Starting problems
I tried unsuccessfully to start my car this morning. It wouldn't work. As I turn the key, the tachometer shudders a few times, the lights and radio come on, and the engine makes a few quiet noises, but nothing happens. I tried attaching jumper cables for about five minutes, but the situation didn't get any better. The car won't lock or unlock at all when I use the buttons, which makes me wonder if it is electrical. Any ideas?
Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
The PATS system or passive anti theft system is not turning off the arming of the system and may need to be reprogrammed as per the technical bulletin issued by the manufacturer. I recommend looking on the dash and if theft is lit when you turn on the key, then you will need to contact the dealer to fix the issue and reprogram the PATS to the newer calibration to fix the problem for you.
How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?
Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :
If your engine has been locked up by the anti-theft system, you will be unable to start the vehicle.
Check the battery if your automobile with an anti-theft system won`t start. It may be completely depleted or low and require charging. Unfortunately, the car`s system won`t be able to read the key fob`s security code in that instance. Next, verify the battery`s connection.
This can be triggered by an invalid key, screwdriver, foreign key fob or no key detected when trying to start the vehicle.
Some Security Systems for Cars Will Drain the Battery
The wiring to the alarm on these systems goes directly to the battery, and they will slowly take away energy from the battery. Eventually, this can lead to the failure of the battery. It generally happens later in the life of a battery.
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.
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.
An immobilizer is an anti-theft mechanism that prevents the engine from starting due to an improper ignition key. This system works by utilizing variations of radio waves as a key identity on the vehicle. By using this system, there is only one ignition key that can be used to start the vehicle engine.
If your ECU controls the anti-theft system, disconnecting the battery may lock you out of your car. Like desktop computers and most other electronics, disconnecting the battery cable for a short period will not fully reset your ECU due to the residual power remaining in the circuits.
It is usually located on the dashboard by the driver`s door, in front of your left knee. You may find the alarm fuse in this fuse box. If you do not find an alarm fuse inside of the car, look in the fuse box under the hood on the driver`s side.
An immobilizer, which acts as an anti-theft device, turns off one of the systems required to start a car`s engine, often the gas supply or the ignition. This is done through the use of radio frequency identification between an ignition key transponder and a radio frequency reader in the steering column.
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.
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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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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.
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Starting problems on high temperatures
ANSWER : Towing and the symptoms you are experiencing are probably unrelated. My guess is that your brake rotors are warped. Sometimes, wrapped rotors are more noticeable at certain speeds. This is a pretty easy fix, which can be cured with a complete brake job. To determine for certain whether rotors are the cause, I suggest you have a trained professional, such as one from YourMechanic, diagnose your vehicle’s starting issue firsthand.
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Sudden starting problem that happens sporadically
ANSWER : Hi there, thanks for writing in about your 1992 Oldsmobile 98. It is possible that the starter relay is failing. This relay is different than the starter solenoid that was likely replaced with the starter. The starter relay has electrical contacts which can burn or corrode with use, can fail with the erratic behavior you describe, and is relatively inexpensive to replace. It is also possible that the starter solenoid (which is part of the starter assembly) has a failure condition when hot. When you predict the problem to happen again or as it occurs more frequently, have a certified technician, like one from YourMechanic, come to your home or office to diagnose the starting issue and help you move forward with appropriate repairs.
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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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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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