When you’re heading to work or late for an appointment, the last thing you want to discover is that your vehicle won’t start. Even though you may have had no problem starting it the night before, there are many reasons for it to fail to turn over the next day or even later the same day. Here are four problems that will cause a car not to start.
Low or No Crank
The most common reason for problems with starting is a dead or dying battery. The average lifespan of a battery is about three to five years so if you haven’t bought a new one in a while, it is probably time to do so.
Accidentally leaving your car lights on can drain a battery and prevent it from providing the necessary charge to start your vehicle. However, having it recharged or jump-starting it will usually resolve the issue and you won’t need to buy a new battery.
Starter Clicks
When you turn the key, you may hear a loud clicking noise while you are trying to start the car but nothing happens. Test the lights and/or wipers to check if they work because if they do, then your problem is the starter and not the battery.
If the starter motor is stuck in gear, rocking it back and forth or tapping it sharply with a spanner may help unstick it. If not, contact the local car garages in Leicester to have your car towed to a mechanic for repairs.
Nothing Happens
If you turn the key in the ignition and there is no reaction and none of the lights or accessories work, then you may have a bad alternator. The alternator recharges the battery, enabling it to start your vehicle and giving it the power to run the car accessories while it is being driven.
If it is faulty, then a light may be illuminated on the instrument panel; however, it will often be thoroughly drained and nothing will work on your vehicle. Most of the time, a faulty alternator will need to be replaced by a mechanic.
Strong Charge Doesn’t Start
When you turn the key in the ignition, your car may have a strong charge but sometimes the car just won’t start. This problem could indicate that you’ve run out of gas or there are some loose connections in the ignition system.
Don’t always rely on or ignore the fuel gauge when it indicates that the car is close to running out of fuel as you could get stuck walking to the nearest petrol station. However, if there is plenty of fuel, check the wiring from the ignition coil to the distributor and from the distributor to the spark plugs for loose connections.
There are many reasons why your car may not start when you get in it in the morning. To prevent these situations from occurring, you should have your vehicle regularly maintained. When your car is being serviced, a mechanic can spot problems before you’re left stranded at home or work.