Possible Reasons For Why Your Car Won't Start

Is there any worse feeling than turning the key in the ignition of your vehicle, only for it to fail to start? 

In many cases, this is highly inconvenient. It can result in being late for work, rushing to pick the kids up or missing an important appointment. 

Having a car that won't start can also be unsafe if you are in a public place at night time, a car park that is about to close or when you are in a remote location.

If you experience any difficulties starting your car, it is always advised to have it inspected by a professional mechanic so the issue can be sorted before you find yourself in that position.

There are many things that can cause a car to not start, but the leading culprits include:

Your car battery is not going to last forever and the older it gets, the less charge it will hold. Eventually, it will reach the point where it cannot hold enough charge to start your engine and you will require a new battery.

There are telltale signs that your battery is starting to fail. If your car is slow to turnover before finally starting, you know it is not holding much charge. You may notice that your battery light on the dashboard comes on when you turn the key as well.

You can visually inspect the battery as well. If the connecting cords are covered in gunk, they may not be carrying a charge.

This depends on your vehicle, your battery, the type of driving that you are doing and how many devices (radio, rearview camera, charging devices etc.) are drawing power from the battery.

Some people can go up to five or six years without replacing their battery. Sometimes it might only last a year or two.

If you notice any signs that your battery is failing, or it is over three years old, bring it in for a voltmeter test to see how much life it has left - and replace it if required.

Your alternator has two purposes, to convert mechanical energy into direct current power for the electrics in your vehicle while you are driving and also to charge your battery while you are driving. If the alternator is failing, it is not going to charge the battery and eventually it is going to become flat.

When it begins to fail, the supply of electricity will be inconsistent. You may notice lights that are too dim, or they could be too bright.

Your electrics are likely to flicker, devices will charge slowly (or not at all) and your vehicle will be difficult to start and will likely stall regularly.

This is the device that provides the spark and the crank to turn your engine over. You may notice that you are getting strange sounds when you turn the key in the ignition, like whirring, clicking, grinding or buzzing.

These are signs that the starter motor has failed, especially if your lights, radio and other electrics are working perfectly fine.

If you notice any of these symptoms, bring your vehicle to K & T Ballina Mechanical or call us on (02) 6686 4852.