Most of us rely on our vehicles to take us to where we need to be. It is crucial in helping us carry our daily tasks, driving to work, taking the kids to school, getting the groceries, or travelling across the city, among others. So, when you’re about to head out and you discover that your car won’t start, it can be a huge inconvenience. However, you should still be thankful because this is a lot better than your vehicle shutting down while you’re driving.

In this post, we are going to share some of the common reasons why this happens. We will also show you what to do when you can’t seem to get your vehicle to start.

Issue 1: Dead Car Battery

One of the common culprits why a vehicle won’t start is a dead car battery. Whether you own a Japanese used car or a brand-new vehicle, you need the battery to power the entire car and its electrical components. Your battery is charged by the alternator while your car is running. That said, when your battery has not been charged sufficiently, it would not be able to power the car and its electrical components. Consequently, you won’t be able to start your vehicle.

There are various reasons why you’d encounter a dead car battery, and here are some of them:

• You left the dome light or the headlights on for too long.
• There’s a loose wire.
• There’s poor conductivity because the water inside the component evaporated.
• The lifespan of the battery has expired.

To know if you have a dead car battery, check the battery light on your dashboard. If it is on, then there’s definitely something wrong with your battery. Also, you will notice that none of the electrical components—the radio, the lights, etc.—are working. You can try jump starting your car to know if the battery is the culprit. If you’re able to start your vehicle, then it is likely that your battery is dying or the alternator is struggling to recharge the battery properly. In this case, you should replace the battery or alternator, then clean the connections. You can also ask a professional mechanic to do this for you.

Issue 2: The Ignition Switch is Not Working

If you’ve determined that there’s nothing wrong with your battery, then the next suspect is the ignition switch. To identify the problem, try switching your headlights on. As we’ve mentioned, the battery powers the headlights and other electrical components in your car. So, if the battery is the culprit, then your headlights will not illuminate. If you can switch them on, then it is likely that you have a bad ignition switch.

Issue 3: Malfunctioning Starter

It is also possible that you have a faulty starter. An electric motor connected to the battery, the starter prompts the engine in motion. When you turn the ignition switch on, your engine should start working. On the other hand, if you have a broken starter, your engine may not crank properly, no matter how many times you try to turn the ignition key on.

One of the pro driver tips we can give you is listening to a clicking noise when you attempt to start your vehicle. If you hear this, it is possible that your starter is weak or it is broken. In some cases, it can also get very noisy when you try to start your car.

Issue 4: The Fuel Filter is Clogged

Keep in mind that a clogged fuel filter will prevent the gasoline from reaching the engine. Consequently, the car will struggle to burn enough fuel it needs to get going. So, every 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers, you should change your fuel filter.

Of course, you should also check if you have sufficient gas in your tank. This may be a silly reason why your car won’t start. However, it can happen to any person who’s too busy to check their gas levels.