You’re on your way out the door and as you put the key in the ignition, you realize that your car won’t start. We have all had those thoughts that fill our head with questions and our stomach with pure anxiety. Not only might you be late for wherever you were off to do, but you don’t want to have to pour money into your vehicle in what seems like will be a very costly situation. There are many reasons that a car may not start. It doesn’t always have to be the result of leaving your lights on or a door left open. While a dead battery is certainly one of the most common causes, there are a few other common reasons that your car might not start. Our trusted auto shop has compiled a list of the top reasons why your vehicle may not start and what the related signs and symptoms are.

• A dead battery is one of the most common reasons that your car won’t start. Usually, you can hear a clicking noise but the car won’t start. When a battery dies or loses its charge, it also loses its electrical power. That prevents the battery from supplying the electrical power needed to start the vehicle.
• The car may crank over, but still won’t start. In this case, you should check the fuel supply to your engine. If that seems okay, make sure that the electrical spark is getting to your spark plugs. A bad ignition coil can prevent electrical power from a vehicle’s battery from reaching the engine spark plugs.
• If the car is silent when you turn the key in the ignition, you will want to check the battery terminal connections. If they look pretty corroded, force the point of a screwdriver (with an insulated or wooden handle) between the connector and the terminal post and twist it to lodge it firmly. Then try to start the engine. If it starts, you need to clean or replace your cables.
• A starter motor is responsible for physically turning a vehicle’s engine and forcing the pistons up and down. When a starter goes bad, it lacks the strength to turn the vehicle engine, which prevents the entire engine combustion process from starting.
• A blocked fuel filter can prevent fuel from flowing into a vehicle’s engine, and that can prevent engine combustion.
• A fuel pump is responsible for pumping fuel from a vehicle’s gasoline tank into the engine so the spark plugs ignite the fuel and cause an engine to start and run. If the fuel pump loses its fuel pumping ability, your car won’t start.

In order to prevent mishaps like those above, preventative maintenance is the key to a healthy vehicle. Our mechanics  want to do more than just fix your car, they want to maintain it. A vehicle properly maintained and kept three years after your payments end will save you $20,000 to $30,000. But beyond just the money you will save in the long run, you will save money now by limiting the cost of a vehicle which doesn’t start. From batteries to fuel systems, we have you covered.