4 Reasons Your Car Won’t Start

Your car won’t start and you need to be at work on time for an important meeting. Don’t panic. 

You might not be feeling positive when you’re stuck and you’ve got someplace to be, but if you have a reliable tow service on call that’s always at the ready, you have the resources you need to turn your day around.

And by finding out why your car won’t start, you can get your vehicle repaired quickly and get back on the road faster.

Here are four common reasons your engine won’t turn over when you need it to:

1. The Battery Died

A dead battery is the most likely reason your car won’t start. Maybe you left on the interior lights overnight or maybe your battery is old and needs replacing.

You can try to jump the car with the help of another working vehicle and a pair of jumper cables, or you can call for roadside assistance. If it fails to recharge, you may need to have the car towed and get the battery replaced.

2. The Ignition Switch is Faulty

If it’s not the car battery that’s the cause, it could be the ignition switch. You can test to see if your battery is working by turning on the headlights. If the headlights turn on but the engine won’t turn over, this component is probably to blame.

Sometimes ignition switches fail due to shortages in the car’s electrical system. There are no quick fixes for this — you’ll have to get the car towed and have the ignition switch replaced.

3. The Fuel Pump Failed

Once you’ve ruled out the battery and the ignition switch as the causes, the fuel pump is next on the list. When the engine isn’t getting fuel, it’s not going to run. Maybe in the past few weeks you’ve noticed your car’s gas mileage has dropped and your vehicle has been jerking while you’re driving.

If your car won’t start now, these may have been signs that your fuel pump was failing.

4. The Fuel Filter is Clogged

Another common reason not enough gas is reaching the engine is because of a clogged fuel filter. Fuel filters must be changed periodically, so if you can’t remember the last time you had yours checked, now is the time.

Do You Need Towing?

It’s not always possible to determine the reasons for a broken-down car on the spot, but it is possible to contact Stauffer’s Towing at all hours of the day for help. Get instant roadside assistance and emergency towing for a car that won’t start by contacting our team today.