A car engine suddenly not starting can make you panic, right?
I will inform you of common causes of this from the symptoms when the engine does not start.
Symptom # 1: Ignition key does not turn (push start button does not respond)
Cause 1: The steering wheel lock is applied
Normally, when parking the steering lock is not applied. However, if you turn the steering wheel left or right after parking, the steering wheel lock will be activated as a theft prevention function. In this state, the ignition key will not turn.
In this case, you can unlock it by turning the ignition key at the same time as turning the steering wheel to either the left or the right.
Cause 2: Not stepping on the brake, or not stepping on the clutch
In modern cars, in order to prevent erroneous departure, the brake pedal must be pressed while starting the car. In manual cars, the clutch pedal must be pressed. Without this, the key will not turn.
Cause 3: The shift lever is not in the P range
In the case of an automatic car, when the shift lever is in a position other than the P range, the ignition key will not turn. This is also for preventing erroneous departure.
Be sure to park in the P range when parking a car.
If the lever is somewhere other than the P range, you can move it to P by pressing the brake pedal and pressing the shift lever button. If the shift lever still does not move the shift lever to the P range while holding down the shift lock button.
Cause 4: The smart key batteries are flat
The smart keys used in modern cars are battery operated.
Batteries will not run out in a short period such as 1 year, but after a few years of use, batteries will eventually run out.
The engine switch will not respond if the smart key batteries are flat.
However, depending on the type of smart key, a key called a mechanical key is built in for such a time, inserting the key into the keyhole and turning the ignition key, or moving the smart key closer to the push start, the engine can be started.
Symptom 2: Starter motor does not turn
Cause 1: Battery is flat
The engine of modern cars uses a starter motor to start the engine. If the interior light has been left on, the car battery can discharge, and you will not be able to engage the starter motor.
If you want to start the engine in the meantime, you can supply the power from another car to engage the starter motor and start the engine, or use a jump starter to start the engine.
After that, however, it is necessary to continue to charge the battery for 30 minutes or more to fully charge the battery.
Cause 2: The main fuse is burned out
A fuse is an important part, playing the role of protecting an electric circuit by breaking the fuse itself when something causes a power surge.
In modern cars, there are few problems that will cause the fuse to blow, but there is a possibility that it will happen with old cars.
If the fuse blows, power will not be supplied to the starter motor, so it will not turn and the engine will not operate.
Cars have multiple fuses, used for each location where electricity is used, but the fuse involved in everything is called the main fuse. Check the fuse box containing all of the fuses, and replace the blown fuse to start the engine.
Cause 3: The starter motor is faulty
In order to start the engine, the starter motor turns and starts the engine.
The lifetime of a starter motor is generally said to be 100,000 km.
Although it is not easy to break, its life may be shortened by frequently turning the engine on and off.
If there are no problems with either the battery or the fuse, the failure of the starter motor should be considered. You should ask a mechanic to check it out.
Symptom # 3: The starter motor rotates, but the engine does not operate.
Cause 1: The petrol tank is empty
Since the starter motor operates with the power supply of the battery, it runs even without fuel, but the engine can not move without fuel.
Cause 2. The Fuel pump is out of order
If the fuel has not run out, and if the engine does not start with the turning of the starter motor, there is a possibility that fuel is not being supplied to the engine.
There are cases where trouble has mainly occurred in the fuel pump.
The fuel pump is a device for sending fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. If this fuel pump breaks down, the engine will not operate because the fuel is not supplied to the engine, similar to the gas tank being empty.
Cause 3. Life of the spark plugs, deterioration of plug lead
A spark plug is a part that creates a spark that initiates the combustion of a gasoline engine.
Spark plugs have a lifetime of roughly 10,000 km to 20,000 km.
Also, if the plug lead for supplying power to the spark plug deteriorates and the power is not supplied correctly to the spark plug, the engine will not operate.
As you can see, when the engine suddenly stops running, various causes are conceivable.
Please confirm it calmly, if it is a problem that you can not deal with by yourself, ask a mechanic for assistance.
