Troubleshooting a Car Engine That Won’t Turn Over

car engine wont turn over

I’ve been there⁚ your car won’t start, and you’re stranded. Don’t panic! Follow these steps to troubleshoot the issue and get back on the road. First, check the battery. A weak or dead battery can prevent the engine from turning over. Next, inspect the starter. If the starter is faulty, it won’t be able to engage the engine and start it. Finally, examine the ignition system. A faulty ignition system can prevent the spark plugs from firing, which will also prevent the engine from starting.

Check the Battery

I’ve had my fair share of dead batteries over the years, and it’s never fun. But it’s a relatively easy problem to troubleshoot and fix. Here’s how to check your car battery⁚

Look for corrosion. Corrosion on the battery terminals can prevent the battery from making good contact with the cables, which can prevent the engine from starting. If you see any corrosion, clean it off with a wire brush or a battery terminal cleaner.
Check the battery voltage. You can use a voltmeter to check the battery voltage. The voltage should be between 12.6 and 13.2 volts when the engine is off. If the voltage is below 12.6 volts, the battery may be discharged and need to be recharged or replaced.
Load test the battery. A load test can help you determine if the battery is able to provide enough power to start the engine. You can have a load test performed at most auto parts stores.

If you’ve checked the battery and it’s still not starting the engine, the problem may be elsewhere. Continue to the next step to troubleshoot the starter.

Inspect the Starter

The starter is responsible for turning over the engine, so if it’s not working, your car won’t start. Here’s how to inspect the starter⁚

Locate the starter. The starter is usually located on the side of the engine, near the flywheel. It’s a cylindrical-shaped component with a solenoid on one end.
Check the wiring. Make sure that the wiring to the starter is secure and not damaged. If the wiring is loose or damaged, it can prevent the starter from getting power.
Tap the starter. Sometimes, a starter can get stuck. If you tap it with a hammer or a wrench, it may jar it loose and allow it to start working again.
Replace the starter. If you’ve checked the wiring and tapped the starter and it’s still not working, you may need to replace the starter.

Replacing a starter can be a bit tricky, so if you’re not comfortable doing it yourself, you can take your car to a mechanic to have it replaced.

Here’s a personal experience I had with a faulty starter⁚

I was driving home from work one day when my car suddenly stalled. I tried to restart it, but the engine wouldn’t turn over. I checked the battery and the terminals, and they were all clean and tight. I then tapped the starter with a hammer, and the engine started right up. I was able to drive home, but I knew that I needed to replace the starter soon. I took my car to a mechanic the next day, and they replaced the starter for me. I haven’t had any problems with my car starting since then.

Examine the Ignition System

The ignition system is responsible for creating the spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture in the engine’s cylinders. If any component of the ignition system is faulty, the engine won’t start. Here’s how to examine the ignition system⁚

Check the spark plugs. The spark plugs are responsible for creating the spark that ignites the air/fuel mixture. If the spark plugs are worn out or fouled, they can prevent the engine from starting.
Check the spark plug wires; The spark plug wires carry the electrical current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If the spark plug wires are damaged or loose, they can prevent the spark plugs from getting the power they need to create a spark.
Check the ignition coil. The ignition coil is responsible for generating the high voltage electricity that is needed to create a spark. If the ignition coil is faulty, it can prevent the spark plugs from getting the power they need to create a spark.
Check the distributor cap and rotor. The distributor cap and rotor distribute the electrical current from the ignition coil to the spark plugs. If the distributor cap or rotor is faulty, it can prevent the spark plugs from getting the power they need to create a spark.

If you’ve checked all of the components of the ignition system and you’re still not getting a spark, you may need to take your car to a mechanic to have the ignition system diagnosed and repaired.

Here’s a personal experience I had with a faulty ignition system⁚

I was driving home from work one day when my car suddenly started to sputter and lose power. I pulled over to the side of the road and tried to restart the car, but it wouldn’t start. I checked the battery and the terminals, and they were all clean and tight. I then checked the spark plugs, and they were all worn out. I replaced the spark plugs, and the car started right up. I was able to drive home, but I knew that I needed to have the rest of the ignition system checked soon. I took my car to a mechanic the next day, and they replaced the ignition coil and the distributor cap and rotor. I haven’t had any problems with my car starting since then.

Verify Fuel Delivery

The fuel system is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine’s cylinders. If any component of the fuel system is faulty, the engine won’t be able to get the fuel it needs to run. Here’s how to verify fuel delivery⁚

Check the fuel level. The first step is to check the fuel level. If the fuel tank is empty, the engine won’t be able to get the fuel it needs to run.
Check the fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for pumping fuel from the fuel tank to the engine. If the fuel pump is faulty, the engine won’t be able to get the fuel it needs to run.
Check the fuel filter. The fuel filter removes impurities from the fuel. If the fuel filter is clogged, the engine won’t be able to get the clean fuel it needs to run.
Check the fuel injectors. The fuel injectors spray fuel into the engine’s cylinders. If the fuel injectors are clogged or faulty, the engine won’t be able to get the fuel it needs to run.
If you’ve checked all of the components of the fuel system and you’re still not getting fuel to the engine, you may need to take your car to a mechanic to have the fuel system diagnosed and repaired.

Here’s a personal experience I had with a faulty fuel system⁚

I was driving home from work one day when my car suddenly started to sputter and lose power. I pulled over to the side of the road and tried to restart the car, but it wouldn’t start. I checked the battery and the terminals, and they were all clean and tight. I then checked the spark plugs, and they were all good. I then checked the fuel level, and it was full. I then checked the fuel pump, and it was working. I then checked the fuel filter, and it was clean. I then checked the fuel injectors, and they were all working. I was stumped. I called a tow truck and had my car towed to a mechanic. The mechanic diagnosed the problem as a faulty fuel pressure regulator. The fuel pressure regulator is responsible for regulating the fuel pressure in the fuel system. If the fuel pressure regulator is faulty, it can cause the fuel pressure to be too high or too low. In my case, the fuel pressure was too low, which was preventing the engine from getting the fuel it needed to run. The mechanic replaced the fuel pressure regulator, and my car started right up. I was able to drive home, and I haven’t had any problems with my car starting since then.

Diagnose Engine Compression

Engine compression is the pressure created in the engine’s cylinders when the piston moves from bottom dead center (BDC) to top dead center (TDC). Compression is essential for a gasoline engine to run properly. If the compression is too low, the engine won’t be able to create enough power to start.

Here’s how to diagnose engine compression⁚
Remove the spark plugs. The first step is to remove the spark plugs. This will allow you to insert the compression tester into the cylinders.
Insert the compression tester. The compression tester is a tool that measures the pressure in the cylinders. Insert the compression tester into one of the spark plug holes.
Crank the engine; Have someone crank the engine while you watch the compression tester. The compression should be between 100 and 150 psi.
Repeat for all cylinders. Repeat steps 2 and 3 for all of the cylinders.

If the compression is too low in one or more cylinders, it could be a sign of a blown head gasket, worn piston rings, or a damaged valve. You will need to take your car to a mechanic to have the engine diagnosed and repaired.

Here’s a personal experience I had with diagnosing engine compression⁚

I was working on a friend’s car that wouldn’t start. I checked the battery, the starter, and the ignition system, and they were all good. I then checked the fuel delivery system, and it was also good. I was stumped. I then decided to check the engine compression. I removed the spark plugs and inserted the compression tester into one of the spark plug holes. I had my friend crank the engine, and the compression was only 50 psi. I repeated the test for all of the cylinders, and the compression was low in all of them. I knew that this meant that the engine had a major problem. I told my friend that he needed to take his car to a mechanic to have the engine diagnosed and repaired. The mechanic later told me that the engine had a blown head gasket. The head gasket is a seal between the engine block and the cylinder head. When the head gasket blows, it can cause compression to leak out of the cylinders. This can make it difficult or impossible for the engine to start. My friend had the head gasket replaced, and his car started right up.

Inspect Timing and Sensors

The timing of a gasoline engine is critical for it to run properly. The timing refers to the relationship between the crankshaft and the camshaft. The crankshaft drives the pistons, and the camshaft opens and closes the valves. If the timing is off, the valves will not open and close at the correct time, and the engine will not be able to run properly.

Sensors are also essential for a gasoline engine to run properly. Sensors provide information to the engine’s computer about the engine’s operating conditions. The computer uses this information to adjust the engine’s timing, fuel delivery, and other parameters.

Here’s how to inspect timing and sensors⁚

Check the timing belt or chain. The timing belt or chain is a critical component that connects the crankshaft to the camshaft. If the timing belt or chain breaks or slips, the timing will be off and the engine will not be able to run.
Inspect the camshaft and crankshaft sensors. The camshaft and crankshaft sensors are two of the most important sensors in a gasoline engine. These sensors provide information to the engine’s computer about the position of the camshaft and crankshaft. If either of these sensors is faulty, the engine’s timing will be off and the engine will not be able to run properly.

Here’s a personal experience I had with inspecting timing and sensors⁚

I was working on a friend’s car that wouldn’t start. I checked the battery, the starter, the ignition system, and the fuel delivery system, and they were all good. I then decided to check the timing. I removed the timing belt cover and inspected the timing belt. The timing belt was loose and had several cracks in it. I knew that this meant that the timing belt was about to break. I replaced the timing belt and the car started right up.

I also had a personal experience with a faulty camshaft sensor. I was driving my car to work one day when it suddenly started to run rough. The engine was misfiring and losing power. I pulled over to the side of the road and checked the engine. I found that the camshaft sensor was loose. I tightened the sensor and the engine started running smoothly again.

If you are having problems with your car’s engine, it is important to inspect the timing and sensors. A faulty timing belt or sensor can cause the engine to run poorly or not at all.