Reasons Why Your Car Won't Start

Almost everyone's been through it before. You hop in the car, excited at the prospect of devouring a Chipotle burrito in less than 4 bites to soothe the violent cravings that have been driving you nearly insane since 4 p.m. Your work day is finally over and the only thing standing between you and your food dreams coming true is a 15 minute drive. You put the key into the ignition and then, nothing. Your car won't start. It always feels like a nightmare, and it's never, ever at a convenient time. We came up with a guide to help explain some of the common reasons why a car won't start, along with the signs. It's always best to have a professional mechanic take a look at your vehicle and properly diagnose it if you're having trouble starting it.

Clicking Noise But No Start

You most likely have a dead battery. This is the most common cause of your car not starting. If your battery is dead, you will typically hear a clicking noise, but the car won't start. A dead battery can happen from leaving any lights on in the car for a long period of time, or just from a battery being old. The battery supplies electrical power used to start your car, so if you have a dead battery, you won't be able to start it. If you have a dead battery, here is a guide on how to jump-start your car.

Car Will Crank But Still Won't Start

If your car will crank but won't start up, you'll want to check the fuel supply to your engine. If there are no issues with the fuel supply, you'll want to check to make sure that an electrical spark is getting to your spark plugs.

Completely Silent When Turning Key

If there is no response at all when you turn the key, the best thing to do is to check your battery terminal connections. Your connections may be corroded. To test this, you can take the point of a screwdriver (with an insulated handle) and force it between the connector and terminal post and twist it before trying to start your car. Make sure it's lodged firmly. If your car starts, you'll need to replace or clean the corrosion from your cables.

Starter Motor

A starter motor (starter) physically forces the vehicle's engine to turn, making the pistons go up and down. If your starter is broken, your car won't turn the engine, preventing you from being able to start your vehicle. A replacement starter will vary in price depending on your vehicle, but with parts and labor should range anywhere from $300 to $500 to replace.

Fuel Filter & Fuel Pump

A blocked fuel filter can also prevent you from being able to start your vehicle. If your fuel filter is blocked up, it will prevent fuel from flowing into the vehicle's engine, preventing engine combustion. Similarly, a fuel pump, which is responsible for pumping fuel from the gas tank into the engine, is important to your car's ability to start. If the pump is broken and not able to pump gas into the engine, your car won't start.

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