Why Won’t My Car Start?
Common Reasons as to Why Your Car Will Not Start
Have you ever experienced a situation where you rush to get ready to go somewhere only to jump in your car, turn the key, and instead of the engine starting all you hear is "click"? One of the first thoughts that comes to mind is "Why won't this car start?". The answer is that it could be a number of reasons. Some of the most common causes are a dead battery, problems with the alternator, or a broken drive belt. Any of these can prevent your car from starting. However, there is no need to panic - these issues can all be easily fixed with a little bit of know-how.
Dead Battery
If your car won't start, one of the first things anyone attempts is to try and get it started by jump-starting the battery. To do this, you will need to connect the positive and negative terminals of the battery with jumper cables. Once the terminals are connected, start the working car and let it run for a few minutes. This will give the dead battery enough charge to start the car.
Bad Alternator
An alternator is a device that sends power to your vehicle's electrical system while the car is running, helping to recharge the battery. A bad alternator does not sufficiently charge the battery while the engine is running, which causes the battery to diminish more quickly than usual. You can easily tell if you have a bad alternator if you try and jump start your car and it either runs for a short time before cutting off or simply won't start. When you are dealing with a bad alternator, you will need to get the vehicle to an auto repair shop as quickly as possible to have the alternator replaced.
Broken Drive Belt
The drive belt (also known as the serpentine belt) keeps your engine running smoothly by providing power to many of the vital components in your vehicle - like your alternator. If your drive belt is broken, you can usually replace it yourself by following these simple steps:
Expert Auto Repair - Mad Hatter Auto Repair
By following these tips, you can easily diagnose and fix common car problems and get your vehicle back up and running again in no time. If you have questions, the experts at Mad Hatter Auto Repair are always available to help and get you back on the road. In Omaha call (402) 330-2286, or in Council Bluffs call (712) 322-7500.