Why Won’t My Car Start? Troubleshooting the Electrical System
If your car won’t start, the likely culprit is your electrical system—namely, the battery, alternator or starter.
Your car battery provides your vehicle with the power it needs to start. When you turn the key, the battery sends an electrical charge to engage the starter motor, which starts the engine. Once your vehicle is running, the alternator provides electrical energy to your car and recharges the battery.
If just one of these components stops working, your car won’t start.
How to Tell if Your Battery Is Bad
When your car won’t start, the most common culprit is the car battery. Nine times out of ten, jump-starting a dead battery will solve the problem and you’ll be on your way!
Read: How to Safely Jump-Start a Car
If you left the lights on overnight or forgot to turn the key all the way to off, then the battery is probably still healthy. It will stay charged after a jump-start, and you won’t need to buy a new battery.
But if the battery is old or damaged and won’t hold a charge, it’s time for a battery replacement.
Signs of a bad car battery include:
- Corrosion, or white build-up, around the positive (+) and negative (-) connections
- Slow engine crank
- Illuminated battery warning light
- Swollen or bloated battery case
- Battery leak
- Low battery fluid level
- Battery older than five years
Read: How Long Is a Car Battery Supposed to Last?
To be safe, bring your vehicle to Virginia Tire & Auto after a jump-start and we’ll test your battery for you. And if you need a battery replacement, we carry Interstate Batteries, America’s No. 1 replacement battery.
Signs You Have a Bad Alternator
Unlike a battery, which needs to be replaced every 4-5 years, the alternator typically only needs to be replaced every 8-12 years. But when it starts to fail, you might think that you need a new battery.
You’ll need to get your battery tested to find out if the battery is bad or if you need to replace the alternator.
Common symptoms of a bad alternator include:
- Dim/flickering dashboard lights and headlights
- Illuminated battery warning light
- Car starts with a jump-start, then dies
- Burnt rubber smell
- Grinding or whirring noises
Bad Starter Symptoms
If the battery and the alternator are healthy but your car still won’t start, it could be the starter or something else that’s keeping the car from running.
If the car is cranking normally but won’t start, the problem is outside the electrical system.
If the car won’t crank at all, cranks very slowly, or you hear strange noises while trying to start the engine, there’s a problem with your starter.
How to tell if your starter is bad:
- The engine won’t crank
- Smoke is coming from the car after trying to start the car
- The lights come on, but the car doesn’t start
- Car won’t start when jump-starting
- Clicking, grinding, whirring or screeching sounds when you try to start the car
Other Potential Culprits
Faulty wiring or a blown fuse could be causing an issue within the electrical system. Finding an electrical issue can be pretty tricky and dangerous, so leave it to the experts to figure it out.
If your electrical system is in working order, it could be the fuel system that’s keeping the car from starting. A clogged fuel filter or a broken fuel pump will keep fuel from getting to the engine. And—we have to ask—do you have fuel in your gas tank?
A broken or damaged timing belt will also keep the engine from running, as well as dirty, damaged or worn spark plugs. To avoid either of these issues, replace the timing belt and spark plugs at regular intervals (check your owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s recommendation).
Power Up at Virginia Tire & Auto
Whether your battery, alternator, starter or something else is acting up, bring your vehicle to Virginia Tire & Auto for diagnosis and repairs. Our ASE Certified Technicians have the equipment and knowledge to solve any electrical problem.
Call us to schedule a visit or choose your check-in time online. And if you need a tow, don’t forget about our Roadside Assistance program.