark plugs, as the problem is probably located there. If cleaning doesn’t produce any effect and you believe that the problem is in fact the spark plugs, you can replace them before spending money on a mechanic’s shop.

You can also check the fuses in the box to try to identify whether the problem is in the electrical part.

None of the methods worked, what now?

In this situation, you will need to seek specialized help. The best thing to do is to call a tow truck to take your car to a mechanic’s shop. However, if you believe that the problem is simple and can be solved with specialized knowledge in a short time, you can also call a mechanic on site. If you choose the second option, you will need to describe the problem in detail, so that the professional can prepare before arriving at your vehicle.

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