Dealing with a car that would not start
What to do when the car would not start. (Photo Credits)
A car that would not start can be a huge inconvenience to its owner. Not only does it cause the driver stress, it definitely alters the person’s schedule for the day.
But what should a vehicle owner or driver do in the event his car gets stalled?
Popular Mechanics came up with a decision tree to help car owners determine what is wrong with their vehicle, and get it running, at least until they find a service station or reach home if it is nearby.
“The best approach to finding a solution is to remain methodical. This is classic systems analysis. Just follow the decision tree on the next page, and you’ll find and cure the problem. Our decision tree is generic, but it should resolve the majority of failure-to-start scenarios. The only real diagnostic tool you’ll require is a decent multimeter. A fuel-pressure gauge and a noid light, for testing fuel injectors, might be handy once you’ve ruled out the starter motor and battery. You might also need a battery charger to bring the battery to a full state of charge, even if the engine is cranking, because you’ll need a fully charged battery to do some of these diagnostics.”
Check out the whole article here.
Battery Issues
Repairpal.com meanwhile came up with an online quiz that will help car owners troubleshoot their stalled vehicle problems. One of the reasons they mentioned in their article is battery issues.
“Battery terminals are loose: This happens more often than you’d think, and it can be easily identified and corrected. Try to wiggle the terminal loose by rotating it around the battery post. it shouldn’t move at all. If it does, tighten the terminal bolt. In some cases, the terminal bolt will not tighten or may be too corroded to tighten. If this is the case, you’ll need to repair or replace it.”
Check out the other possible battery issues in the continuation of this write-up here.
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As for ignition problems during the winter, YourMechanic.com offered some troubleshooting tips that might just get the car starting in no time. It also discussed possible reasons why a vehicle would not start in the cold.
“Cold weather can cause fuel problems. If there’s any water in the fuel lines (there shouldn’t be, but it happens), sub-zero temperatures can cause that water to freeze, blocking the flow of fuel. This is most common in the fuel lines, which are thin and easily blocked by ice. A car with frozen fuel lines may turn over just fine, but it won’t run on its own. Diesel drivers take note: diesel fuel can “gel” in cold weather, meaning it flows more slowly because of the cold, and making it harder to deliver to the engine on start-up.”
Read about the other possible reasons here.
Knowing what to do in case a car’s engine fails to start helps a lot in avoiding hassles and inconveniences.