Why My Car Wont Start

It’s no fun to be stuck in your driveway (or worse, on the side of the road) with a vehicle you can’t turn on. You need your car to get to work, school, the grocery store, a friend’s house, and pretty much anywhere else.

There are plenty of answers to the question you’re probably asking yourself right now: “why won’t my car start?” Perhaps your car cranks but it won’t turn on or it only works for a second before dying.

All of these issues are frustrating, but it will help to first identify the problem. There are a few common reasons why cars won’t start.

Reason #1: Dead Car Battery

The most common reason a vehicle won’t start is because the car battery is dead. You can easily determine if this is the issue by answering “yes” to any of the following questions:

• Are your electrical components such as the clock, radio, navigation or lights not working?
• Is the battery indicator on?

Chances are if your battery is dead, you left the headlights or cabin lights on too long, you have a loose connection or corroded battery, or your battery has reached the end of its useful life.

Luckily, you can usually restart your battery by connecting jumper cables to your battery and to the battery of a properly working car. The alternator in your vehicle will charge the battery once you start the car. It’s best to have your battery looked at by a licensed mechanic who may recommend a battery replacement, especially if your battery is more than three to five years old.  

Reason #2: Defective Ignition Switch

You’ve determined the battery is working properly, but your vehicle still won’t start. The next probable cause is a defective ignition switch. This is the control that engages the starter and “ignites” the vehicle’s engine, and turns on your main electrical systems.

Because your headlights and electronics are powered by the battery, you can narrow the cause to the ignition switch if these components work but your engine still won’t turn over. This may also be the problem if the engine cranks, or you hear nothing at all when you turn the key (or attempt to turn it and they key gets stuck).

Reason #3: Broken Starter

If the ignition switch isn’t the issue, another possible culprit it the starter. This is a small motor that is connected to the battery and starts the engine.

Here are a couple of tell-tale signs that your starter is broken or not functioning correctly:

• Your car “clicks” but it won’t start when you try to turn the engine over. 
• Your engine cranks very loudly but won’t start.

Any of these reasons could by why your car won’t start, but it’s best to leave it up to a professional before making a formal determination of what to replace or repair.

Reason #4: Clogged Fuel Filter

Gas powered vehicle’s need fuel to burn for the engine to run. Your fuel filter helps control how the gas reaches your engine and can get clogged, causing your car to not start.

You also can tell if your fuel filter is clogged when your car is running, if:

• You smell strong fumes.
• You can’t properly accelerate.
• Your engine performance is malfunctioning or misfires.

While every situation is different, it’s recommended to change your fuel filter every two years or 30,000 miles.

Reason #5: Empty Gas Tank

Even if you’re keeping an eye on it, an empty gas tank could be the reason your car won’t start. You could simply be out of gas. Or, if you haven’t filled up in a while but notice that your fuel gauge shows your close to full or only moves ever so slightly after a long drive, it may be miscalibrated and require repair.

Contact Us Today

Your vehicle deserves the best coverage and the team at United Auto Insurance can provide it. For more than 50 years, our team has proudly served Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana with first class auto insurance and low prices. We’ve got you covered! For additional information about insuring your vehicle and getting roadside assistance with your next insurance policy, contact us today.