The Complete Guide to Why Does My Car Isn't Start and Common Causes for Automotive Engine Failures.

When you turn on your car, it should start. There is nothing more annoying than getting in the car to go somewhere and find that the engine won’t start.

Typically there are several reasons why this happens, some of which are simple fixes while others require a little bit of knowledge about cars.

This article will help guide you through what needs to be done if your car just won’t start, but first, we need to know what could have gone wrong with it so let’s take a look at some of the most common causes for automotive engine failures.

Car engine troubleshooting can be a tedious process. If your car is not starting, the problem may be in one of these areas: battery, starter, fuel system, or electrical system. The first step in diagnosing a potential problem is to check the simple items first and then move on to more complex components if necessary. You should also have an idea about what you are looking for before starting- this will help save time and trouble when diagnosing your vehicle’s problems.

1. Dead battery

If you can't start your car and it doesn't crank then the battery might just be dead. To fix this, we would recommend that you get a new one or take your car to a mechanic for them to replace the battery for you.

2. Bad starter

A bad starter may prevent your vehicle from starting. Unfortunately diagnosing such an issue can be difficult especially if the weather is cold and the engine needs to warm up before trying again. One sign of a bad starter is when your engine tries to turn on but you hear an unknown banging noise while attempting this process, if so pop open the hood of your car or truck and see if something severe has come loose in there while doing so give it some time to rest and then try again.

3. Bad fuel pump

The fuel pump is crucial for getting your car started, if it failed or isn't working properly then you won't be able to start the engine. If the fuel pump is bad and needs replacement check your owner's manual on how to do this yourself otherwise take it to a mechanic and have it done there.

4. Bad spark plugs

The fuel needs a spark in order to ignite, if your spark plugs are bad then you won't be able to start your car. If you need to replace the spark plugs then follow the instructions in your owner's manual or go into a mechanic and get them done there for you.

5. Bad ignition switch

The ignition switch may be bad and prevent your car from starting. It's possible to replace an ignition switch yourself if you have the right tools, otherwise take it into a qualified mechanic and get them to do this for you.

What to do if your car won't start?

I'll give you an example of what you can do. If your car won't start and the battery is dead, we need to charge it before we jump-start it.

We can use jumper cables or a battery charger if we don't have jumper cables. Make sure that the jumper cables are long enough, attach one end to the positive terminal on your car and one end to the positive terminal on the good vehicle.

Attach an end of another cable to the negative terminal on both vehicles and then attach that end to the ground like a metal part of your engine block. Turn off all unnecessary lights inside the car, turn on only necessary lights inside your car, turn off all unnecessary lights in the other vehicle, then start the good car.

Let it run for about five minutes, start your car, then let it run for another five minutes. Do not turn anything off on your car while you are charging it. If the vehicle doesn't have enough power to start, charge it more before you try again.

What if my car won't start after I jump-start it?

If you have a problem with your car starting, try to check the fuse. If it's okay, then you have to take your battery back to get charged or replaced.

If you can get a jump-start from another vehicle, leave it attached for at least five minutes. If the car still won't start after that time, either your battery is going dead or there's a problem with your electrical system.

If there is a problem with the electrical system, it might be a good idea to take your car to a repair shop.

Tips for Preventing Your Car from Engaging in an Inevitable Malfunction

We all know that at some point, our car will inevitably break down. We may not be able to predict the exact moment, but we can take steps now in order to make it last longer.

What are those steps? Below are simple tips for preventing your car from engaging in an inevitable malfunction:

• Keep up with regular maintenance.

As we all know, this is crucial to making our car last. Whether we do it ourselves or schedule time for a local mechanic, keeping up with regular maintenance will save us money and headache in the long run.

• Check the fluids.

For your car's engine, make sure both the motor oil and antifreeze (aka coolant) levels are full. For the transmission fluid/oil, make sure it is full of new fluid. Make sure to change the oil and air filter as well.

• Inspect belts, hoses, and connectors.

By performing an inspection of the belts, hoses, and connectors regularly, you can prevent a malfunction from occurring.

• Apply an engine preservative to the car's battery.

This will help remove corrosion. Check your owner's manual for specific instructions on how to apply this product properly.

• Stop ignoring warning signs.

If your check engine light comes on, think of it as an alarm telling you that something is wrong and you need to get your car checked out. And while you're at it, see if there are other warning signs. If your car hesitates when you press the gas pedal, that's another sign that you should get it checked out. Also, check for abnormal vibrations or noises. Trust your instincts because if something doesn't feel right then chances are that the problem is real and needs to be fixed.

• Avoid driving in a way that is harsh on your car .

If you've ever started a car with an automatic transmission and heard a loud, terrifying grinding noise, then you know how important this tip can be. If you have to start up your vehicle in a tougher environment, such as when the weather is colder or when it's really hot outside, then it's time to be extra careful with how you drive.

• Do regular oil changes to avoid sludge.

Know when your car needs an oil change. Most experts recommend switching out your oil every 3,000 miles, but if you're doing a lot of short trips under one hour or low-speed driving, it could be even less than that. If you do this regularly, you won't need an oil change for a couple of months.

Here are some more tips to keep your car in good condition...

• Avoid driving in high temperatures or extremely cold temperatures. This tip is pretty simple, but it's very effective for making your car last longer. If you know that the temperatures are going to be higher or lower than what your car can handle, just stay home!

• Be mindful of how you drive. Aggressive or rapid acceleration can cause a car to break down more quickly. Not only that but heavy braking and quick stops are not good for the brake pads of your vehicle.

• Avoid carrying too much weight on your vehicle by opting for a lighter load if possible and removing unnecessary items.

• Remember that brakes need time to cool off before they can work properly again after you've applied them. If you step on your brakes and you feel them grab, don't keep going! Stop and wait a few seconds for your car to cool off before hitting the pedal again.

• Use less expensive windshield washer fluid to prevent the heater core from clogging up.

• Add fuel injector cleaner to your gas tank when you fill-up. This will help prevent the fuel line and other parts from corroding.

• Clean or replace air filters on a regular basis. This includes cabin air filters as well.

• Use an engine degreaser to clean out the gunk that builds up under the hood. This will prevent your car from overheating because it can't remove heat efficiently enough.

• Turn off your AC before you start driving again, so cold condensation doesn't damage your engine.

In addition to the steps in this blog post, you may also want to consider having a mechanic inspect your vehicle if it has not been running for an extended period of time. We hope that these tips help and we wish you luck with getting back on the road!