Sometimes the engine may not start even with a relatively new car. Why? And what to do in such cases?
Many motorists have found themselves in a situation where, when the key is turned in the ignition (or the engine start button is pressed), either the starter simply spins idle, or nothing happens at all. This almost always happens unexpectedly, which often confuses drivers. What to do if the engine in the car does not start?
We identify the causes of the malfunction
It is far from always possible to immediately find out the causes of breakdowns, because the car engine may not start due to various factors – electronic, electrical, mechanical. In rare cases, the fuel gauge can fail when, in fact, there is none left in the tank – but this is the least of the problems solved by buying a canister at any gas station.
The most common reason why a car engine won’t start is a dead battery. This can happen due to a malfunction of the battery itself – shedding of the can and subsequent short circuit – or leaks in the electrical system. Sometimes people forget to turn off their outdoor lights. In modern cars, this is controlled by electronics that automatically turn off the headlights or side lights, but in older cars this can lead to a drop in charge.
A dead battery is very easy to identify. When the key is turned (or the engine start button is pressed), the starter barely turns the crankshaft with a characteristic rattle, and the brightness of the instrument panel or screens decreases, plus the control lamps light up. You should not continue to torture the car – the engine will still not start, and the battery will sit down completely. Also, candles can be “filled” with gasoline, after which the launch will be difficult due to impaired spark formation.
There are different options for a dead battery. If someone is ready to provide their car, then you can “light it up” from it. This will require only thick wires with terminals. But be sure to find out before that whether such a procedure is allowed at all. In modern cars, there are many electronic components that can fail with this method of starting the engine.
For example, in some Nissan or Infiniti cars, after “lighting up”, an error occurs in the airbag unit, which is not reset by the scanner – the electronic unit itself needs to be repaired. All the necessary information is often available on thematic forums or motorist community sites, so finding it is not difficult.
If the car is with a manual gearbox, then you can start it “from a pusher” (although this will require the help of at least a couple of people), or when towing with a cable. Then, with the ignition on, you need to turn on the gear – and, provided that the problem is exclusively in the battery, the engine will start.
Finally, you can start the car with the help of special start-chargers – the capacity of their batteries and the current strength is enough to help a dead battery. Yes, and the simplest models cost less than a tank of gasoline. However, compact ROMs are not designed for use in multi-liter / multi-cylinder engines – you need to study the characteristics before buying. And, of course, make sure in advance that a specific model of the car allows such a way to “revive” the engine.
It is better to replace a weak battery before the onset of cold weather – in cold weather, it is much more difficult for a starter to crank the crankshaft in thickened oil, so you can “fill in” the candles with gasoline if you continue to try to start the engine. And jumping around a car with wires or a battery at -20 is below average pleasure.
Not only the battery
But a dead battery is not the only reason why the engine will not start. If the starter turns briskly, but the motor does not “grab”, then there are many options. Often a non-standard anti-theft complex becomes a problem – it can “lose” the immobilizer tag or some other electronic “glitch” occurs.
Moreover, even a factory immobilizer can become a source of an unexpected problem – it stops “seeing” the key
Fortunately, most often there is an indication of a system malfunction on the instrument panel (either in the form of a warning light or an on-screen warning). And, as strange as it may sound, in some cases it helps to just hit the steering column with your fist to make everything work again!
If the problem is not the alarm, but the car still does not start, then it is worth inspecting the fuse box – for example, the fuel pump fuse may “burn out”. The pump gives out its work with a characteristic buzzing in the area of \u200b\u200bthe gas tank. By the way, gasoline pumps really don’t like sharp accelerations with the pedal “to the floor” when the low fuel level light is already on – this is often the cause of problems with them.
There can be several fuse blocks – not only powerful ones in the engine compartment or located in the cabin. In modern models, additional blocks can also be installed in the trunk. But there are nuances here too – not all cars can be bought fuses in a regular store.
The starter itself may also fail – either it does not work at all, or the overrunning clutch “crunches”, but the shaft does not rotate, so the car does not start. Ignition coils occasionally fail, but modern engines usually use individual coils for each cylinder, so the engine will start but run erratically.
The engine starts, but immediately stalls. What is the reason?
Again, this can be due to improper sparking – due to problems with the ignition coils or faulty spark plugs. But more often the culprits are different. For example, a failed alarm, where the ignition or fuel supply circuit is blocked if a certain algorithm of actions is not performed.
The engine may also stall if any sensors malfunction – idle, crankshaft position, oxygen sensor, or a clogged exhaust gas recirculation system. A junk fuel pump, a clogged air filter, poor-quality fuel can also serve as reasons. In older machines, there is a possibility of electrical wiring failure due to rotted contacts or collapsed connectors.
What to do if it was not possible to determine the cause or eliminate it on the spot?
If neither an inspection, nor an Internet search, nor calls to a service center helped, then you can order technical assistance – there are many similar services. If the breakdown happened in the city, then usually the master arrives within an hour and a half. If the car suddenly does not start in some remote place, then here it remains to hope for the help of other drivers – if it is not possible to find the cause and repair the car on the spot, then at least they will be towed to the nearest service station.
Source: legion-media
Owners of new cars or slightly used cars (yes, breakdowns can happen to them too) can use the branded roadside assistance service – just call and then wait for either a mechanic or a tow truck (depending on what causes the malfunction).
And never activate the electromechanical parking brake! In some modern cars (for example, in Volvo), the rear wheels cannot be unlocked in any way when the engine is turned off. Therefore, in this case, you need to call a tow truck with a manipulator – and it will take much longer to wait for such a car.
How can you protect yourself from such breakdowns?
Of course, you can’t foresee all the surprises – how can you foresee that the alarm will go crazy or one of the contacts in the fuel pump connector will finally melt? But following a few simple guidelines won’t hurt anyone.
- Before the onset of cold weather, it is worth measuring the voltage – at certain values \u200b\u200bthe battery needs recharging, otherwise a “tired” battery can let you down in the cold. And he will definitely do it.
- At voltages below 11.9 V, it is better not to wait until the battery runs out at the most inopportune moment, and replace the battery with a new one. Moreover, the shops accept the old battery as a new one, and the courier will help to change it, provided that it is located in the “usual” places – under the hood or in the trunk.
- Read the operating instructions for the location of the fuse boxes and their diagram. Especially those responsible for the operation of the ignition system and the fuel pump. Fuses are inexpensive, so you can buy them in advance and put them in your car.
- Find information (you can search the Internet by entering a specific car, or call a specialized car service) whether it is possible to “light up” your car so that you don’t have to troubleshoot errors or repair electronic components later. In the absence of “contraindications”, you can stock up on a starter-charger (of course, it must also be in good order and charged).
- Try not to drive with an almost empty tank, or do not allow sudden acceleration when the low fuel level light is already on, the fuel pump will definitely “remember” this and then “take revenge”. However, he does not “die” immediately, at first starting to act up in hot weather. And it is better not to wait for a breakdown, but to try to repair it, or replace it at the first sign of interruptions in the fuel supply.
- Service your car regularly and don’t skimp on changing spark plugs or filters. You should not wait for the moment when the alternator belt turns into tatters. All of the above is not so expensive as to risk damage to the ignition system or fuel system
