“Why Won’t My Car Start?”

A flat battery is the most common answer to “why won’t my car start.” This is because it’s easy to leave a light or something on while you were parked which has unknowingly drained your battery. Alternatively, it could even be that your battery is old or become faulty, so it’s not holding its charge. You can usually spot this because your sound system, lights or electrics won’t work. Or if they do work, they are weak or sporadic. Also, if you have an electric ignition button, you may find it’s unresponsive or jumpy.

If your battery is flat, it is easily fixed. All you need are some jump leads and another helpful passer-by with a vehicle who’s battery you can use. (In fact, we have driven out to help many local customers when we get their SOS call nearby in Wakefield.) Once your engine kicks in, keep it running and go for a good 20-30 minute drive to recharge the battery. In addition, if you want to be prepared why not buy a compact car battery boost pack and keep it in your car. However, do make sure you keep it charged!

Above all, if you are concerned that your battery is faulty then you are best to get it checked by a trusted garage!

It sounds obvious, but this is something we find is often the answer to “why won’t my car start.” Just turn on the ignition and look for the warning light on your dashboard. If this is the case, then your quickest solution is to call a taxi or walk to your nearest petrol station where they can sell you a jerry can and some fuel to get you on your way.

When you know your battery is fully charged and the engine won’t start, if you hear a clicking noise then it could be your starter motor. This is the electrical motor connected to your car’s battery that should trigger the engine to start when you turn on the ignition. It can also be an electrical wiring problem, but either way you need it inspected by a professional. Essentially, if you hear loud noises when starting the ignition, you need recovery to your nearest garage.

With modern cars, it is all about electronic immobiliser keys, which can lead to your car’s security system not recognising your key. Faulty key fobs will prevent your engine from starting. Often this is down to a flat battery in the fob; a tell-tale sign is usually when the central locking will not operate correctly. So now, it is time to replace your battery. If replacing the battery is impossible where you are, try holding the fob up against the start button and pressing the start button or ignition switch at the same time. Failing that, you may need to contact your local garage for assistance, or get your roadside rescue to take you there.

We rarely see this problem in modern vehicles, as modern cars have fuel injection systems. However if you have an older or vintage car you may be familiar with this problem. Essentially it is when too much fuel and not enough air get in your engine, often happening when you move just a short distance and stop. For instance, leaving your garage and stopping on your drive. When this happens, try pressing the accelerator pedal to the floor and briefly try to start the engine for a few seconds. Stop if it’s not working after 5-10 seconds stop, otherwise you risk flattening the battery or damaging the starter motor. When it does start, keep it idle for at least for a few minutes. Alternatively, if it doesn’t start then you need recovering to your nearest local garage. We see many older vehicles with this problem, so if you are near Wakefield do give us a call to help.