Starting problem
When I turn key I have power but does not engage starter. How can I be sure it's not the starter but maybe a fuse or relay before I change out the starter.
My car has an automatic transmission.
My car has an automatic transmission.
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
To determine whether you need a new starter, the Mechanic would use a voltmeter to measure the voltage supplied to the starter solenoid with the ignition key in the "start" position, as well as measure the voltage drop on the heavy cable from the battery that powers the starter motor. With the key in the start position, you should be able to measure battery voltage to the solenoid. If there is power to the solenoid and the heavy cable is in good shape, that would mean that the solenoid and/or starter motor are bad. On the other hand, if there is no power to the solenoid, or the heavy cable has high resistance or an open, those circuits have to be traced to find the open. If you desire that a certified Mechanic perform this diagnostic, please contact YourMechanic(https://www.yourmechanic.com) via the website.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
There are a few reasons why your Toyota Camry won`t start
According to VEHQ, the top five reasons could be a dead battery, a defective alternator, a broken ignition switch, a clogged fuel filter, or an empty gas tank. Of course, you can rule out the last issue by simply looking at the fuel gauge.
Starter – Your starter may be loose, so make sure it is bolted in place. Injectors – A bad injector can keep the engine from firing. Cold Start Valve – If the engine is cold and the cold start valve is bad, it can keep your car from starting.
If your vehicle won`t start, it`s usually caused by a dying or dead battery, loose or corroded connection cables, a bad alternator or an issue with the starter. It can be hard to determine if you`re dealing with a battery or an alternator problem.
Hard start symptoms and starter failure may NOT be caused by the starter, but could actually be caused by the crankshaft position sensor. If your vehicle is experiencing one or more of these symptoms, the crankshaft sensor may be at fault.
Connected to the battery is the alternator, which works to generate power for your vehicle`s electrical components. When you have a brand-new battery but still can`t start the car, the alternator might be the issue. Cold and damp climates may increase wear on an alternator, causing it to fail.
Faulty Fuse
And if that`s faulty or the fusible links are damaged, your car wont start. A damaged or blown fuse can prevent power from reaching the starter relay, which is needed to provide the spark, the ignition, and the power to move your vehicle.
Connect the remote starter switch to the battery positive and the solenoid (smaller wire) terminal on the starter and click the switch. If nothing happens, you`ve got a bad starter. If the starter turns, the problem is in the electrical system.
The starter relay is most often located under the car hood, found in the power distribution center. It can also be located in the fuse block in the cabin. The relay has wires coming in and out of it. However, there are many other relays used in the car that look similar.
Push-start the vehicle if you have a manual transmission.
Once you`ve got some speed going, release the clutch and your car should start. Press the clutch back in and give your engine some gas and you`re good to go! This will definitely work with a bad starter, but it could also work with a bad battery.
Car not starting: Another symptom of a faulty ignition relay is a no power condition. If the relay fails it will cut off power to fuel pump and ignition system, which will result in a no power, and therefore no start condition.
One of the best ways to determine if a car fuse has blown is by using a test light. It should illuminate both ends of the fuse, and, if it doesn`t, it needs to be replaced. Sometimes, a blown fuse is caused by a damaged wire, motor, or other part.
If you don`t hear clicking when you start the engine, the problem may be a dead battery. If you hear clicking, but the engine doesn`t crank, the starter might not be getting enough electricity. Using your owner`s manual and a voltmeter, you should be able to test functionality.
The simplest cause of this sort of fault is a loose or corroded electrical connection. If there is a fault with the internal windings of the starter motor, bad brushes, or other electrical faults, the starter motor may lack the torque to crank the engine.
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.
Use a circuit tester to see if the current is getting to the solenoid. Place one lead of the circuit tester (test lamp) to the feed terminal of the solenoid. Attach the other lead to bare bodywork metal. If the tester lights up, then the problem is with the solenoid or the starter itself, not the current getting to it.
The MAF can become clogged with excessive carbon build-up from the combustion cycle, or sometimes by road grime. If it is too dirty, it will be unable to correctly measure the air fuel ratio, and cause your car to not start or exhibit other unusual symptoms.
Car Will Not Start: Over time, as the camshaft position sensor fails, the signal it sends to the engine control module weakens. When the engine no longer receives the signal, you will not be able to start your car.
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 battery can be fully charged but still not be able to start the vehicle if it is failing or has a dead cell. Other likely issues are the fuel pump, ignition switch, battery cables, starter, or a clogged fuel filter.
Dead battery: A dead battery is the most common cause for a 2004 Toyota Camry that won`t crank. will likely cost around $350. Alternator problems: The alternator in your 2004 Camry is the car part that turns mechanical energy from braking into restorative power to charge your car`s battery.
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 … : Starting problem
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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Cranks over start than dies
ANSWER : Hi There,
The idle air control valve is a small valve on the engine’s intake system that reads the air intake as it comes into the motor. This is controlled by the car’s ECM which uses this information to make adjustments to the air/fuel ratio depending on various inputs such as outside air temperature, intake air temperature, load and various other things. As you accelerate, your car’s engine is receiving a much higher dose of fuel than when at idle and conversely, when you let off the gas pedal, there is a sudden change in this fuel supply as a result of your foot letting off the pedal. When this happens, the job of the idle air control valve is to bring this deceleration down to a slow and smooth idle rather than suddenly cutting off the fuel supply causing the motor to die. When the idle air control valve is not working properly, this cause a disruption in this process resulting in the engine not being able to idle properly. I would recommend having a professional come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
The idle air control valve is a small valve on the engine’s intake system that reads the air intake as it comes into the motor. This is controlled by the car’s ECM which uses this information to make adjustments to the air/fuel ratio depending on various inputs such as outside air temperature, intake air temperature, load and various other things. As you accelerate, your car’s engine is receiving a much higher dose of fuel than when at idle and conversely, when you let off the gas pedal, there is a sudden change in this fuel supply as a result of your foot letting off the pedal. When this happens, the job of the idle air control valve is to bring this deceleration down to a slow and smooth idle rather than suddenly cutting off the fuel supply causing the motor to die. When the idle air control valve is not working properly, this cause a disruption in this process resulting in the engine not being able to idle properly. I would recommend having a professional come to your location to diagnose and inspect your vehicle.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting problem
My 99 Mercury Sable has just started causing problems as in starting and quickly stalling
ANSWER : Since you had to get the battery jump started to start the engine and the charging system light is on tells me you have a problem with the alternator most likely. Have the charging system checked and replace the alternator if it is not recharging the battery or the battery is not able to maintain a charge.
Read Full Q/A … : Starting problem
My truck has problems turning over when I crank the engine (it won’t start), and my battery keeps draining.
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in. It sounds like your vehicle may be having a couple of problems. For the first problem, regarding the battery being drained and not charging back up, you will need to have the charging system checked to see if the alternator is faulty and/or needs to be replaced. For the second problem of no turning when cranking it, the issue may be that the starter is going bad from trying to crank it with a weak low battery, and may need to be replaced. If you would like help with having these inspections performed, consider having one of our expert automotive technicians come to your home or office to look at and diagnose these issues for you, and make any repairs as needed. Hope this helps and good luck!
Read Full Q/A … : Starting problem
Car has various different problems when starting
ANSWER : Hello. Most of the time, this is caused by a bad fuel pump. When the pump starts to fail on this car, it will not hold pressure when it is turned off. This causes the system to have the build pressure back up when starting, which will cause you to need to crank the engine excessively to start it. I typically test the fuel pressure to see if it is bleeding off when the vehicle sits. If it is, then the pump needs to be replaced. If you want to have this repaired, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to your home or office to identify the cause of your starting issue and replace your fuel pump if necessary.
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Why does my car struggle to start every 4th to 5th time?
ANSWER : It sounds like your starting issues may be linked to a problem with air metering or fuel delivery. A clogged or malfunctioning idle air control valve may show some of the same symptoms you are describing. The idle air control valve can be stuck in a cold start position which may work well if the car has been sitting a few hours, but as the engine warms up there must be a regulation in airflow. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out for a closer look at your hard start situation and offer a more personal diagnosis.
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Start problem with good crank.blown head gasket.
ANSWER : Hi there:
In most cases, the symptoms of white smoke and needing to add coolant frequently mean you have a blown head gasket. It can cause inconsistent starting problems as you’ve described, but it’s also possible that the crankshaft position sensor is also damaged. Changing a head gasket is a rather expensive repair, but using "bluedevil sealer" will not solve this problem. You might want to have a professional mobile mechanic complete a car is hard to start inspection to determine why your Altima is having this issue.
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