Most people who have driven a vehicle for any length of time have had this issue. You’re late for work, you need to get going fast—and the car won’t start. What makes things lack operation at such a key moment? There’s never a good time to need auto repair in Philadelphia, PA, and if your car won’t start, you just want to know why so you can fix it and move on. If you’re in this situation, it’s nice to know some of the things that cause cars to fail to start so you can troubleshoot or, at the very least, understand when the mechanic explains things to you. Here are a few things that cause a dead vehicle, always at an inopportune moment.
Battery Problems
Have you left a door slightly open, so a dome light was on all night? In newer vehicles, that’s not a problem. Nor is leaving the lights on. But there are still plenty of cars that can drain batteries in that manner. If you have one of them, your battery may be drained and need a charge. You could give it a jump start and that could allow things to start up again. IF the battery is just dead because it’s old and needs to be replaced, you’ll have to get a new battery before you can drive again.
Key Won’t Turn
It’s frustrating to put your key in the ignition, just like you always do, only to have it refuse to turn. Before you panic, it’s usually easy to fix. The steering wheel might be in a locked position because the wheels are turned to the side. Just jiggle the wheel a bit and the key should turn. If that doesn’t work, the key or the whole ignition system could be the issue. Try the spare key and then get the vehicle serviced if that doesn’t work.
Starter Motor Issues
The starter motor has several components that can go out which can cause the engine not to engage. If the electrical current in there doesn’t signal the motor, things won’t crank off. There could be a bad connection or the starter motor itself could need replacement.
Ignition System Failure
The ignition system could fail in a number of locations. If you can turn the key with ease and the engine doesn’t start and if the battery is okay, it’s probably an issue in the ignition system. The switch could be faulty or worn out or it may not be aligned properly.
If your vehicle won’t start and you can’t figure out why, contact professionals in auto repair in Philadelphia, PA to get the help you need. You might be able to troubleshoot by phone with
Schafer’s Auto Center. If that doesn’t work, you might need a repair and diagnostic appointment to see what’s going on within your vehicle before they can make recommendations as to what you need to do. Visit our website at Schafersauto.com if you want to read more about our experience.
