The advancement of modern automobile technology has eliminated the necessity for most daily manual car status checks. Even though technology has improved a lot of things, there are still a few things you should check if your car won't start.
Empty fuel tank
There are instances when the answer to an issue may be found in a straightforward manner. Don't forget to fill up your fuel tank before you hit the road. Also, don't allow your gas tank to get too low. Moisture from within the tank may freeze, causing ice that might harm the engine in cold weather.
Dead Battery
The other most common reason a car won't start is a dead battery. More often than not, batteries die unexpectedly. If the battery is weak, there is a possibility that the starter may be spinning slowly. Batteries may run out for various reasons, such as accidentally leaving lights on, faulty wiring, or a defect in the battery owing to its age.
Bad Alternator
A faulty alternator and a dead battery go hand in hand. After starting the car, the alternator recharges the battery and maintains the electrical system's operation. If your alternator is faulty, it may not have charged the battery enough to start the engine.
Faulty starter motor
Dead batteries and alternators aren't the only things that might cause your ignition to stop working. If anything is wrong with the aforementioned starting motor, which receives the electrical signal to spin the engine, your car may not react to the turn of your key.
Ignition Switch Failure
You may have an issue with the ignition switch if your car won't start on the first few attempts, even if your battery is fully charged. Turning on your headlights might help you narrow down the source of the problem. A faulty ignition switch is the most probable reason for a car that won't start if the headlights and dashboard light up but the engine won't start.
Worn Out Spark Plugs
Spark plugs in most modern cars last for roughly 100,000 miles before needing replacement. A reasonable rule of thumb is to replace them once your car has hit the 100,000-mile mark. Starting problems, rough idling, misfiring, poor acceleration, poor fuel efficiency, and an illuminated check engine light are all indications that your spark plugs are failing.
Final Thoughts
As you can see, there are numerous reasons why your car won't start. Regardless of the cause, the symptoms are almost identical, so it's hard to tell what's wrong with the car. Some of them may even be an indication of a more serious underlying problem that only experts can detect. If you need a battery or alternator repair, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Quality Tune Up Car Care Center today!