5 Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start

It can be really frustrating when your car will not start. We use our cars for driving our kids to school, getting essentials and groceries, driving to work and  even more. So when your car won’t start all of a sudden, it can be stressful.

There are a many possible reasons why your car won’t start. Here are the 5 most common reasons.

1. Broken ignition switch

If you know your battery is working properly, but your car doesn’t crank on the first few tries, this might mean that you may have a problem with the ignition switch. You can try to narrow down the cause of your issue by turning on your headlights. This is because your car’s battery controls your headlights and dashboard, and if it’s the case that your light are able turn on and your engine is not able to start, then it could be that the ignition switch has gone bad.

2. Faulty starter

A faulty starter is another common reason your car won’t start. The starter’s role is to set the turn (crank) the engine when you turn or press on the ignition switch. The starter only works to turn the engine and once the car is running, it has done its job and goes to sleep. If the starter breaks, the engine will not crank properly or may not even crank at all when you try to start the car. If you hear a clicking noise when you try to start your vehicle, that could be a sign that the stater may be broken and that may be the reason why your car isn’t starting.

Some common symptoms include:

• Very noisy when trying to start on your car.
• Hearing a loud clicking noise when turning the key, but the engine does not want to start.
• Car is not starting when turning or pressing the ignition key/button.

3. Dead battery

A dead battery is the most common reason why a car will not start. The battery provides all the electrical power to the entire car and electrical components (e.g. lights, radio, etc.). The alternator, charges the battery while the car is running. If for some reason the battery is not charged sufficiently, you will not be able to start the car or use any electrical components.

Some common symptoms includes

• Lights, Radio etc not working.
• Battery light is on. (If this light illuminates while driving, it may mean that the alternator is not charging the battery)

Your battery can die for a variety of reasons:

• You left your headlights on
• You have a loose wire
• The battery water evaporated.
• The battery’s lifespan has expired
• Car has been parked for a very longtime

One way you can test to see if the battery is the problem by jump-starting your car. If the jump start works, you’re most likely dealing with a dying battery or an alternator issue. Consider replacing the battery or alternator, cleaning the connections, or have a mechanic come do it for you.

4. Clogged fuel filter

If your fuel filter is clogged, the petrol will not be able to get to the engine. Without fuel in the engine, the car will not be able to start as it needs fuel as part of the starting process.

5. Empty petrol tank

It might sound silly, however this happens more often than you can imagine. The solution here is simple… get more petrol or diesel

Hopefully you never experience the scenario where your car doesn’t start, but if your car isn’t starting and you need some assistance, one of our master mobile mechanics will come to you to inspect and diagnose the problem. If our mechanic can’t fix it on the spot, we will provide a cost and parts breakdown in real time and have your car back on the road asap.

We understand that your car plays an important part of your daily life, transporting you and your loved ones. Michanic is dedicated to providing the most convenient services for our customers, so if you have any other questions or concerns regarding your car, feel free to talk to our customer service team through email at [email protected], or by phone on 087 803 9000.

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