Car is having trouble starting.
Hi I just recently had this issue where my Tahoe won't start. It first happened after I pumped $20 of gas and then drove no more than 100 feet and it shut off on me. The battery is new and I even had it tested to make sure it's okay and it is fine. I also pulled out the starter with the solenoid attached and tested it with jumper cables and it works perfectly well. I replaced the spark plugs after it shut off on me and still it won't start up. What could be the problem?
My car has 213000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Are you sure you did not get bad or the wrong gas?
Chevy trucks are known for fuel related issues. I would start by connecting a fuel pressure gauge to your fuel rail attached to the top of your engine under the cover. With the gauge attached, turn the key on without starting, and the pressure should at least read 45 PSI. Then let the gauge sit for a few minutes. The pressure should not drop more than 5 PSI in 1 minute. If either of these tests do not meet specifications, then you likely need a fuel pump and filter. Other electrical issues feeding the fuel pump could also cause 0 PSI when the key is turned on (ignition switch, fuel pump relay, fuel pump fuse, fuel pump wiring).
If you have pressure and no leak down after 5 minutes, then I would suspect bad gas or a security system issue. If you need a diagnostic, a certified technician from YourMechanic can come to your home or office to inspect your starting issue and make the repairs that are needed.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Tahoe won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
You could have a junk battery and starter. Try unhooking the battery and jumping the Tahoe with the jumper cables hooked to the terminals. If it starts its the battery. If it makes a tick sound every time you try starting it the starter is the problem.
Fuel injectors may become dirty over time and not be able to provide as much fuel to the cylinder as is needed. Dirty fuel injectors may cause the engine to run lean which will in turn, cause hesitation when accelerating.
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Tahoe has rough idle are a vacuum leak, an issue with the spark plugs, or a problem with the ignition coil. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue. Oops!
It might be a battery or alternator problem.
If the source of the clicking is electrical, the starter (a small motor energized by the battery that gets the engine running) doesn`t have enough juice to stay powered. So instead, it rapidly turns on and off and produces a clicking noise!
A clicking sound when you start your car could suggest a problem with your car`s electrical system. A rapid clicking sound might hint at a battery- or alternator-related issue. A single loud click might mean problems with your starter motor.
This hesitation while accelerating can be the result of a number of issues, including something like a clogged fuel filter or even a broken fuel pump. Sometimes, something could also be wrong with the transmission.
Rough starts, hesitation and poor acceleration are all common symptoms of a bad spark plug. If a spark plug or multiple spark plugs are faulty, they will have trouble creating the spark that causes the ignition process in your vehicle.
Oxygen (O2) sensor An oxygen sensor monitors and analyzes the amount of oxygen in a vehicle`s exhaust system after combustion. A dirty, damaged or malfunctioning O2 sensor (or sensors) affects the air/fuel mixture, causing the engine to idle rough.
The most likely causes of this are a clogged fuel filter, spark plugs, coil, failed fuel injectors, wiring harness fault, vacuum leak, MAF sensor, or oxygen sensors.
Slow cranking could be the result of several possible conditions, and as you`ve suggested, the fault might reappear or worsen. Possible causes are a degraded or defective battery, faulty electrical connection, a charging system problem, a bad starter or battery rundown when parked.
It`s a common occurrence as low temperatures can cause your car battery to produce less current, making it that much harder for your engine to turn over in the morning. The cold can also stop your engine oil from flowing as well as it should, which puts even more strain on the battery.
The reason for your car taking longer to start can depend on a variety of conditions including weather, battery health, starter health, fuel pump health, and other factors. If your vehicle is slow to start, or if something seems to be wrong with your vehicle, it can be tricky to find the cause.
Dead Battery. This is probably the most common reason why a car that worked the day before would suddenly not start the next morning. Usually, a dead battery happens because the headlights or the dome light didn`t get turned off and drained the battery completely.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car will not start Intermittently. I purchased a new battery 2 weeks ago and yesterday the car wouldn’t start. Got a jump and
ANSWER : The issue you are having is probably due to an intermittent fault in the starter motor itself or a deficiency in the starter electrical circuit, for example a large voltage drop due to a poor ground or a high resistance connection. These issues can be readily diagnosed and resolved on a mobile basis if you request a hard starting diagnostic. If you request that diagnostic, the responding certified mechanic will get this resolved for you promptly. Based on Toyota’s Factory Service Manual, the battery should not be disconnected if the vehicle engine is running. The battery acts as a large resistive voltage sink and consequently taking the battery out of the circuit, while the alternator is still running, can create a voltage spike on the car’s electrical system which is not good for voltage sensitive components such as the engine computer. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.
car hesitates when trying to start the car ,but when started then i shut car off and start again it will start right up
ANSWER : Hi there:
Sometimes when you have problems starting an engine initially it is caused by a restriction in fuel flow; caused either by clogged fuel injectors or the throttle body that needs to be cleaned. Once the fuel starts to flow and engine warms up, it’s much easier to start. However, it could also be an air filter, EGR valve or other components that causes this issue as well, which is why it’s best to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection so they can pinpoint the source of this issue.
Map sensor car won’t start up good ?
ANSWER : Your MAP sensor is an important input for your computer. It helps determine the load on the engine to calculate the correct amount of fuel to inject. It sometimes takes a few seconds for the vehicle to realize that the sensor is not producing a good signal.
At that point, it will use other methods to determine the fuel rate, such as pre-programmed fuel maps, throttle position, etc. I would suggest replacing the MAP sensor and retesting. If you would like to have it checked first, a certified technician from YourMechanic will be able to scan your vehicle and test components to determine the root cause of your starting issue before making a repair.
Charging warning light comes on when i turn the key and try to start the car and the car want start but when someone tried to give
ANSWER : Hi there:
If you recently replaced your battery, the issue may be caused by a malfunctioning alternator or other electrical component that comprises the charging system on your Nissan Sentra. The best way to find out which item specifically is faulty, is to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection. This will allow the mechanic to determine the precise source of what’s going on with your Sentra and recommend or complete the right repairs.
My car stutter starts, but only after driving it for a few minutes.
ANSWER : Hey there. This may also be caused by what is called the fuel pressure regulator. This is a unit that helps to maintain the fuel pressure at the proper level. When this is not working properly, the fuel pump may be pumping properly, but the fuel may not arrive at the fuel injectors at the proper psi. When this happens, this can cause a lean fuel condition which may cause the car to hesitate, misfire, or stall. If you would like to have an expert pinpoint the issue, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to inspect the hard start problem and confirm which repairs are needed.
My car will be starting perfect and when the gas tank gets lower it will start having problems .
ANSWER : Based on the information you gave, it sounds like a possible fuel starvation issue, caused by a partially blocked, in-tank fuel filter or a crack in the fuel pump housing. The remedy would be to replace the fuel pump assembly and filter. The overheating may be caused by several things, including a stuck thermostat, faulty water pump, or even a cracked head gasket. I suggest having a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, inspect the relevant systems to pinpoint the cause of your vehicle’s hard starting issue and overheating problem.
I put the wrong key in my car and a few weeks later my car just shut down and it will not start I believe it’s the computer but…
ANSWER : Hi there. What had happened is the wrong key set the security to the vehicle. This is to prevent the vehicle from starting with the wrong keys. Try removing the battery cables (+) and (-) for 13 minutes. During that time, put the original key in the ignition and turn it on. Activate everything in the car even though there is no power. Then remove the key and hook up the battery cables. The computer should have reset and reset the security. If the security is still being tripped, then I recommend seeking out a professional, such as one from Your Mechanic, to help you
believe i have a bad power steering pump, how much does that job cost usually? now my car is having trouble starting, any relation
ANSWER : You will need to have the engine checked to see if it was a starter drive that was stuck and you burned up the starter. It may be the starter that was making the noise. I recommend having this checked by a certified mechanic to diagnose the no start, and then see if the power steering is still noisy.
