Top 5 Reasons Why Your Car Won't Start
Imagine you overslept this morning. You're rushing to get through your daily routine. Then you finally go out to your car and try to start it only to discover that your car won't start.
You're already late for work and now you're having to deal with car problems.
Do you know how to find the problem? Could you fix it yourself if you did? What are the common causes for a car not starting?
You can't get your car to a mechanic if it won't start either. You'll need to call a mobile mechanic to come out to help you if you can't solve the problem yourself.
A good mobile mechanic will be looking for a few issues when they come out to a car that won't start. However, to ensure you have an idea of what those issues may be, this guide will walk you through the top five reasons your car won't start.
1. The Battery
When a car won't start, a lot of the time it’s due to the battery. If your car's battery is dead, then there's nothing to send power to the starter. The starter is what turns the engine over and gets fuel flowing.
Car batteries can die for a handful of reasons. In many cases, the battery is simply old. However, if you leave your headlights or dome lights on when you leave your car, this can also drain the battery.
Your battery may also be weak, corroded, or have a bad connection. If any of these is the case, then your car won't start either.
You can usually tell if the battery is the issue if your dashboard's lights won't turn on at all. There will also be little to no sound at all from the engine when you go to start it. There are battery testers to confirm if this is the problem.
2. The Alternator
If your battery is dead, then there may be another issue sitting right behind it. This would be the alternator. The alternator is responsible for charging your car's battery as you drive.
Therefore, if your alternator is faulty or failing, your battery will not be getting enough charge to start the engine and electronics. You can usually tell if this is an issue if your headlights start to dim. A slow cranking starter is also evidence of a bad alternator.
As the alternator functions using belts, you may also notice a burning smell when you try to start your car. Your interior lights may also start bright when you start the car and then see them dim shortly after.
It would probably be best to take your car to an expert or call a mobile mechanic if you're noticing any of these issues. They can tell you if your alternator has gone bad and then replace it for you.
3. The Starter
Normally when you turn the key in the ignition, the battery sends electricity to the starter. The aptly named starter then starts turning the engine's gears. In layman’s terms, it is responsible for turning the car on.
This means that if there's a problem with the starter, then the engine won't turn over and the car will not start. One way to tell if this is the problem is if you hear a clicking noise while attempting to start your car.
There are a few things that may be wrong with your starter. It may be that the starter's teeth have broken off or shaved down. This keeps it from turning the gears.
It may also simply be a bad connection between the starter and the battery. If the battery cannot get power to the starter, then the starter cannot turn to start the engine. You should take your car to an expert to have this problem resolved as well.
4. Fuel Filter
When gas is transported to fuel stations, it usually contains some muck and grime. This is expected. However, if this gets into your fuel line, it’s bad for your car and can cause damage to your engine.
That's why fuel filters were invented. These keep all of the nasty debris that could end up in your fuel tank from getting into the fuel line and damaging your car.
However, all filters need replacing at some point. Fuel filters should be replaced about every 20,000 miles. If you drive on a lot of gravel or dirt roads you may want to do this sooner than that.
If you don’t replace it, then the filter gets completely filled with grime and dirt until fuel cannot get through the filter anymore. When this happens, your car will not start.
5. Out of Gas
It's possible you forgot to fill up on gas when you were low. Perhaps your gas meter is faulty and you didn't even realize you were low in the first place. If you park your car outside, it's common in some areas to have gas stolen right out of your vehicle.
Whatever the case, this one has a fairly simple explanation. Your car simply cannot start if it doesn't have fuel. It's best to keep an eye on your fuel levels so that this doesn't happen to you.
Fortunately, if it does happen to you, many insurance companies offer roadside assistance services that can bring you enough fuel to get to the closest gas station.
Find Out Why Your Car Won't Start Today
If your car won't start then you'll probably find yourself looking up "mobile mechanics near me" to help get it going again. Chances are one of these five things is keeping your car from starting. When this happens you can count on the best mobile mechanics in Dallas.
That would be Fix My Car. Our technicians are highly trained professionals who are ready and eager to help you with any car problems you may have. If you think your car may be having a problem, then don't wait! Check us out today and see how our team can help you.