Reasons Why the Car Doesn't Start When Ignited
3 Answers
Reasons why the car doesn't start when ignited: 1. Insufficient battery starting power can prevent the car from starting. Climate conditions and the age of the battery can affect this, and the engine oil may also be impacted. After starting, it's advisable to warm up the engine for a few minutes and avoid high RPMs initially. 2. Severe carbon buildup on the spark plug electrodes can prevent ignition. Cleaning the surface with a copper brush or replacing the spark plugs can resolve this issue. 3. The fuel system can also be a cause, such as running out of fuel or a faulty fuel pump. 4. Incorrect gear selection can prevent the car from starting. For automatic transmission cars, the gear must be in P (Park) or N (Neutral) to start the engine.
Last time my car absolutely refused to start, and it wasn't until I saw white frost on the battery terminals that I remembered leaving the headlights on in winter. Battery drain is way too common, especially with old batteries that have been used for three or four years. Sometimes when you try to start the car, the dashboard lights dim dramatically, the infotainment screen flickers, and the horn sounds hoarse—nine times out of ten, it means the battery has given up. After jump-starting with a portable charger, it's best to drive straight to a testing station. If the alternator's charging output is unstable, you might even need to replace the voltage regulator. Oh, and one time my friend messed up his audio system wiring during a DIY install and blew a fuse—when he tried to start the car, there wasn't even a clicking sound.
The most common issue we encounter at our repair shop is starter motor failure. Customers complain that turning the key feels like turning air—either there's no response at all or just a clicking sound. The most frequent cause is worn-out carbon brushes, especially in older vehicles. Last week, a Bora was towed in with the starter relay contacts completely burnt black; replacing it with a 30-yuan relay fixed the problem. Another case involved a lady whose car wouldn't start because the gear wasn't in P position. Dead smart key batteries also frequently cause confusion. Reminder: Always turn off the AC before shutting down the engine, otherwise the starter motor may overwork by trying to turn the compressor.
