Truck keeps stalling and won’t start

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.

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. A vehicle that cranks normally but doesn’t start generally indicates a lack of spark or fuel. The first thing to do is check for diagnostic trouble codes as these codes serve as starting point for any further trouble shooting. Then, check for both fuel pressure and spark using a fuel pressure gauge and inline spark tester, respectively. If everything is good there, you’ll want to check for injector pulse using a noid light. The problem could be anything from a failed fuel pump to a bad crank sensor, so I suggest you have a professional diagnose this problem for you. YourMechanic is an excellent option as we come to your home or office.

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.

ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle is likely having issues with the battery. When the alternator fails, the vehicle does its best to rely on the battery, which puts it under an incredible amount of stress. This likely burned out the battery. Another confirming factor is that the vehicle relies solely on the battery to start, and is the main reason for symptoms like yours. You may be able to run the vehicle if jumped, but the vehicle may run poorly if at all. For more help changing the battery, contact our service department to schedule an appointment.

ANSWER : Hi, thanks for writing in. I’d be happy to provide my insight. There are a variety of potential issues that may have caused this. The oil light coming on should not have anything to do with the truck stalling unless the oil level is severely low and the truck’s computer may have gone into "safe mode", which is a safety feature of the truck that is engaged when something goes wrong with the truck that may be catastrophic in terms of engine failure or safety. When this happens, the computer simply shuts the truck down and will not allow it to move in an effort to preserve the engine and safety of the passengers.

If you would like help, consider having an expert automotive technician from YourMechanic come to your home or office to inspect and diagnose this no-start issue for you, and make or suggest any repairs as needed.

ANSWER : Since the symptoms changed when you touched the battery terminal, it leads me to believe you may have a poor connection and the main battery terminals. If they are badly corroded or have any small cracks, the terminal may be too loose on the battery. You can rule out the battery by removing the connection to the vehicle then testing the battery itself. If the battery is good then reattach the terminals, tighten them and see if you are able to wiggle them on the posts. If the terminal still moves, replace the entire cable. You can cut the terminal ends and replace them, but you will never get as perfect a connection as replacing the whole cable. Consider hiring an experienced technician like one from YourMechanic who can come out and take a closer look at the loss of electrical power situation and run tests to offer a more personal diagnosis.

ANSWER : Hi and thanks for your question. It sounds like a bad MAF sensor and, yes, a MAF sensor can cause a no start situation. When you disconnect the sensor, the car ignores the input and, in some cases, assigns a default value to the parameter which can cause the engine to stall out, or, in some cases, not to start again. I recommend replacing the MAF sensor and the MAP sensor and retesting the system. The MAF and MAP sensor work together with the computer parameters.

If you need assistance in troubleshooting the no start issue, then seek out a technician, such as one from YourMechanic, to determine why the car is not starting.

ANSWER : Hi there. This does sound like an issue with the wiring. If the check engine light is coming on every now and then this means that when it does not come on there is no power to the computer. This can be the wiring harness issue or an ignition switch problem. I would have to test for voltage to the computer when the problem is occurring to be able to find where the issue lies. If you need assistance, a certified YourMechanic technician can be dispatched to your location to inspect your vehicle’s non-start issue and suggest any necessary repairs.