What to Check When Your Car Won’t Start

Hop in your car, buckle up, turn the key… and nothing happens. What do you do? It can be extremely stressful to find out your car won’t start when you’re about to go somewhere. So when this happens to you, take a deep breath and then try one of these three methods. As with any car problem, it’s ultimately best to have a mechanic inspect your car and diagnose any necessary auto repairs. While you can do a temporary fix, a trusted mechanic is best at ensuring that all of your car’s systems are in good working order.

If the lights and radio are not responding, try starting your car

When you try to start the car, pay attention to whether the radio or any lights react. These are powered by the car battery, which means that if they don’t light up, the problem is most likely with the battery, not the fuel system or engine. Fortunately, this means you can try to jump-start the car battery, which will allow you to start the car. However, you may want to have your car checked by a mechanic as soon as possible to make sure this doesn’t happen again.

If the light does not come on, please replace the battery as soon as possible.

Leaving your lights on overnight can easily lead to a dead battery. If this is the case for you, it’s probably a one-time thing. You probably don’t need to worry about getting a new battery at this point. However, if you can’t think of anything that could have drained your battery, it could mean your battery is old. You may also need new wires or connections. A trusted mechanic can diagnose any car problems that could have drained your battery and test the battery’s life so you can rest assured that you won’t be stuck with a car that won’t start again.

If you smell gasoline, try clearing the gasoline from the engine.

Do you smell something like gasoline when you try to start your car? If so, it could mean that your engine is flooded and therefore won’t start. While this may mean you need to call a mechanic to fix your car, there are ways to temporarily fix the problem. Keep your foot on the accelerator as far as it will go, then start the engine. This should help burn off any excess fuel in the engine so it can start.

Engine flooding is caused by the air-fuel mixture being too rich

Wondering what a flooded engine is? Gas-powered cars rely on the proper air-fuel mixture inside the engine’s combustion chambers, which is then ignited by the spark plugs. A flooded engine occurs when the mixture fed into the engine is too high in fuel because the spark plugs can’t burn all of the fuel. This is a sign of a larger problem with the car, so while you may be able to start your car now by clearing the flooded engine, a mechanic should take care of the underlying car repair as soon as possible.

If you hear a clicking sound, try cleaning the battery terminals

If you hear a clicking sound but the car won’t start, the reason your car won’t start could be the starter or corroded battery terminals. If you know how to access your car’s starter, you can try giving it a quick tap. Another way is to open the hood and check the battery terminals. In either case, your car may not start because of a problem with the electrical connections.

If you are not at home, try tapping the battery terminals

You can clean the battery terminals at home with a cup of water, some baking soda, and an old toothbrush. If you’re not at home and may not have these things on hand, you can also try tapping the battery terminals in hopes of moving the connection around for better current flow. Whichever method you choose, make sure your keys are not in the ignition so you don’t risk electrocution.

When you need auto repair in Orlando, you can count on AAMCO

Having trouble with your car? It’s frustrating and stressful to walk out the door and find your car won’t start. The expert mechanics at your local AAMCO can help you diagnose any necessary auto repairs to get you back on the road. You’ll leave with the confidence that your car will always start for you. Schedule an appointment online today!