If you are the owner of a car, you probably know from your own experience how unpleasant sudden breakdowns in the engine or chassis are unpleasant. But even worse, when the car simply does not start or starts and immediately stalls. You can find the causes of malfunctions, their solutions and other useful information in this article.
Reasons why the car will not start
A machine is a complex mechanism, and there can be many reasons why it refuses to start. If you find yourself in a situation where the car does not start, we recommend that you first check out some of the simplest and most common causes that cause this problem:
- Not enough fuel. You may have forgotten to call in at a gas station, or the gas has run out at the most inopportune moment. In this case, the ignition system cannot start the internal combustion engine due to insufficient fuel. Even if the level is not at zero, this may not be enough to start the car, for example, in winter. To avoid such unpleasant situations, it is best to always carry a small canister of gas in the car.
- Battery problems. How to distinguish this reason from many others? Everything is simple - if you turn the key in the ignition switch, and the indicators on the dashboard glow dimly or are not visible at all, it means that there is a problem in the car battery. To begin with, it is worth checking the terminals - sometimes they go away, and as a result, the car will not start. If this does not affect the end result, then the battery needs to be replaced.
The reasons why the car starts poorly can be much more serious. They are difficult to diagnose on their own, so in some cases you may need the help of an experienced car mechanic.
Electrical problems
The cause of the machine not starting up may be a damage to the ignition circuit. Due to mechanical stress or corrosion of the metal, this part often fails. Sometimes to solve this problem, it is enough to clean the contact terminals and wires.
In addition, malfunctions in the car can occur due to blown fuses, malfunction of the ignition switch and incorrect operation of the ignition coil. In cars with a carburetor, problems with the starter can be explained by the accumulation of moisture under the ignition distributor cover.
The more complex the car, the more breakdowns associated with electrical equipment in it can be. In most cases, only a professional can determine the reason why the car does not start with a starter using special equipment and a thorough inspection.
Fuel system problems
Often, drivers encounter such a problem - when you turn the key in the ignition, the starter turns, and the engine is silent. This may be due to damage to the integrity of the wires that power the injection system. In this case, the fuel simply does not flow into the engine and the car does not start.
The cause of the malfunction may also be hidden in the fuel pump. Most often, due to insufficient vacuum, in the event of corrosion or other damage, the discharge or suction pipe fails and stops pumping fuel. If any part of this system does not work correctly, the whole car and your time may suffer.
The answer to the question why the car will not start, maybe a fuel filter. But it should be noted that in practice such cases are quite rare. In the event of a clogged filter, fuel simply cannot penetrate through it into the internal combustion engine, and the car does not drive.
Starter Issues
After the battery, the most common reason that the car does not perform its functions is the starter. There can be several options for damage. Why doesn't the car start with a starter?
- Elements of the starter contact group are out of order.
- Solenoid relay anchor stuck. If the starter does not react in any way to turning the key in the lock, then most likely no voltage is applied to its terminals. The relay responsible for reducing the starting current may stop working and in this case will not be able to conduct electricity to the starter terminals. An experienced driver can independently solve this problem on the spot: for this it is enough to replace the faulty relay with another element, for example, the rear window defroster relay.
- There was a short circuit between the turns in the winding of the traction relay. Damage to the gear and wear of its teeth can give a picture similar to that described in the previous paragraph. Characteristic sounds that can be heard in the starter point to it. Metal ringing and crackling indicates a problem at the junction of the flywheel and gear. Sometimes, to eliminate the trouble, it is enough to clean the parts of the retractor relay from corrosion, in other cases, the entire part or some of its parts must be replaced.
There are not so many reasons that the starter does not turn, but they are all rather unpleasant. Part wear is due to the natural aging of mechanisms or due to improper operation of the vehicle. Choosing the wrong oil can also negatively affect the machine’s ignition system.
Injector faults
Why doesn't the car start? The injector in the car has a complex device with many elements, so it can be difficult to determine the cause of the idle ignition switch. What needs to be checked first?
- Gas pump. If the starter turns while the key is turning, and you clearly hear the sound of a running pump, then everything is fine with it. If there is a suspicion of its malfunction, then it is worth checking the candles of the machine. If they are completely dry, then it is in the gas pump. In this case, you should carefully check the wires leading to the gasoline pump, or replace the part itself.
- A reduced pressure in the fuel rail may cause the engine to not start. Sometimes this is due to a dirty fuel or air filter.
- In other cases, the problem occurs due to a faulty crankshaft sensor. The engine in this case does not start at all.
- If it’s about nozzles, then the car will start after several attempts. The engine will begin to work worse, but will quickly return to normal after repair.
Why the car will not start with auto start
In modern cars equipped with auto start, a problem such as a lack of engine start can also occur. Before you try to find all of the above problems on your machine, we recommend that you eliminate the most common causes of this problem:
- Incorrect operation of the immobilizer or its loss. If you accidentally left a part of the key at home or something broke in it, the car’s electrical system will automatically block the gas pump, and it simply won’t start.
- The problem is in the startup key. This part can also break. In order to check this problem, just try to start the car with a regular key.
- Signaling. As a rule, it is part of the autorun system. Sometimes the external circuit closes due to temperature changes and condensation. To eliminate this problem, it is enough to remove moisture and check the integrity of the wiring.
The car will not start in the cold
In summer, autumn and spring your car starts up like clockwork, but in winter problems begin. Is that familiar? This is often what owners of Russian cars ask. So, why doesn’t the VAZ car and other brands start? Often the reason is poor-quality or old motor oil. Modern lubricants allow you to start the engine "on a cold", but for this you need to carefully select the brand and composition. The most optimal for starting in the winter for supported cars with high mileage are synthetic engine oils with a viscosity of 5W40 or 10W40.
Why doesn't the car start in cold weather? The problem may lie in low-quality fuel, which contains too much impurity and precipitation. In this case, the car is difficult to start even in good weather, not to mention the frost. Many cars that have old batteries have the same problem. In this case, you can start the car either from the pusher, or by "lighting" from another motorist.
The car starts and stalls
Another problem that motorists face is that the engine stops working after it starts. Why does the car start and stall?
The idle valve may fail and result in shutdown of the power unit. If valve parts become clogged with slag due to poor quality fuel combustion, the electronic control unit may begin to receive incorrect data. Cleaning the valve or replacing it with a new one can solve this trouble.
The machine may stall and not start up due to clogging of the valve of the exhaust gas recirculation system. Due to the use of low quality fuel, carbon compounds are deposited on the valve in large quantities. If you operate the car in difficult conditions, it is recommended to clean the valve every 100 thousand kilometers.
How to solve problems yourself
Where should you start solving a problem if you decide to figure it out on your own? Better to start with the most common mistakes - check the battery and the amount of fuel, and then you can proceed to more serious reasons. If the starter spins, but the engine does not catch, there is one spectrum of problems. If the starter does not react at all to the turn of the key, then the range of possible breakdowns is significantly narrowed. Often, to fix the problem, it is enough to light the battery or change the oil to a more suitable one. If this does not solve the problems with the machine, then the service station will help you find the cause. Car diagnostics can detect many problems "in the bud", so do not neglect this procedure. Experts recommend diagnosing once a year.
Expert Advice
What can experts advise to those who often face the problem of poor engine starting? If you leave your car outside, in the winter you may need a fuel filter heater to start it. With it, the chances of starting the engine “cold” are greatly increased.
Summary
Unfortunately, the problem with the difficult start of the engine is faced by most drivers. Knowing the main causes of malfunctions and how to solve them, you can independently deal with the problem in a short period of time. This knowledge gives greater confidence on the road, because in the event of a breakdown, you will at least roughly imagine what its cause is.