It may be one of the single worst feelings in the world, that feeling you get when your car just won’t start. However, far from squealing brakes or shaky steering, diagnosing a problem with your starter, or even finding the reason why your car won’t start can sometimes be very difficult. Many variables are controlled whenever a vehicle starts, and isolating just one problem can sometimes be difficult. That being said, although we often go immediately to the starter when a car fails to turn over, it should be one of the last options we try, as other failures are much, much more common.
Perhaps one of the first things that should be checked is the vehicle’s battery. We often forget about the battery, and in reality it is one of the most common factors that can cause a car to fail. Sadly, most automobile owners tend to forget about the state of their car batteries, realizing that their car needs a battery only after it fails. Of course, even if a battery seems fine in the hot summer months, the stress and cold weather of winter can often be enough to cause a failure in a battery that simply did not have enough power for a cold weather start. Luckily, there exists a couple of things you can do to both check the battery and keep it running for a long time to come.
In order to clean the battery, the best method is to use a mix of baking soda and water. To do this, use a pint of water, and just add a couple tablespoons of baking soda, this should clean the battery and keep it in good running order. Make sure to clean and tighten all of the cable connections coming from your battery. One of the most common failures of a battery are cable connections and tie ups.
If you suspect that your battery may be the underlying cause of car failing to start, simply take it to any location, which does battery testing. If your car has worked fine all year but has now failed in cold weather, it is very possible that the problem is the battery and not the starter.
However, if you have replaced the battery, or the battery does not seem to be the problem, simply try starting the car. If you start to hear some clicking, or you hear the starter simply give out, you should probably check the car’s relay.
Starter problems are also sometimes confused with solenoid problems. In a car, the solenoid is the device that sends power from the battery to the starter. If the solenoid goes bad, it will keep the starter from getting any power, and, thus, prevent the car from starting. Luckily, the solenoid is usually an inexpensive problem, and is definitely easier than having to replace the starter. Remember to check the solenoid before replacing the starter.
If you have eliminated all of these possibilities, then it really is time to consider that your starter may be bad. The first step in checking your car is a fairly easy one. Simply go to any mechanic or large auto parts store, either of these should have access to a device known as “portable tester. The tester will check the voltage being put out by your starter. By checking this result, you should be able to know whether or not the starter really is the problem. If the test results indicate that the starter is not the problem, you may want to consider checking the alternator.
In certain rare cases, even the alternator will be good, and the car will still refuse to start. In such a situation, it may be one of those rare times when it is appropriate to admit that the problem may be a tad bit over your head. After you have come to that realization, it is time to bring the car to a qualified mechanic. When you do bring your car to a mechanic, make sure to tell them what you have previously tested and ask for their opinion before you let them have all the freedom they want to tear apart your car.
Remember that nearly all car problems are fixable, and that solving your automobile difficulties will be much easier if you remember not to get frustrated. Just be calm and reasonable, consider all of your options, and talk to an expert, you will find that your car will be back and running in no time at all.
