Why Won't My Car Start

Reasons Why Your Vehicle Won't Start

When you have somewhere that you need to be, there’s nothing more inconvenient than a car that won’t start. This is almost sure to throw a wrench into your plans for the day and could be caused by a number of different factors. When you want to make sure that your model receives a quick repair near Ranger, Eastland, or Cisco, you’ll want to bring your battery to Stanley Ford Eastland, where our mechanics are always ready to assist you. 

A Spark of Life

While batteries can die due to a number of different reasons, it’s more than likely that something inside your vehicle was left on overnight. This can be anything from your headlights to a door that’s slightly ajar, so you’ll want to be on the lookout for any small items that could give you trouble when you exit your vehicle. If you have passengers, you’ll want to be extra vigilant, as kids don’t always have the strength needed to fully close a door. If your battery is in otherwise good condition, you’ll find that a jumpstart will more than likely fix the issue. It’s important to make sure that you’re connecting the cables correctly, as you could risk damaging your battery if you don’t go in the proper order. If your car does roar to life, you’ll still want to check your battery for any possible damage. 

What to Look For

When a jumpstart doesn’t seem to help your model, you might want to take a closer look at the battery itself. You might have seen signs of damage when originally hooking up your cables, but you’re going to want to make sure that you keep an eye out for:

• Your Battery May Simply Be Too Old
• You Can Spot Corrosion on The Terminals
• Your Terminals May Have Become Loose

Corrosion can kill a battery quickly, but if you want an answer as to whether or not your battery is too old, you’re going to want to have it tested. Batteries are designed to last for years, but they can still run into issues down the road. When you want an accurate reading of your battery’s health, you’ll want to take it to Stanley Ford Eastland, where we’ll be able to test it with a voltmeter. 

Not Your Battery?

If your battery checked out fine after being brought in, your vehicle might be running into other issues. If it still refuses to start, you might be having a problem with your:

• Serpentine Belt: If you’ve been hearing a squeaking sound while driving, or your other systems like your water pump don’t seem to be doing their job, you may have a faulty serpentine belt. If it’s severely damaged, your vehicle won’t run at all.
• Spark Plugs: Your model needs the help of your spark plugs to get going, so when one or more become damaged, you might have trouble on your hands.
• Or Other Parts

There’s a lot that goes on in your electrical system, so when you want to narrow down the issue quickly, you’ll want to take your vehicle to Stanley Ford Eastland for a thorough diagnosis.