My car twice out of 4 times today would not start on the first time. Second time started fine. At 2 read lights it was sort of je
Car twice out of 4 times today would not start on first try. Then when at 2 stop lights it was sort of gently jerking. Not happening evry time or even twice in a row. Car just got new battery like 8 months ago and had a fuel like and fuel filter replaced 3 weeks ago.
My car has 119000 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Hello, thank you for writing in. Your symptoms point towards an issue with fuel or spark. If you just had work done on the fuel system, you may wan to have your fuel pressure tested at the engine. This will let you know that the lines, filter, and pump are all working correctly. You should also have the ignition system tested. This would mean inspecting the spark plugs to make sure they are in good condition, and making sure the plugs are receiving spark. Testing for spark is best done with a simple spark tester that is inserted into the plug’s wire. If having trouble starting, turn the key to the "On" position before starting, and let it sit. This give the fuel pump a moment to prime. If you do not hear the faint buzzing of the fuel pump priming (you may have to listen closer to the fuel tank), then you may be having issues with the pump. Only further testing will tell. For more help with testing and repairs, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
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 Cobalt won`t start are a dead battery, an alternator problem, or failed starter.
The most common reasons a Chevrolet Cobalt 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! We got lost!
The primary culprits here are fouled spark plugs. Spark plug electrodes wear down over time, increasing the voltage needed to jump the gap in the plug and ignite the fuel and air mixture in the cylinder. That leads to longer cranking times before an engine fires up.
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 reason a Chevy car (or any car) won`t start is a dead battery. If you have a battery tester, check your charge to see if it`s low. A dead battery can also be jumpstarted with jumper cables.
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.
Bad Battery Symptoms
If the cranking of the engine is sluggish, like your vehicle is harder to start on cold mornings, it starts inconsistently, or there`s no sound and interior lights when you try to start, suspect a failing battery, a loose or corroded connection or electrical draw.
Difficult Starts
If your vehicle`s fuel pump cannot get gas from the tank to the engine, you will have trouble starting your car. The car will struggle to start and run because the pump cannot push enough gas through. A worn pump loses its pressure and the engine is being starved of gasoline.
Why your car struggles to start but runs fine. There are a number of reasons why your car might be slow to start but runs as-normal once it gets going. Causes can vary from weather conditions to battery health, wiring issues, starter motor concerns and fuel-pump health.
How to fix it? Cleaning or replacing the fuel filter and adding a fuel injector cleaning treatment to the fuel tank should take care of clogged fuel injectors. If the rough idle persists, it`s time to take your car to an auto repair shop.
Fuel injector nozzles can become clogged over time, which can lead to a sputtering engine, slow acceleration and the car not having enough power. Fuel injectors can be cleaned if the problem is caught early, but as the conditions worsens, the injectors may have to be replaced.
The crankshaft position sensor monitors the position and speed of the crankshaft and other parameters that play an important role when starting the engine. If the crankshaft position sensor is having a problem, the vehicle may have intermittent starting issues or not start at all.
Fuel injector nozzles can become clogged over time, which can lead to a sputtering engine, slow acceleration and the car not having enough power. Fuel injectors can be cleaned if the problem is caught early, but as the conditions worsens, the injectors may have to be replaced.
Common reasons for this to happen:
Tire issues: The most frequent causes of a vehicle shaking while driving stem from tire issues. Tires begin to behave differently when worn or out of balance. Tire replacement, realignment, and rebalancing are common solutions.
While it may seem like a small problem on its own, rough idling is a sign that some part of your engine isn`t working properly. Over time, rough idling can result in poor gas mileage, starting issues and major engine problems.
Relevant Questions and Answers :
the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue
My car twice out of 4 times today would not start on the first time. Second time started fine. At 2 read lights it was sort of je
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. Your symptoms point towards an issue with fuel or spark. If you just had work done on the fuel system, you may wan to have your fuel pressure tested at the engine. This will let you know that the lines, filter, and pump are all working correctly. You should also have the ignition system tested. This would mean inspecting the spark plugs to make sure they are in good condition, and making sure the plugs are receiving spark. Testing for spark is best done with a simple spark tester that is inserted into the plug’s wire. If having trouble starting, turn the key to the "On" position before starting, and let it sit. This give the fuel pump a moment to prime. If you do not hear the faint buzzing of the fuel pump priming (you may have to listen closer to the fuel tank), then you may be having issues with the pump. Only further testing will tell. For more help with testing and repairs, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.
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.
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.
I’ve got a 97 Taurus. The other day, I would turn the key and the engine would turn slowly but not start. All of the lights and ra
ANSWER : You should have the battery tested after running the engine to try and charge it up. Have battery load tested to see if it can hold a load and replace it if it cannot. Then have the charging system checked to make sure it is charging at the correct rate.
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.
Replaced alternator on car 2 times each time shows it’s charging 14v let car run for a little bit then test drive and car voltage
ANSWER : There are reports that the replacement alternators will not communicate with the engine computer and will not charge correctly. I recommend using only the manufacturer approved replacement part. It can be new or remanufactured but approved for use in the vehicle. Some lower cost alternators on the aftermarket will have charging problems since they will not communicate with the ECM on the vehicle and will stop charging.
voltage warning light still coming on 30-45 seconds after car starts.
ANSWER : Nothing should be replaced until you have in hand a definitive diagnostic pinpointing the faulty segment of the car’s electrical system. There may be too much voltage drop in the charging circuit, as well as elsewhere, but start with the charging circuit. The faulty segment could be anywhere, so using the factory wiring diagram you just have to methodically and systematically test the entire charging circuit until the fault is found. It’s laborious but compared to replacing parts that might be perfectly good, properly diagnosing the fault will save you money and time in the end. As far as the engine warning light, at the moment I would fix the issue with the charging system first because that may resolve the check engine light. If it doesn’t, just request a check engine light diagnostic. If you want the charging circuit diagnostic steps performed by a certified Mechanic, dispatched by YourMechanic right to your location, please request a charging circuit diagnostic 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.
Car is clicking and not starting. battery is fine what could be the problem?
ANSWER : It sounds like you may have a weak battery, a failing voltage regulator or failing alternator. As you may know, the alternator charges the battery while the engine runs by generating amperage and recharging the battery while the engine turns the alternator pulley. The voltage regulator is a unit that regulates the charging of the battery by the alternator and maintaining a certain amperage while the engine runs. When the alternator is not working properly, this may result in the battery quickly losing charge and the car losing all power. You may also notice a whining sound as a result of the bearings inside the alternator begin to fail. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to diagnose and inspect your charging system.
