Why Won't an Automatic Transmission Car Start?
3 Answers
An automatic transmission car won't start because: 1. The battery may be dead. Prolonged use of electrical devices can drain the battery, making it impossible to start the car. 2. The gear may not be properly set. Unlike manual transmission cars, automatic transmission cars cannot start if the gear is not in P (Park) or N (Neutral) but is instead in R (Reverse) or D (Drive). 3. The car may be out of fuel. If the car won't start due to lack of fuel, simply refueling will solve the problem. Additional Information: Due to the presence of a torque converter in automatic transmission cars, the transmission and engine are not rigidly connected, so push-starting the car is not possible. In such cases, an external power source must be used to start the car. The specific steps for jump-starting with an external power source are: 1. Connect the positive terminal of the dead battery to the positive terminal of the rescue car's battery. 2. Then connect the negative terminal of the rescue car's battery to a grounded metal part of the dead car's body. 3. After starting the car, remove the jumper cables in the order of positive first, then negative.
As a veteran driver with 15 years of experience, I can tell you that the most common reason an automatic transmission car won't start is a dead battery. When you hear clicking sounds but the engine doesn't turn over in the morning, it's likely due to an aging battery. This is especially noticeable in winter because cold temperatures reduce battery performance. Another possible cause is incorrect gear position - some people forget to put it in Park when rushing out of the car, or don't press the brake firmly enough when in Neutral. The most frustrating case I've encountered was a faulty fuel gauge showing fuel when the tank was actually empty. If none of these are the issue, it might be a problem with the ignition coil or fuel pump failure. My neighbor's car had this last issue - replacing the fuel pump cost over 800 yuan. The key takeaway: don't keep trying to start it blindly, check these potential problems first.
I had the same issue with my car the other day. After struggling for a while, I found out it was because the remote key fob's battery was dead. Modern cars are so smart that the anti-theft system won't allow the engine to start if it doesn't detect the key. Another time, it was even funnier—the steering wheel was locked and jammed the ignition switch. In that case, just wiggle the steering wheel while turning the key. If your car won't start right after refueling, it might be due to poor-quality gasoline clogging the fuel injectors. My buddy had this exact symptom after filling up at a small roadside gas station. The most annoying issue is a computer malfunction, where too much carbon buildup in the throttle body or a faulty sensor causes the computer to cut off the startup program. I'd suggest trying a jump start first; if that doesn't work, you'll need to read the trouble codes.
