6 Things to Consider When Your Car Won't Start in the Greater Houston, TX Area
No one wants to deal with a vehicle that won't start every time and reliably get to the destination. Unfortunately, this is a situation that many of us are familiar with. The problem could be a dead battery, or it may be something else. Below, we look at six of the more common reasons that a car won't start.
If you have any questions, the experts in our authorized Volkswagen dealership service center are happy to help. We specialize in all things VW, but there's a good chance that we can help you with any major brand of vehicle. Schedule a service appointment easily online or simply stop by and see us in person at 10400 Southwest Frwy, Houston, TX 77074.
6. What Does the Vehicle Sound Like When You Try to Start It?
Chances are that when you try to start a vehicle that's having issues, you'll hear one of two things. Either the starter will engage and you'll hear the engine cranking over without starting or you'll hear little more than a click. The difference can give you an idea of the problem.
You see, if the starter is turning over the engine, that typically means that both the battery and starter are doing what they're supposed to and the problem is elsewhere. That could be anything from an engine sensor to the main computer, and it's best to have an expert take a look and get to the bottom of the matter
If you only hear a click or nothing at all, the problem may just be a dead battery. You can try to jump start the vehicle, which could get you up and running. However, you'll still want to have the car checked out to see why the battery is dead. It could be that the alternator is bad and the battery simply needs a charge.
5. What if the Key Won't Work in Your Car?
As keys and ignition locks age and wear, you may find yourself having trouble turning the key to start your car. Naturally, the problem here is typically with the key, ignition lock cylinder, or a combination of both. Sometimes, simply having a new key cut at an authorized dealership parts department will solve the problem, but other times you'll need to have an expert take a look at the lock cylinder.
4. Other Electrical Reasons Why Your Car Won't Start
From a modern vehicle's main computers to the spark plugs, fuel injection, and many sensors, the list of electrical components that must work just right is long. Rodents may have chewed on wires in your car or perhaps a fuse has blown out. Because there are so many possibilities beyond the basics of the battery, alternator, and starter, diagnosing and fixing electrical problems is generally something best left to the pros.
3. How To Tell if Your Vehicle's Starter is Bad
A bad starter typically has its own symptoms. Often, a loud and unpleasant squeal is heard when trying to start the vehicle. Other times, you'll hear something other than the engine spin when trying to start the vehicle, and yet other times you'll simply get nothing at the turn of the key. All of these are indications that the starter may be bad, and we recommend having the starter tested by experts before spending the money to replace it.
2. Is the Engine Getting Fuel?
Life can get hectic at times, and simply forgetting to fill up the gas tank can happen to anyone--especially if the fuel gauge doesn't work. Perhaps you were the victim of gas theft. Either way, the result is the same. Your car won't start because the engine doesn't have any gas to run on. However, a bad fuel pump can lead to the same result. If you know that you have good gas in the tank and the engine cranks but doesn't start, the problem could be in the fuel delivery system.
1. Why Might Your Car Battery Be Dead?
There are a couple of common reasons for a car battery to go dead. Even the best of us can get busy and distracted enough to leave the headlights on. Typically, a jump start before running the car long enough for the alternator to do its job is enough to solve this problem. If the battery is old, it may not take a charge once it's run all the way down. To determine exactly why your battery went dead and solve the problem, we recommend stopping by an authorized service center like ours where expert technicians can make quick work of such issues.