What Causes a Car to Suddenly Stall and Fail to Start with a Whining Sound?
2 Answers
Possible causes include a faulty battery that cannot store power, a malfunctioning starter motor that fails to rotate the flywheel, or an issue with the vehicle's ignition system. Below are the relevant details: 1. Battery: A battery, also known as a storage battery, works by converting chemical energy into electrical energy. Typically, the term 'battery' refers to a lead-acid battery, which mainly uses lead and its oxides as electrodes and sulfuric acid solution as the electrolyte. 2. Starter Motor: The starter motor is an electrically driven device installed on the engine to start diesel or gasoline engines. It eliminates the hassle of manual engine starting, provides quick ignition, and can be reused.
I've encountered this issue a few times. If the car suddenly stalls and won't start while making a whirring sound, there's an 80% chance the starter motor is broken or stuck. That buzzing noise occurs when the motor spins but the engine doesn't ignite, which could be due to internal wear or insufficient lubrication in the motor. Additionally, insufficient battery power can cause similar symptoms – possibly from loose or aged connections. You should first test the battery voltage; if it's below 12 volts, charge it immediately. A faulty fuel pump or dry running can also trigger similar symptoms, as insufficient oil pressure causes the engine to stall. Regular maintenance checks on key components can prevent this, such as periodic oil changes and motor maintenance.
