If your car doesn’t start, don’t panic. Many things can go wrong, but all of them are easily fixable. Just follow our step-by-step guide, and you’ll be back on the road in no time.
If your car won’t start, the first check is whether the battery has enough juice to turn the engine. If your interior lights don’t come on when you turn the key and there’s no power to the dashboard, then that’s a pretty good sign that the battery isn’t getting any juice. If your battery is old or weak, it might not crank over at all in this case. You’ll need to get a jump start from another car with a charged battery.
If you haven’t driven your car for a while, there’s a chance that the battery terminals may have corroded. If this is the case, clean them with a wire brush or sandpaper. Just make sure not to damage any wiring. Once cleaned, apply some grease to stop further corrosion from occurring.
Make sure the cables are tight, and there’s no corrosion. Also, ensure that the battery terminals are clean and shiny because this will help get a good connection. If you have an old battery, it might be time for a new one.
If you have jumper cables and another vehicle with a working battery and engine, connect one end of each cable to the positive terminal on both batteries. Connect the other end of one cable to the negative terminal on your dead battery; connect the other end of the second cable to an unpainted metal surface under the hood or inside the fender well. Try to attach them to metal that isn’t hot or moving; otherwise, they could melt or catch fire. Then turn on both vehicles and let them run for several minutes before trying to start your car again. This should give enough juice to get it going again without paying anyone else for repairs or tow charges.
Look for problems under the hood
If you don’t have jumper cables or the battery is fine, look under the hood for any obvious problems like leaking fluids or loose wires. If you find something amiss, fix it and try to start your car again.
If your car has been sitting for a long time or if it has been running poorly before it stopped, then check the carburetor first. Carburetors can get clogged with debris from bad fuel or moisture that enters the engine compartment. A car that has sat for a long time may have developed rust in the carburetor’s jets and passages which can block fuel flow when you try to start it again.
Take it to the mechanic if it still doesn’t work
If you’ve checked all these things and ruled out problems with the battery or starter, then it’s time for more serious diagnostics. If your engine won’t turn over at all, even with a jump, then it’s time for troubleshooting by an expert mechanic.
Besides just running these five steps, often-overlooked maintenance is also essential to guarantee that your car is in top running condition. From checking fluid levels and tire pressure to replacing air filters and headlights, the little checks can make a big difference in engine maintenance.