One of the most dreaded parts of car ownership is the hopefully rare moment when you try to start the engine and it doesn’t roar to life the way that you are expecting. Unfortunately there are a myriad of problems that might be occurring, but three of the most common are relatively easy and painless. A car not starting could point to a dead battery, a faulty alternator, or a crummy starter. If you don’t want to call your favorite car repair guy right away (or if their shop is already closed for the evening), here are some ways to help troubleshoot the reason that your car doesn’t want to start.
Suspect Number One: A Tired Battery That Doesn’t Have The Power
The first thing to think about when you try to start your car in the morning and it just won’t turn over is to take a look at the weather. If it was an an unusually cold evening and/or you haven’t driven in a few days, there is a good likelihood that your battery is at fault. When batteries are getting old and tired, they need to be charged more regularly—which happens when you are driving your car. In addition, all lead-acid batteries (like the one in your car) are less able to keep a charge in extreme temperatures, and this issue is compounded when the battery is weak to begin with. When a lead-acid battery is old, it’s cells start to freeze almost as soon as temperatures near freezing. If it is newer, and still fully charged, it won’t start to freeze until well below -50 degrees Fahrenheit.
There are a few other ways to infer that the battery may be the issue in your car’s ecosystem. Did you leave your headlights on last night? Its probably the battery. Did your car run just fine after your neighbor jumpstarted it, and then fail to start again the next morning? There is a good chance it is the battery. Do you try to start the engine and it chugs and few times, but doesn’t quite get started? It might be the battery. And we shouldn’t have to say it, but if that little battery warning indicator light is lit up on your dash? You probably need a new battery.
You should be able to buy a new battery at any local auto parts store, and installation in most cars is fairly simple. Some auto parts stores may even install the battery for you after your purchase. If your battery light goes off after installation, you have found the source of your problem. Enjoy being able to start your car without having to harass your neighbor for his jumper cables yet again.
Suspect Number 2: The Failing Alternator Refusing to Do Its Job
When it comes to differentiating between a failing alternator and a failing battery, it can be hard to make the distinction offhand. The battery starts the car, and the alternator recharges the battery. If one isn’t working correctly, than the other will likely struggle as well. Your car can run for a little while with a failed alternator, running on the power stored in the battery. But once that battery is depleted, it can’t be recharged without the alternator. This means that if you jumpstart your car and it runs for a little while—but then stops—a faulty alternator is likely your car’s problem.
In addition to charging the battery, the alternator is responsible for making all of the electrical systems in your car work. This means that the headlights and dash lights, the radio, the fans for the heater and the AC all require a working alternator to function properly. One way to check the status of the alternator is to see what happens to your lights when you hit the gas. If the lights noticeably dim when you stomp on the gas, there is a good chance that your alternator isn’t doing its job of regulating the electrical systems in your car.
Just like the battery symbol that appears when your battery is bad, the battery symbol or an additional light may be present on your dashboard indicating that there is something wrong with your electrical system. Consult your owner’s manual to demystify your dash warning lights, and see if they indicate an alternator failure.
Think the Alternator is Bad? Please Don’t Disconnect the Battery
One piece of advice that is often passed around for checking to see if the alternator is bad is to take off one of the battery terminals while the car is running. If the car turns off, (this bad advice says) this indicates a faulty alternator. While this may have once been an okay thing to do, as soon as computer chips entered the systems of modern cars, disconnecting the battery became something you absolutely do not want to do.
In modern vehicles, if you disconnect the battery while it is running like that there is a chance that you could completely fry the electrical systems in your car. According to the Family Handyman, “The second you disconnect the battery, the voltage regulator pegs the alternator to put out maximum power. With no battery in the circuit to act as a buffer, the alternator can put out up to 150 volts, depending on engine rpm.” If you still aren’t sure if your alternator is the problem and you need to know, don’t disconnect the battery. Instead if you have a voltmeter on hand you can safely test it at home without frying your car’s electronics.
If you find out the alternator is the culprit, replacement can usually be done fairly quickly and inexpensively at your local car garage. One thing to keep in mind is that if your alternator has been quietly failing for a while, it may have placed additional strain on your battery. This is why a battery leaking acid is a good indicator that the alternator is going to go belly up. Have your garage test your battery when you get the new alternator. It may save you some headaches to have them both replaced at the same time.
Suspect Number Three: The Lazy Starter that Won’t Wake Up the Engine
The third piece in the “Why won’t my engine start?” pie is the starter. The starter has an apt name. Without a functioning starter to actually start the car, you aren’t going anywhere. Because the starter takes its power from the battery, the non-functional battery leads to a non-functional starter and car. If the battery is okay, however, your starter might be at fault.
The easiest to identify symptom of a broken starter is a clicking sound when trying to start your engine. The engine won’t turn over—but there will be a mechanical clicking sound when you give that key a turn. As always, when your car is making an unusual sound, it’s probably not a good thing. Another indicator of a bad starter is if you turn your car’s accessories on and the radio and lights still work, but the car still won’t start, your starter could be at fault. A final test is to try and jump start the car. If you still have no success with a jump, you will probably have to get that starter replaced.
Once again, replacing a starter is usually a fairly straightforward procedure that your local car repair shop should be able to help you with in short order. No one likes having to spend the money and time on unexpected repairs, but if you need your battery changed, your alternator replaced or a new starter installed, the repairs should be relatively quick and painless—letting you get back on the road ASAP.
