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REASONS WHY YOUR CAR WON'T START
American Pride Automotive • Sep 09, 2015
It’s never fun to get in the car on the way to work only to find that it won’t start. When multiple turns of the key in the ignition don’t solve the problem, you may not know what is causing it. Bottomline: You need your car to start. Here are some possible underlying causes.
BATTERY-RELATED FAILURES
When your vehicle won’t start, a dead battery is the most common culprit. If you have a battery-tester on hand, it will be say to see if this is your problem. If not, try jumpstarting the vehicle. If jumpstarting seems to solve the problem, at least temporarily, then you need a new battery. If those tests are inconclusive, check your battery connections for corrosion or debris. Sometimes dirty connections can disrupt the connection with the rest of the vehicle’s system.
BAD IGNITION COIL
When an ignition coil is damaged or gets old, electricity from the battery no longer ignites the spark plugs and prevents…you guessed it, ignition. An auto mechanic will be able to check the ignition coil.
CLOGGED FUEL FILTER
At American Pride, we like to emphasize the importance of planned preventative vehicle maintenance, like cleaning and replacing filters. The fuel filter is one that must be cleaned or replaced every two years. If you don’t, you may be stuck with a car that won’t start, as fuel will no longer reach the fuel pump.
STARTER ISSUES
Who would have thought that problems with the starter might prevent the car from starting? When the starter motor goes bad, the engine can no longer turn its pistons and therefore can’t combust.
You can prevent most of the potential causes for a car that won’t start by being dedicated to routine maintenance by a trusted auto mechanic. Call American Pride for auto service that you can depend on. We have three convenient locations in Newport News, Williamsburg and Toano to serve you.
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You’re driving home at night and it is raining cats and dogs. You can’t see but 20 feet in front of your car, but you’ve slowed down and are being extra cautious, so what could go wrong? Then you feel it. A sinking Cl-clunk. Maybe that “puddle” you saw ahead of you was deeper than just a puddle. Before you know it, your car is stalling in the high water in the middle of the road. Now what? First off, don’t panic. Turn on your hazards and crank the ignition once. If the car starts, make it dry land and pull over to assess the damage. If it does not start the first time, do not try to start it again. Doing so can result in a hydro locked engine and will likely necessitate the rebuilding or replacement of the engine. Unfortunately, if you find yourself stalling in water at all, your vehicle will probably need costly repairs. The best way to avoid water damage is to practice safe and smart driving in wet weather, which brings us to Part 2 of the Everything Auto “Blame it on the Rain” series (Find Part 1 here). Take heed of these severe weather driving tips: 1. TAKE NO CHANCES ON PUDDLES Even if the standing water ahead of you looks shallow enough to drive through, think twice. If the water is “rushing” or if other drivers are making a point to avoid it, don’t assume that your vehicle is the exception. Additionally, you never know the hazards that lay at the bottom of a puddle. Hidden potholes or debris can pierce your tires and jostle your alignment and suspension system. 2. IF YOU MUST TAKE A CHANCE, TAKE IT SLOW AND STEADY When you deem it necessary and safe to drive through water of questionable depth, go slowly. Speeding through a puddle, even a shallow one, can splash water into your vehicle’s intake and critically harm the engine. Like we mentioned last week, after driving through standing water, lightly tap your brakes to make sure they aren’t saturated and to dry them off. 3. KEEP A ROADSIDE EMERGENCY KIT HANDY Sometimes, no matter how careful you are on the road, accidents and vehicle malfunctions happen, especially in wet severe weather. That’s why it is extremely important to keep emergency supplies ready in the trunk for the worst case scenario. You can buy a preassembled one, but it is cheaper (and more rewarding) to assemble your own. What should you include? Edmunds.com provides an excellent comprehensive list of items, a few of which include: 12-foot jumper cables Four 15 minute road flares Two quarts of oil A gallon of antifreeze A first-aid kit. Find the rest of the list here We hope that this series has given you helpful safety insights and tips for driving in the rain! Remember that American Pride Automotive is always here to help and ready to answer any and all of your auto repair and maintenance questions! Call or contact us today.
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