2 Less-Obvious Reasons Why Your Car Won'T Start

Many things can cause your car not to start. Sometimes it's something simple, like a dead battery. But other times, the reason can be something less obvious, like failing spark plugs.

So if your car won't start, the following reasons might explain why.

Bad Spark Plugs

When spark plugs start to fail, they can't create an adequate spark to ignite the fuel in the engine. This issue will cause your car not to start every time you try to fire up the engine.

Faulty spark plugs can be difficult to detect for the average car owner. But if you think the starting problem might be because of bad spark plugs, you can inspect them yourself to be sure. Simply remove them and check on their condition. If you see traces of black carbon deposits or a few broken sections, you'll need new spark plugs.

Spark plug replacement might seem like a daunting task, but it's actually a pretty simple procedure that most people can do themselves. All you need is a new set of spark plugs and some basic tools (like a socket wrench and ratchet).

But if you're not comfortable replacing the spark plugs yourself, you can take your car to an auto service technician for help. They will be able to replace the faulty plugs and get your car running in no time.

Malfunctioning Fuel Pump

If your car doesn't start and you've already ruled out faulty spark plugs, the problem is most likely with the fuel pump. A malfunctioning fuel pump can't deliver enough gasoline to the engine, in which case your car won't start.

A simple way to narrow down on a bad fuel pump is to listen for a humming noise when you turn on the ignition. If you can hear this noise, the fuel pump is working properly. But if you don't hear any sound at all, there's something wrong with the pump. In most cases, you'd need to replace a bad fuel pump to avoid recurrent starting issues in the future.

But replacing a fuel pump can be a tricky process, so it's best to leave it up to a qualified auto service technician. The fuel tank has to be removed, which isn't something that you can do yourself if you're not sure where to begin.

If your car won't start, you should treat this problem as an emergency. Ask your auto service expert to troubleshoot the problem and determine what's causing it. In many cases, starting issues can be fixed easily. But in other cases, the root cause might be something more serious that requires the expertise of an auto service technician.

For more information, contact an auto service shop near you.

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