My Car Won’t Start: Now What?

One of the common reasons that vehicles do not start is low fuel pressure. Did you know that fuel coming out of the injector is the means that allows a vehicle to start? Sometimes, when the injector is broken or even dirty the fuel pressure comes out of the injector as droplets, rather than a mist (which assists the vehicle in starting). If fuel is being burned in the wrong place, it will not only cause the vehicle to have problems starting, but it can also cause other parts of the vehicle to become defective. 

Has it been a cold night and the vehicle has been parked outside? Often, during the winter, a cold engine is the culprit that creates a vehicle not starting in the early morning hours of the winter. When the engine is cold, the fuel is unable to evaporate into the spark plugs, creating an engine that is unable to start. Often, the engine will continue to be unable to start, until the engine becomes warm. Driving the vehicle, or continued starting of the vehicle, even plugging in the vehicle could mean that the car will be easier to start in the next morning! So, something as simple as starting the vehicle after it has become warmed, parking the vehicle in a heated garage or plugging in the vehicle helps to keep the engine warm, meaning the vehicle will start earlier the next day. 

What happens when the vehicle is cold? The engine is made primarily of metal, therefore, when the engine is cold – the fuel becomes evaporated into the air before it is able to be absorbed by the engine. Cold engines are not good for trying to get a vehicle started. Cold metal is even worse to try and get the vehicle started!

Did you happen to leave the lights on all night? Was there something like a cellular phone, PDA or laptop plugged into the cigarette lighter to become charged? Sometimes, when the battery is dead the vehicle is unable to start. Most often, the vehicle just needs a boost from another vehicle, with a set of jumper cables and a power source, and the vehicle will be good to go again! 

With these techniques you should be prepared for the next time that you wake up and find your vehicle unable to start and turn it around so the vehicle starts with ease.