Why won't my car start, but the lights come on?
Do not believe there is an actual “fuse” in the main starter circuit, although there could be one in the relay, which is what you are actually “starting” when you turn the key* or push a button*. Otherwise your info is pretty sketchy as to the circumstances which led to this condition. * one of these “switches” could have failed. Can you use a remote button on the key fob?Did you drive the car home as normal? and now cannot restart? If your lights come on strongly, you should test some of the other accessories like the heater-A/C blower. The simplest conclusion is that you have bad (loose, corroded) battery post connection(s), as they may conduct enough current for low power requirements, but not enough for the starter. If the latter is old, it could just be burnt or worn out.Another possibility is that your battery is failing internally - do you know how old it is? One time I bought a brand new battery, but the store had forgotten to add the acid. After installing it myself, the car still needed a jump start, and once it got running, it just kept right on until I got home, because of the alternator. After trying to restart, I popped the cell caps off and learned the startling truth, DRY AS A BONE, went back to the store and got a refund.Depending on how interested you are in car maintenance, you could (on line) find yourself a factory service manual for your car, or a general up to date DIY guide. Or go to the on line forum for your car. It could also be the safety lockout which prevents actuating the starter unless the automatic is in “P” or “N”. or in the case of manual (stick-shift) the clutch pedal must be depressed fully.Unfortunately, if it is a fairly recent model the best recourse might be to plug a reader into the OBD diagnostic port.
My car won't start and is silent when turning the key. What's the most likely reason?
Just as you are sure to have the common cold or a tooth ache at some point in your life, you will most likely, without warning, have an episode where your car won’t start. In mechanical lingo, it is called a “no start condition”. Now you could easily go to an auto mechanic shop and spend more time and money than you want or do a little research (this of course is why you are reading this article) and find out how you can get a head start on the issue by diagnosing your no-start condition. Now keep reading, so you can jump the diagnosis hurdle with this common car problem.There are two types of no start conditions in a car: crank/no start and no crank/no start. The crank/no start is when the spinning of the engine is heard, but it doesn’t catch for the car to run on its own. The no crank/no start is just that-you don’t hear the car crank (hearing crickets) and the car doesn’t start. With most, it may be a given, but for those who honestly may not know, if you have a no crank/no start, check the car battery first, by turning on the lights. If the lights are bright and normal then you know that the issue is elsewhere.With this do-it-yourself method”, you are actually doing tests on different parts of the car, labeling the results of each test either “good” or “bad”. The car part is “good” when it is in operating order and “bad” when it is malfunctioning and more than likely is the reason for your nonmoving vehicle.The big question to be asked and answered by the diagnostic tests is whether there is a lack of fuel or a lack of spark in the car. The tools necessary to begin the testing in your diagnosis of the no start condition are a spark tester and a fuel pressure gauge. Rather than just purchase any spark tester, the HEI (High Energy Ignition) brand is recommended, because this reduces the likelihood of receiving a false test result. At the most, the HEI spark tester would cost you around $15 dollars. The fuel pressure gauge can be bought at your local auto parts store or online from a professional shop, if your car requires a certain type according to its make and model. For more in depth information click here
What is the most likely cause of my car AC not working?
There could be lots of causes. I'll run through a few common ones. 1. The air conditioner compressor is broken - to fix it you'll need a new compressor, schrader valve, and possibly the evaporator. 2. The belt isn't on the compressor or isn't tight enough - to fix it, you'll just need the belt and have it properly tightened. 3. The freon has leaked out of the system - to fix it, you'll need to find the leak, repair it (could be a hose or the condensor, thest two are the most likely, but not the only places that could leak.) Then you'll have to have a vacuum pulled on the system and new freon. 4. The low pressure cut off switch is broken - just a new low pressure cutoff switch and a freon re charge. 5. Relay could be out - just a new relay. 6. The AC switch could be broken - just install a new switch will fix it. Most of these repairs will have to be made at a shop. There isn't much you can do yourself with AC. Just bite the bullet and pay a mechanic.
Car barely starts what's wrong?
Kaela, The oil is not the problem I have to tell you you need a new battery, if it is more than three years old and/or you've owned the car a few years and never replaced it, this is the problem. If you did not run the battery down when you left the lights on it may have lasted another six months. when a battery is getting on its last months AND you run it down leaving the lights on it kills it a little early, feel better it is this and not the alternator-more expensive fix, You can buy a battery at walmart for $39.00 and have a friend put it in or your service place will charge you about $95.00 (remind them you saw one at walmart for $39.00) hint to them you shopped--sound good? and remind them your sentra takes the smallest of batteries Or go to walmart--park the car close to the store so if the salesperson has to see the car it is close. ask the salesperson for help and you want a battery for a 04 sentra for $39.00, buy it and ask the service guy to install it and pay him labor only, most repairman want you to buy a battery from them to mark it up and offer warranty, if they are "nice" they will put it in--ok? now good luck, John
My car wont start in cold weather?
If your engine has a carburetor, the hard starting problem is most likely choke related. If the engine cranks normally and the spark plugs are not worn or dirty, the choke probably needs to be repaired or adjusted. The choke may be set too rich or too lean. Either way can cause hard starting. Inside the choke housing is a bimetal spring that regulates the tension on the choke according to temperature. If this spring is broken, the choke will not operate. If the choke linkage is rusty or jammed with varnish deposits or dirt, it may stick or not operate smoothly. Cleaning with carburetor spray or solvent may help alleviate a sticking problem. On older fuel injected engines, a separate "cold start" injector is used to spray additional fuel into the intake manifold when a cold engine is first started. If this injector is not working, the engine can be hard to start. The injector is controlled by a timer and relay, so if either of these components is defective it can prevent the cold start injector from doing its job, too. If your engine cranks slowly, your cold starting problem is not fuel related, but may be due to a weak battery, loose or corroded battery cables, or a weak starter. Check for obvious problems first. Remove, clean and inspect the battery cables (both ends). Then check battery charge and condition. (More information on the condition of your battery and battery recharging is available.) If the battery charge is low, recharging the battery may temporarily solve your problem. But there's a reason why your battery is low. You probably have a charging system problem that requires further diagnosis. (More information on alternators is also available.) If your battery is more than four or five years old, it is probably near the end of its service life and needs to be replaced. A "load test" will tell you if it still has sufficient cranking capacity to provide reliable cold starting. Slow cranking during cold weather (below freezing) can also be caused by oil that is too thick. A high viscosity oil such as straight 30 or 40 weight oil in the crankcase can make an engine very difficult to crank when the temperature drops. Switching to a lighter multiviscosity oil such as 10W-30 or 10W-40 should solve this problem
Car randomly won't start?
I have a '93 Pontiac Grand Prix. It is a fantastic car....most of the time. It randomly won't start. If I wait a couple hours, most of the time it will start. It won't start if it is super hot. I just want to figure out what is wrong with it. I was told it is most likely my ignition switch in my steering column. Not where you put the key, further down inside the column. Is this a possibility?
Would a bad MAF sensor cause my car not to start?
You've described a strange problem: especially when cleaning the MAF sensor and the car started afterward... In any case, your car will probably run without the MAF working or if it is disconnected. In these cases the computer controls the engine based on a fixed set of conditions that will permit it to run. In this case however, the fuel mixture and possibly the spark timing will not be optimal and your fuel mileage will be poor. Having said that, you may have an electrical problem with a loose connection somewhere. This could even be a bad "ground" connection to the body, frame, or engine block. The most likely systems to be affected by a bad connection in your case are the spark ignition system or the fuel pump system. It is possible that either (or both) of these systems would not set a trouble code in the case of a bad connection or ground. Take a seriously good look at all the wiring that you can see under the hood. Use an inspection mirror if you have to. If you feel able to do so without damaging anything, unplug and reconnect all the wires that you can. Look at both ends of the connectors for corrosion/rust, etc. If possible, look at the connecting wires on the actual fuel pump which is probably in the gas tank and may (or may not) be accessible under the rear seat or trunk. Check for looseness and rust here also.
Can A Harmonic Balancer Cause Your Car to NOT Start?
WAIT...Do not return TO HIM! He's going to tear YOU OFF! A harmonic balancer is hooked up to the crankshaft of an engine to cut back torsional vibration. This is used to lessen the stress brought on by means of resonance in the crankshaft. If the Harmonic Balancer just isn't turning, neither is your crankshaft. If the engine is popping over, so is the harmonic balancer and if the belts are all in situation and just right, so will the alternator. My guess is that this man or woman either put in a bad alternator, defective or in any other case, or he certainly not replaced it. If the battery was once dangerous, the alternator would still put out energy to hold the whole lot walking (whenever you had jumped it to get started) and would accomplish that except you close off the important thing. On account that the lights dim whilst going for walks, and the auto is not going to start, i might first exchange the battery with one from one more automobile (one you understand is just right) and run it for just a few days. If it runs first-rate after a couple of days, you realize the battery was once simply bad. If it fails to start, there is a draw on the approach and main issue capturing is convenient. Do this test with the key in the off function - key eliminated to be certain. Take the poor connection off the battery and hook up a volt meter. If the needle stays at zero, no attracts discovered. If the needle goes up, you have got a consistent draw. Very first thing i might do is put off the wires from the alternator. If the needle goes down, your alternator has a short in it and is definitely the diodes which manipulate the voltage regulation. If the needle stays up, then disconnect the began. This will either eliminate the starter or throw it underneath the bus to be able to speak. My wager is the alternator could be the problem and you were given a nasty alternator. Just right good fortune.....
Will a dirty air filter cause a car to not want to start?
actually yes, a dirty air filter can cause your car not to start,but it would have to be really really dirty.it would cause it not to start by blocking sufficient airflow into the engine,so that the engine is essentially choked. other problems are incorrect gap on the spark plugs. if its too high, or too low the spark wont be as strong as it should be in the case of too high, and if its too low,the sparkplug can be essentailly grounded,giving no spark whatsoever. a bad fuel pump/no fuel. pretty much self explanatory. clogged fuel filter, prevent flow of fuel to engine,or contaminates fuel. dirty fuel injection manifold/carbureutor.
What does it mean when your car won't start and it makes a clicking noise?
I agree with Joaquin Bur, first thing to check is the battery by trying to jump start it. Make sure you do it right! Modern cars have tons of electronics that can be screwed up if you do it wrong which can be costly enough exceed the value of some cars.Before you jump it, check out the battery terminals for corrosion. The terminals should be tightly attached with zero movement when you wiggle them and they should be nice and clean, no build-up of powdery crap. There can also be hidden corrosion here, you will need to detach the cables to check. Any issues, there are tons of guides online about cleaning these, complete with pics or videos.If that doesn't fix the issue, it could also be corrosion of the battery cables itself, a problem with the solenoid or starter motor itself. I had a car with a sticky solenoid once, it would start fine sometimes but not others. A mechanic friend figured it out. Tapping the solenoid (not too hard!) with the handle of a hammer while someone was turning the key was enough to get the engine started. It's simple to try, so always worth a shot before calling a mechanic.