Possible Symptoms And Causes Of An Engine Problem
In past articles, we’ve taken a look at reasons why your car’s engine may not start properly (or at all). The fact is, there are several parts that contribute to cranking it. If it doesn’t turn over, there may be one or more root causes. They can include insufficient charge, poor cranking speed, lack of fuel, or a lack of adequate compression. If your car doesn’t start, there’s a good chance the culprit is one of those factors.
In this article, I’ll explain how the above factors can prevent your engine from turning over. While your vehicle may not be delicate, its smooth operation relies upon a seamless collaboration of various parts.
Diagnosing The Problem
The easiest place to start is with your battery and starter. If there’s a cranking problem, those two parts are the most common offenders. The challenge is figuring out which one is causing the issue.
First, check your battery’s voltage. If it’s low, recharge it. If it won’t hold the charge, replace it. The reason to start here is because your starter might not operate if it doesn’t receive enough voltage. Keep in mind that if your battery is low, it may be due to your attempts at starting your car. Or, the low voltage may be due to an issue within your vehicle’s charging system. Swap the battery with another and try starting your car again. If it cranks and comes to life, that was most likely the problem.
Let’s suppose your battery is fully charged, yet your engine still won’t crank. It’s time to take a closer look at your starter. Begin by turning on your car’s headlights. If they don’t dim when you turn the key in the ignition, your starter is not receiving a sufficient charge. Because we already know the battery is fully charged, the issue may be the ignition switch or the solenoid. If you notice dimming in the headlights, but little else, the starter may be bad.
Let’s suppose the starter is fine, your engine cranks, but your car still doesn’t start. The next step is to take a look at the fuel and level of compression. The issue may lie with the fuel pump or the fuel injection system. Assuming you have gas in the tank, the easiest thing to check is the line pressure. No pressure, no fuel.
If fuel is reaching the engine, but your vehicle still refuses to start, the problem may be a broken timing belt. That would impact the amount of compression available. If you have ever driven a car and had the timing belt break while you were on the road, you’ll have noticed the engine stopped completely. That’s because the break eliminated the necessary compression.
Obviously, diagnosing the factors that might be preventing your vehicle from starting can be a long and frustrating experience. If you have the tools (i.e. voltmeter, compression gauge, etc.) and experience, you can perform the necessary tests within a couple of hours. Otherwise, you would be better served by taking your vehicle into a trained mechanic.
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