Car not starting

Car not starting

My car won't start.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

With limited information about your Honda, it is difficult to point in you the right direction as to why your Accord will not start. There can be several reasons why your Honda won’t start, such as a low battery or a failed starter. The main relay can duplicate lack of spark and fuel and will prevent your vehicle from starting as well. Due to the variety of possibilities to why your Accord will not start, it may be time to enlist the assistance of a certified mechanic. They will be able to diagnose your Honda’s symptoms and identify exactly why your Accord will not start. They will also be able to assist you in making the necessary repairs to get your Honda starting every time without worry.

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 Honda Accord won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter. Search our network of RepairPal Certified shops near you to speak with a technician about your issue.

If the car cranks when you turn the key, but the engine won`t start, it could be because fuel isn`t getting to the engine. One potential reason for this could be dirty fuel injectors. Over time, the fuel injector nozzles can become clogged with rust, corrosion or debris.

A weak or dead 12v battery is most likely the cause of your Accord not cranking or cranking very slowly. Ensure the battery in your vehicle is in good condition. A battery with 12.5 volts should be used. Alternatively, you can jumpstart it if you don`t have a voltmeter.

Hey there! Yes, a faulty ignition switch can result in a no-start condition in which the engine cranks but does not start or fire. However, there may be other causes why the engine does not crank.

If your vehicle won`t start but you hear a rapid clicking sound when you turn the key then you may have a problem with your battery or alternator.

Blown Fuse

If there has been a surge, a fuse that controls the fuel pump, the fuel injectors, or another component that`s vital for your car`s functioning, it may be the cause of your car`s failure to start. Unlike most of the other problems, this is one that you can check yourself, if you want.

Defective ignition switch

If you know your battery is working properly, but your car doesn`t turn over on the first few tries, you might have a problem with the ignition switch. You can try to narrow down the cause of your issue by turning on your headlights.

The engine may be getting too much fuel or not enough fuel. This is usually due to the carburetor not working properly. If the carburetor is clogged, the engine won`t get enough fuel. If the carburetor choke isn`t closing properly, the engine may get too much fuel.

This includes worn, fouled or damaged spark plugs, bad plug wires or a cracked distributor cap. Sometimes, misfiring may not be caused by a total loss of spark but by incorrect sparking or by high-voltage electrical leaks.

Damaged CV joint: The most common cause of a clicking or popping sound from the wheels is a broken CV joint.

The starter relay makes a clicking sound, but the engine does not rotate, which indicates that the starter motor is not receiving enough current from the relay. This may also be a sign of low or exhausted battery power. Only when it transmits enough current to the starter, the relay starts to work.

The engine clicking sound can be caused by a leak in your engine, a faulty oil pump, or insufficient oil in the reservoir. If you were to continue driving the vehicle, permanent damage could occur. If there isn`t enough lubrication in your engine, the engine could eventually fail.

Engine Won`t Start

A bad ignition switch won`t be able to supply power to the starter motor, ignition system, and other engine controls, preventing the engine from starting.

An Issue With The Ignition Control Module

If the ignition control module has failed altogether, it`ll create a weak spark, and the car won`t start. Check to see if the switch and terminals are free from rust and replace any damaged or broken spark plugs wires as necessary.

An Issue With The Ignition Control Module

Your engine may not start if an ignition coil isn`t firing up a spark plug. It could be a faulty coil, a poor connection to the ignition coil, or a control module that`s causing the problem.

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

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

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

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.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting

Battery and oil light come on when trying to start car, take keys out try again car starts no problem and lights go away

ANSWER : Of course, don’t switch gears without being fully stopped, unless your Owner’s Manual or the manufacturer has alternative advice. However, the gear shift issue has no relation to the no-start problem you are describing. Inasmuch as you only have 6,000 miles on the car, the "constant on and off" that you believe has occurred is meaningless in comparison to the expected total vehicle service life. That is, assume what you perceive as "constant on and off", during merely 6,000 miles, might be equivalent to using the car "normally" for three years. A new car should be trouble free for at least 5 years, unless there is a defect, so your "constant on and off" is not a causal factor for any fault on the vehicle. What you might have is a defect in the ignition switch, or perhaps the immobilizer system, but if the problem is not in the switch itself, clearly there is an electrical problem.

If your vehicle is under warranty, by law the dealer MUST repair the issue you are describing within a prescribed time frame and number of "attempts", otherwise the dealer will run afoul of Federal and state Lemon Laws that give you very specific rights, and recourse (contact an Attorney; we are Mechanics, NOT attorneys). Consequently, if the vehicle is still under warranty, to save yourself money do be sure to seek a resolution from the dealer. If the vehicle is not under warranty, obviously a certified Mechanic from YourMechanic could identify the electrical fault and resolve this for you. If you want to go that route, please simply request a no start diagnostic -electrical system and the responding certified mechanic will get this taken care of for you. If you have further questions or concerns, do not hesitate to re-contact YourMechanic as we are always here to help you.

Read Full Q/A … : Car not starting