ignition is turning over but car won't start up

ignition is turning over but car won’t start up

The ignition will turn over but the car will not start. Lots of hesitation. Lights work, radio works, windows work. The terminals have some corrosion. The starter for this car has been replaced three times already. We don't know if it is the starter or the terminals. Thanks for your help.

My car has 175000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :

Hi there. From the description you have provided, your vehicle will turn over but the car will not start with lots of hesitation, is somewhat confusing. Assuming, the starter is turning the engine over but, not well (lots of hesitation). It could be, the corrosion at the battery terminals preventing the starter from properly working. It could be, the battery is weak. It could be, faulty battery cables preventing the starter properly working. It could be, the flex-plate ring gear has bad teeth, which the starter drive engages during cranking. It could be, the starter is faulty again. The cranking RPM (revolutions per minute) needs to be at least 150-250 RPM for the engine to properly start. I recommend having your vehicle’s no start be diagnosed and repaired by a certified technician, such as one from YourMechanic.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

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.

The most common reasons a Nissan Maxima won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.

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.

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.

Usually a rapid clicking noise is a good indication that your starter motor isn`t getting enough electrical current to engage – basically your solenoid is trying to engage but can`t make the connection.

When an engine cranks for a long time before it starts, either spark or fuel is missing or weak and each has its own reasons. Most of the time, the air / fuel mixture has been disturbed and there is too much air or not enough fuel.

Starter motors should make noise when you turn your ignition key fully to activate your car. If you turn the key and do not hear anything, there`s a chance that there`s something wrong with the vehicle`s ignition switch.

Nissan is recalling 712,458 of its 2014–2020 Rogue and 2017–2022 Rogue Sport (pictured above) SUVs in the U.S. to fix a problem with the ignition key. The problem affects only the S trim level, which has a “jackknife style” key that could collapse and cause the vehicle to shut off during driving.

A Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor

The crankshaft position sensor monitors the position and rotational speeds of the crankshaft. Without the crank sensor, the engine control module (ECM) wouldn`t know when to fire the fuel injectors and ignite the spark plugs.

Starter motors should make noise when you turn your ignition key fully to activate your car. If you turn the key and do not hear anything, there`s a chance that there`s something wrong with the vehicle`s ignition switch.

Damaged CV joint: The most common cause of a clicking or popping sound from the wheels is a broken CV joint. The CV joints, which stand for Constant Velocity, are essentially the wrists of your vehicle`s steering system.

When you open the bottom of the fob allows you to access the mechanical key. You can unlock your car with the mechanical key, which will allow you to open your vehicle. Your keyfob is not essential to start your car, as automakers have designed the ignition button to work even if the keyfob fails.

If, however, it`s just the Nissan key fob battery that requires replacement, you may still be able to start your Nissan even with a dead key fob battery: If your Nissan car, truck, or SUV has a key fob port, just put the fob in the port and tap the brake pedal or clutch as you press the START/STOP button.

Possible cause: You could be out of fuel, or there could be an issue with your fuel pressure. How to address it: If you`re possibly low on fuel, round up some gasoline and add it to your gas tank to see if this eliminates the problem. If it doesn`t, an automotive technician will need to check the fuel pressure.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Car won’t turn over. No lights come on when I turn it. Can’t even lock my doorsvor push the seat up or back.

ANSWER : Your probably correct, it sounds as though your battery is done. But it also sounds like you have charging system issues. I’m not sure that fixing your battery and charging system will solve the problem with the car shutting off, but it’s possible that it will and it’s a darned good place to start. By contacting Your Mechanic, you can have a technician come to your home or office to check out your car and help you figure out what to do next.

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Engine turned off but inside of car still on, now engine won’t turn back on.

ANSWER : Hi there. The symptoms you’re describing with your boyfriend’s 2002 Grand Cherokee appear to be related to a broken or worn out ignition switch or relay. The ignition switch on the inside of the steering column is attached to multiple electronic connections that send signals to a relay box; which in turn, sends the signal to the individual components. The issue could be related to the ignition switch, the relay, or any of the components in between. If you want to have the fault pinpointed in person, I would have this starting issue inspected by a trained professional to ensure that the correct repair is made.

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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.

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So I have a hyundai sonata se push to start. My car won’t turn on, power is working, I push tof start but it won’t crank. I don’t

ANSWER : Hi there. It sounds like you have a failed starter. However, without proper testing there is no way to be 100% sure. I suggest having the battery tested first with a digital battery tester that provides current voltage, cold cranking amps, and state of health. Also inspect for corrosion on the terminals and cables as this will cause excessive resistance and not allow proper voltage/amps to the starter. Other possible failures could be in the wiring harness, relay, fuses, or communication network. I suggest having a qualified technician perform an inspection to avoid replacing unnecessary parts. Your Mechanic has several available technicians that can assist you with a car does not start inspection.

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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.

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Car won’t start. The check engine light, battery light, and oil change light are coming on. I tried jumping the car and nothing happened. Why won’t my car start?

ANSWER : Hi and thanks for contacting Your Mechanic. If sometimes your vehicle will start with the new alternator and sometimes it won’t, then there is a loose connection in your charging system. Check all of the wires to the alternator and to the battery. Make sure that the battery cables are clean and tight. Make sure that the wires to the starter are clean and tight. A loose ground to the ignition system will cause the vehicle to not crank over. Check all of the ground wires from the battery to the starter. Make sure that they are clean and tight. If you need further assistance troubleshooting your no start situation, then seek out a technician, such as one from Your Mechanic, that can assist you.

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As I’m driving, all my lights inside/out of the car turn off and the car still stays on. But when I turn the car off it won’t turn over

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Car won’t start after seeing engine hot turn a/c off warning light.

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