What are the reasons why a sedan won't start?
3 Answers
Reasons why a sedan won't start: 1. Fuel injector dripping; 2. Damaged carbon canister solenoid valve, causing excessively rich air-fuel mixture; 3. Poor fuel quality that easily evaporates, resulting in excessively lean fuel vapor from the injector; 4. Faulty intake air temperature sensor; 5. Excessive carbon buildup on intake valves, throttle body, pistons, etc.; 6. Aging ignition coils with wiring prone to leakage. Methods to deal with a sedan that won't start: 1. Turn the steering wheel left and right while pressing the engine start button to release tension and unlock the steering wheel lock; 2. Use another battery to jump-start or employ the universal push-start method with several people; 3. Use a rescue vehicle's charging method.
I've encountered many situations where the car wouldn't start, mostly related to the battery. Car batteries tend to age after three to five years of use, and insufficient power makes it impossible to start the vehicle. If you have devices like dash cams plugged into your car's charging ports that continue to drain power after the engine is off, the battery can be completely drained after a few days of inactivity. Sometimes when starting, you only hear a 'click-click' sound, and the headlights are particularly dim—this usually means the battery needs charging. It's advisable to keep an emergency power source or jumper cables handy to ask a friend for help. Forcing a push-start can actually be harmful to the car. Other common issues include poor contact in the ignition switch or blown fuses. Oxidation at the battery terminals can also affect starting.
It's really frustrating when the car won't start in winter, especially when temperatures drop below minus ten degrees Celsius. Apart from the most common cause—aging batteries, the cold weather thickens the engine oil, making it harder for the engine to turn over. The gasoline atomization effect also worsens, and if the spark plugs are heavily carbon-fouled, the engine simply won't ignite. To prevent this, remember to switch to winter-grade engine oil and check the antifreeze's freezing point before winter sets in. Parking in an underground garage helps a lot; if you have to park outdoors, consider installing a battery insulation cover. If you hear the starter motor spinning but the engine doesn't respond, the starter gear might be stuck—gently rocking the gearshift back and forth might help. If all else fails, it's best to call for a tow truck.
