What to do when your car won't start

You put your car key in and turn it, but instead of the familiar whirring sound of the engine turning on, you hear nothing - This might be one of the worst nightmares of a car owner! If you had left the headlights or other electrical components on during the night before, the issue could possibly be a dead battery. But if that's not the case, you will need to find out why your car isn't starting.

For a first-timer or a new car owner, the easiest solution might be to call for a service technician. However, if you are confident that you know 'what goes where' in your car, you can try diagnosing the problem, and if lucky, can even correct it on your own. Here are a few car start troubleshooting tips that can help you:

1. Loose Wires - Check if the battery terminals are properly connected and all the wirings are in place. Loose wiring might sometimes lead to connection issues, and be the reason for your unresponsive engine.
   
   
2. Battery health - Maybe your car battery has concluded its lifespan or is completely discharged. Sometimes, accumulation of dust and corrosion on the terminals can also be the reasons behind connection failure and you can try cleaning it up to see if that works. One way to test battery health is by jumpstarting your car and then, you can seek a replacement battery if you realise that the main issue is a dying one.
   
   
3. Damaged ignition - The ignition in a vehicle consists of electrical contacts that triggers the starter. A defective ignition switch, faulty ignition cable and coil or damaged spark plug, might also be the reason why your car refuses to start.
   
   
4. Broken starter - A faulty starter is another common reason for a car engine to not respond. The starter is an electrical motor connected to the battery, and if it malfunctions, the engine fails to draw the power required for it to start. Once you identify the issue, getting the starter motor replaced as soon as possible is the best recommended solution.
   
   
5. Fuel issues - When driving around frequently, an empty fuel tank might be a simple miss on your part that can land you in awkward circumstances. Keeping an eye out for the fuel indicator on your vehicle and getting a refill in time can save you a lot of trouble on the road. However, sometimes a clogged fuel filter, damaged pump or low fuel pressure can also be reasons for your car to not start.

Regular servicing of your car can be the unmistakeable solution for all the issues listed above. A thorough check-up by an expert technician at intervals can help you determine the overall working condition of your car, including its battery health, internal electrical connections, filters, pumps and starters. For additional car start troubleshooting tips, you can check out the Exide Care website and find easy recommendations from the brand.