As you are about to head out in the morning, suddenly your car just won’t start.
Who else has experienced such a situation? Yes, the engine refusing to start can give you a headache and ruin your day.
All vehicle owners surely want their cars to be always in excellent condition. However, having engine problems is not uncommon.
Several reasons may cause your car engine to fail to start. In this article, we share some of the reasons you can’t start your engine.
Gear lever fixed at a position other than ‘N’ or ‘P’
Did you know that your car won’t start if you rest the gear lever at D, R, 1, or 2?
Remember, your car engine will only start if you fix the gear lever to ‘P’ or ‘N’. It is to avoid any potential accident occurring when you start the car engine. This is also to prevent your car from ‘jumping’ or moving on its own once the engine is started.
Therefore, ensure that your gear is fixed at the right position before turning on the car engine.
Dead car battery
A car battery is essential in supplying electrical power to the car engine. Typically, a car engine won’t start due to a depleted car battery.
For your information, a car battery will start to lose its power after 12 to 15 months of use.
Several reasons deplete a car battery, including:
- Not turning off the vehicle lights
- The car has not been in use for a while
- The battery has been used for a long time and needs to be replaced
If the car battery has been in use for more than a year, you can unplug the car battery and have it charged at a nearby workshop. However, a recharged old battery will become weak again after a few days.
You should get an expert’s view on whether you can use the same battery or have it replaced with a new one.
Spark plug damage
A spark plug is a critical component of the internal combustion engine. The spark plug supplies the spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture so that combustion can occur to start your car engine.
This component may also sometimes cause your engine to be unable to start. That is why you need to regularly inspect your spark plug to prevent more damage.
Some of the signs that your spark plug is damaged are:
- Your car engine is unusually noisy
- Uneven combustion
- Unable to start the engine especially in the morning
- The engine squeaks while the acceleration power decreases
If you find your car showing such symptoms, please send your car to a workshop to replace your spark plug.
Damaged alternator
Is your car battery depleting despite using a new one? This may indicate that your car’s alternator is damaged.
Alternator plays a crucial role in the vehicle operating system where it supplies electrical charge to car components such as lights, wipers, and radio.
The followings are the symptoms of a damaged alternator:
- A warning symbol on the dashboard appears
- The car headlight becomes dimmer
- Smells of burning rubber
- Dying car battery
You are advised to bring your car to a workshop for inspection.
ECU not working properly
The Engine Control Unit (ECU) is considered the computer of your car where most of the activities of the electrical components are controlled by a pre-installed software. The ECU helps control critical vehicle systems such as engine control, car control, airbags and automatic emergency brakes.
Below are signs of a damaged ECU:
- Unable to start the car engine
- Decreasing engine power
- A warning symbol on the dashboard appears
Regularly monitor your car engine
The information above is some of the common reasons for failing to start your car engine. We hope it helps you address a similar problem that your car may experience.
Additionally, ensure that your car is serviced regularly according to a set period to ensure that your vehicle is always in good condition.
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