Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
Hello. I've been having issue with my car almost every day. The dashboard shows security light illuminated. When I put the key into the ignition, there is no cranking. I sometimes try turning it on and off several times to get it started. Other times it takes 10-20 minutes for it to turn over. It is as if the solenoid and starter aren't engaging at all. Also, the shifter cannot go into park occasionally. I tried starting the car by putting it to neutral first. It didn't help. I had the battery checked and it is fine. Also, the key has a chip if that has any importance to the issue.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The security chip and the sensor ring that sees the chip can cause the issue. The first thing to try is another key that is not worn. If this works, then have more keys made; this should fix your issue.
If the vehicle still does not crank, then the system may need to have the sensor ring or the antitheft module checked to see if it is getting proper signals to disable, but it does not respond. The module may have intermittent connection issues that need to be checked by a mechanic. An inspection of your hard to start issue by a qualified mechanic is a good place to start.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
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This usually means the battery is bad and incapable of handling a huge request for power to crank the engine over. Headlights begin white and bright, when you try to start the engine, they dim to nothing or almost nothing then as soon as you let go of the key, the headlights QUICKLY bounce back to white and bright.
Bad Sensors
One common culprit for this problem is the crankshaft position sensor, which measures the position and speed of the crankshaft. The computer uses the information from this sensor to know when to fire the spark plugs. If the sensor isn`t working, the spark plugs won`t fire, keeping the engine from starting.
The most common reason cars don`t start is a dead or faulty battery. Even though most cars run on gasoline, they all require electrical power to function. The starter that cranks your engine to start requires an electrical signal to fire. If something`s wrong with your battery, your car engine won`t turn over.
Engine issues
If you`ve replaced your battery but the engine still won`t start, it could actually be an engine problem. A seized engine won`t turn over, and that often resembles a bad starter or dead battery. If you suspect that your problem stems from an engine issue, it could take hours to diagnose and repair.
The O2 sensor will not cause the no start. The no start can be caused by the fuel pump or the ignition system. You should check the engine for spark and fuel pressure, when it is not turning on to help narrow the problem down. The ignition system may be the coil, module, or pick up in the distributor.
Yes, you can drive with a bad oxygen sensor if you can still start your engine and feel little difficulty driving. But don`t leave it alone for over a couple of days, as it might cause safety problems and lead to the malfunction of other parts of your vehicle.
A bad battery won`t usually harm your starter or alternator, however, since both of those components get their voltage directly from the battery, if the battery is underperforming, both the alternator`s and starter`s performance will be affected as well.
If you hear a whine or the sound goes fuzzy when you hit the gas, your alternator is probably failing. If the vehicle won`t crank or start but the headlights are still working, look to problems with the starter or other parts of the engine.
When you attempt to start the vehicle, is there a clicking sound, but it won`t turn over? That may be a good sign. If a jump gets the car running, but won`t turn over again once it`s shut off, a dead battery is likely the cause.
Ignition timing on a no-start can be confusing, but it can still be tested by connecting a timing light, then watching the timing marks while an assistant cranks the engine. While this may or may not be base timing as specified by the manufacturer, it does let you know where the spark is occurring.
The engine does not start
An engine that refuses to start can be another sign of a bad ignition switch. The ignition switch sends power to the the starter motor, engine controls, and ignition controls. These systems may not receive the power they need to start up if the ignition switch isn`t working properly.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
Fuel pump engages. Batery good, alternator good volts, jump start helps when wont start. Temp does not matter. Intermittent?
ANSWER : Hello. Thank you for writing in. There are several reasons your vehicle may only start when jump starting. The first and most common is a build up of resistance that is causing you to need a boost of voltage to get the engine started. This may be due to poor battery cables, a bad ground connection, a poor starter solenoid, and a couple of other issues. The first thing you want to do is perform a visual inspection of the starting system. Make sure there is no corrosion build up in the battery cables. You can also check the resistance across these wires and make sure you have a solid connection between components. You then want to make sure the starter solenoid is doing its job. It is responsible for taking the small amount of electricity sent by the ignition and turning it into a huge electrical charge that is strong enough to push over the engine with the help of some gear ratios in its favor. Do some more testing, and stick to the basics before assuming its something seriously complicated.
Read Full Q/A … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
72 Chevelle cranks but won’t start and has to be flooded but smell no gas
ANSWER : Gasoline is generally not usable after 3 to 6 months. If gasoline has been stored in the vehicle for a lengthy time, the problem is likely that there is just simply nothing to combust. The volatile components in the gas have evaporated and other compounds in the gas have turned to varnish and gum, possibly plugging up the carburetor. If the tank was drained though and the fuel in the fuel system is fresh, please simply request a no start diagnostic and the responding certified mechanic will pinpoint the cause of the no start condition. 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 … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
The car is having trouble starting up ,70 percent of the time it starts right up. the other 30 percent, it randomly won’t start its
ANSWER : Hey there thanks for writing in about your 1998 Honda Accord. This could be a few things. A faulty ignition switch, a failing crank sensor, or possibly other faulty sensors could be the cause. To have this taken care of, consider having a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic, come to your car’s location to diagnose and repair the hard start issue.
Read Full Q/A … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
07 xterra cranks but wont always start. sometimes starts and shuts off immediately. sometimes just cranks and cranks
ANSWER : The best way to diagnose a problem like this is to play with certain components and attempt to replicate the issue. Components that could be causing these symptoms are the fuel pump, fuel filter, a number of solenoids and sensors, faulty ignition coil, or spark plug. You should absolutely scan the vehicle for diagnostic troubleshooting codes. This would give insight to any sensors or electrical connections that have failed. This scan should be performed when you get the vehicle to start and is running. There may also be mechanical issues in the starting system that are less likely to occur, but can cause these issues. A full inspection of the vehicle is needed. I would recommend having a YourMechanic professional technician repair repair and diagnose the reason to why your car is not starting.
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My car starts fine but always like once a month it doesn’t start it cranks ok but it will not start if I let it sit for 6 hours
ANSWER : Hi There,
What you are describing sounds like an ignition coil that may be failing. Ignition coils are prone to this type of erratic functioning or heat cycling when they are beginning to fail due to the temperature fluctuations under the hood which ultimately cause them to shut down causing the car to only run after cooling down for 30-40 minutes. Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted repeatedly The insulation develops small fractures that open when heated and close when cooled. When open, they allow shorting of coil windings and decrease or eliminate the coil’s ability to function. This process will repeat itself continuously until the coil ultimately fails completely and must be replaced. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your ignition system.
What you are describing sounds like an ignition coil that may be failing. Ignition coils are prone to this type of erratic functioning or heat cycling when they are beginning to fail due to the temperature fluctuations under the hood which ultimately cause them to shut down causing the car to only run after cooling down for 30-40 minutes. Ignition coils are coated with a varnish-like insulation that becomes brittle over time after being stretched then contracted repeatedly The insulation develops small fractures that open when heated and close when cooled. When open, they allow shorting of coil windings and decrease or eliminate the coil’s ability to function. This process will repeat itself continuously until the coil ultimately fails completely and must be replaced. I would recommend having a professional from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your ignition system.
Read Full Q/A … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
Car was sometimes not starting, not even cranking when i turned the key then after a few times itd start. Now it ont start at all
ANSWER : Hi there:
Without being there to inspect your vehicle, or having information about what type of car, truck or SUV you own, it’s very hard for us to give you some advice. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection; so they can come to your location and determine why your vehicle is having these issues.
Read Full Q/A … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
Vehicle won’t start, once it’s jump started it only stays running until you turn it off, then it work start again without jumping.
ANSWER : Hi there. There could be two problems here. It is possible that your battery is bad and will not take a charge from your alternator while driving. In that case every time you shut your car off you will not have enough juice to start it again. Inspect your battery – it should have at least 12.5 to 13 volts to start your car, if it doesn’t you will need to replace the battery. The second problem could be that your alternator is bad and not charging your battery, in this case you will need to replace your alternator. Both the battery and the alternator can be tested in your car. If you would like to have the car checked for you, a certified professional from YourMechanic can come to your car’s location to diagnose the starting problem and proceed with repairs.
Read Full Q/A … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
My Blazer will crank over but not start by itself. It needs starting fluid to start.
ANSWER : Hi there. If you have not replaced your EGR valve, mass air flow sensor or the TPS on your Blazer, you might want to start with these repairs. It is also possible that the throttle body itself is damaged, especially if you’re able to start it on fluid. If you want to avoid chasing parts and repairs, the best solution may be to have a professional mobile mechanic come to your location and complete a car is hard to start inspection.
Read Full Q/A … : Difficulty starting, occasionally there is no cranking
