Reasons Your Car Isn’t Starting

Modern design and manufacturing of automobiles have lulled us into a false sense of security. Because the standards and quality are so high, we tend to believe our cars will start whenever we turn the key or press the start button. But, anything that’s man-made will have its flaws and cars are no exception. When your car fails to start in the morning, everything grinds to a halt. You can’t go to work, you can’t drop your children off at school and you can’t run any errands. Our cars mean so much to us, so helping them back to life is your top priority when this happens. But there are so many reasons why your car might not want to start. 

The wintery chill

First of all, cars are just like humans in many ways. They don’t like being too cold or too hot. The engine is a mass of moving parts and when your car has been outside in the freezing temperatures of winter, things can freeze up. This could be one of the reasons why your car is not starting because the cylinders, pipes, crankshaft, and gearbox are all frozen stiff. It’s wise to put plenty of antifreeze in your car when autumn and winter arrives. To thaw your car, don’t run the car on idle. When an engine freezes up, normal liquid circulation such as water, oil, and antifreeze don’t flow as normal. There could be a blockage in the piping thus the engine won’t get the coolants it needs and could blow up from overheating. Instead, you could use a hairdryer to blow hot air over and under the engine to slowly raise the temperature. Don’t pour water over the engine as the sudden change in temperature could crack the engine block.

A ticking start

It could be a simple malfunctioning starter. To check if it is, put your key in the ignition and try to start your car. If you hear a faint clicking noise, it’s most likely a starter issue. The reason for this is, over the years it could have lost its ability to receive and or store charges. It may also have slowly had its gears ground down. If you have this kind of issue, the only way to restart your car is by replacing the starter motor. Call up a service like Swan Towing that can tow your car to the nearest garage. They can tow your car using professional equipment and training. Cars that won’t start must not be forced into action because they can suffer permanent damage. So using a professional team to transport your car will prevent this from occurring.

Security system

Modern cars are all linked back to their manufacturer regarding security. If the car’s security systems believe the vehicle has been compromised, they will automatically shut the car down. Thus, you may need to use the manufacturer’s app to see if your car is sending such warning signals back to HQ. 

There are a number of reasons why your car might not want to turn over. But don’t force it as you could damage the engine. Allow the car’s frozen parts to thaw by natural means or by a hairdryer.