What to Do When Your Car Won't Start?
3 Answers
When the battery is low on power, the starter cannot work, causing the vehicle to fail to start. In this case, the only solution is to jump-start the car or replace the battery. When the vehicle is in D gear, it cannot start. Simply reset the gear to P position to start the engine. If the engine temperature is too low, the car won't start. Turn the key to the power-on position, and the heating light on the dashboard will illuminate. Once the heating light goes off, you can start the car normally. If the spark plugs are clogged, the car won't start. In this situation, the only solution is to replace or clean the spark plugs. If it's not a battery issue, then the car needs to be towed to a repair shop for inspection.
Last time my car also suddenly wouldn't start, there are actually quite a few common reasons. First check if the car key has power, especially for keyless start vehicles - if the key battery is low it won't be detected and can't start. Then see if any warning lights are on the dashboard, like the battery light being on usually means it's dead. If you have jumper cables you can find another car to jump start it, remember to connect positive first then negative, don't reverse them or you'll fry the circuits. Listen carefully when trying to start: clicking sound but engine not turning means battery problem, no reaction at all might be a dead starter. Oh right, manual transmission cars can also try push starting - put it in second gear, press the clutch, have someone push the car, then suddenly release the clutch when there's enough speed to get it going. If you really can't figure it out, don't force it - calling a tow truck is the safest option.
Don't panic if your car won't start—I've dealt with this several times. The first thing to check is the battery, especially in older cars that are four or five years old. Start by observing the brightness of the dashboard lights; if they're dim, it's definitely a battery issue. If you hear the starter motor turning but the engine won't start, it's likely a fuel or ignition problem. Try pressing the unlock button on your remote key—if there's no response, the key battery is probably dead. Last time my car wouldn't start after being parked in the sun, it turned out to be vapor lock in the fuel system due to gasoline evaporation. Pumping the accelerator a few times before starting did the trick. Many modern cars have a protection mechanism—if the steering wheel is locked, you'll need to turn the key again to unlock it. If you smell gasoline, stop trying to start the car immediately—a fuel leak is extremely dangerous.
