What are the reasons for a car having power and fuel but not starting and making no sound?
3 Answers
Car having power and fuel but not starting and making no sound is due to severe wear of the starter carbon brushes, malfunction of the starter control mechanism, or damage to the starter clutch. The specific reasons for a car having power and fuel but not starting and making no sound are as follows: Severe wear of the starter carbon brushes: The symptom during startup is weak starting, and the crankshaft can be seen turning very slowly through the belt and pulley. When the wear is extremely severe, the starter cannot drive the crankshaft to rotate at all, producing only the sound of electric current. Malfunction of the starter control mechanism: In addition to the starter motor, the starter assembly includes an electromagnetic control mechanism. When the control mechanism malfunctions, the small pinion gear cannot engage with the large ring gear, preventing the engine from starting. The symptom is turning the key to start, hearing only the sound of the starter spinning at high speed without hearing the sound of the engine crankshaft flywheel operating. Damage to the starter clutch: Generally, the starter operates at a speed of 120r/min, while the engine idles at around 900r/min after starting. The function of the clutch is to prevent the engine from driving the starter in reverse after starting, which could burn out the starter, if the driver fails to release the key in time, keeping the small pinion gear and large ring gear engaged.
When you said your car has power and fuel but won't start without any sound, as a veteran driver with decades of experience, I immediately knew the issue lies in the starting system. No sound usually indicates the starter motor isn't responding at all, commonly caused by a faulty starter relay or blown fuse. Additionally, the anti-theft system might be activated, especially when the key isn't properly inserted, leading to a locked state. A stuck starter motor or faulty solenoid switch could also be potential causes. Recalling my younger days repairing cars, during inspection you should first try turning the key to see if you can hear a slight clicking sound - if there's a small sound, it means the relay still works but there's an internal issue with the starter; complete silence suggests checking battery connections for looseness first. Nowadays with more car owners, this kind of failure is quite common. Don't rush to spend big money replacing major components - find a knowledgeable friend to test the fuse box with simple tools. Safety first - if you really can't fix it, call a tow truck rather than forcing it.
Last week, my car had the same issue. As a new driver who just got my license, it totally freaked me out! The car had power and fuel, but there was no sound when trying to start it. Most of the time, this happens because the starter motor is broken or there's a short circuit in the electrical system. I've also experienced this more often in cold winter weather because aging cables are prone to breaking or freezing. I recommend checking if the anti-theft light is flashing when you insert the key. If it's on, it means the security system is activated and needs to be reset. I've tried lightly tapping the starter motor housing myself, and sometimes that can temporarily loosen it enough to start. But don’t rely on this too much—it's better to have a professional check the root cause. During regular maintenance, pay extra attention to battery health, like turning on the lights before driving to check for brightness changes, which can help prevent such troubles. Remember, safety comes first. If the car suddenly stalls on the highway, turn on the hazard lights immediately, pull over, and wait for assistance.
