5 Reasons You Are Having Trouble Starting Your Car

A car refusing to start causes a unique kind of dread. Not only can you not get where you’re going, but you also may not know what’s causing the problem in the first place. From a 2001 Toyota Highlander battery to a spark plug, a lot goes into starting up your car. Here are a few reasons it may be having trouble. 

Dead Battery

This is the first thing many people think of when their car won’t start. The battery provides a jolt of electricity to begin the combustion process in the engine. If the battery doesn’t have enough charge, you’ll hear a click-click noise and no revving engine. 

Keeping jumper cables in your trunk is a good idea for this situation. A simple jump from another car’s battery can allow you to drive to a shop and charge your battery properly. However, this doesn’t always work. If your car battery has failed, it won’t hold a charge from a jump, and you’ll need to purchase a new battery. 

Battery Terminal Problems

It could be that your battery has enough charge, but it’s not able to leave the battery itself. If your battery seems to have power, check the terminal connections. 

Corrosion, dirt or a poorly attached connector can prevent your car from starting. Cleaning your terminals is an easy fix and should be a part of your routine car maintenance. 

Bad Alternator

If your 2020 Honda Civic battery is functional and your terminals are good to go, the problem may be your alternator. This important car part is the main source of power for your car’s battery.

An alternator belt turns your combustion engine’s power into electricity to charge your battery while driving. If it’s not functioning well, your battery will frequently run out of juice and your car won’t start. 

Engine Problems

Many parts inside of your engine help it to start running. If any of these five parts are broken, they could be the reason you’re having trouble starting your car.  

1. The ignition switch transfers electricity out of your car battery. If it’s broken, you won’t hear anything when trying to start your car, and your key may not want to turn. 
2. A clogged fuel filter bars gasoline from entering your engine.
3. Your spark plugs may be old or worn out. You’ll notice slower start times and bad fuel mileage before they fail entirely and you can’t start your car. 
4. The timing belt controls when your engine’s cylinders fire. If it’s broken, the cylinders won’t fire all at once and your engine will have trouble starting up. 
5. The distributor cap can keep power from getting to the spark plugs if it’s wet or damaged. 

Out of Gas

Finally, if you’re confident that your battery is charged and your engine has no malfunctions, make sure your fuel tank isn’t empty. In a stressful situation, it’s easy to forget the basics. 

Issues starting a car can stem from a wide range of mechanisms in both your electrical system and your engine itself. Check your 2000 Ford E450 Econoline Super Duty battery first, and then move down the list to less likely causes to get your car running again.