What To Do If Your Car Won’t Start

There is no more helpless feeling than being stranded because your car refuses to start. While I get that most people don’t keep a set of mechanic’s tools in their trunk, with 50 plus years as an ASE and General Motors Master Technician, vocational educator and vehicle owner, I keep a multi-tool, jump starter, jumper cables, a safety hammer and a small tool kit in my cars for those uh-oh moments.

But don’t give up right away if your car will not start. Here is a list of tricks you can try when your car doesn’t start, and none of them require tools. They’re arranged by symptom, and you’ve got nothing to lose by trying them if your car won’t start. Of course, they won’t fix the root problem, but one of them just might get the engine started and then head to the nearest mechanic to have the problem fixed. Ahead, you’ll find simple tips from experienced technicians that may help get you going when your car refuses to start.

Here’s also how you can jump start your electric car.

Why Won’t My Car Start?

I’ve heard this question hundreds, if not thousands, of times. My answer is that anything from a $1 fuse to a $5000 engine can keep a car from starting.

The most common reasons your car won’t start

• A dead battery, dirty battery terminals, or any part that’s causing a battery to lose its charge
• Starter motor
• Electrical system or wiring harness issues
• Fuel, ignition, or air intake system troubles
• Engine mechanical failures

All these problems are related to the age of the part that failed, lack of preventive maintenance, temperatures/weather and other factors.

Troubleshooting Why Your Car Won’t Start

If the car clicks when trying to start

If the car clicks when trying to start, but still won’t start, this can be caused by a weak battery, dirty battery terminals, a worn starter motor or a stuck solenoid. It might just need a jump start, but there are a few tricks to try before breaking out the jumper cables or electric jump starter.

Try cycling the key

If your car turns on but won’t start, turn on the dome light and watch it while you try to start the engine. If the light goes out, it’s a sign the battery is really weak — almost dead. To heat up the battery, terminals and starter, try cycling the key trick.

The trick is to turn the key (or push the “Start” button) to the start position repeatedly about 10 times in a row. Stop and wait five minutes. Then try to start the engine. But if the dome light stayed bright when you turned the key, move on to the next trick if your car won’t start.

Try tapping on the battery terminals

There’s no way to clean corroded battery terminals when you’re stranded without tools. But you can try to move or at least jar the terminals enough to make better contact. Smack each battery terminal with the heel of a shoe to rotate it slightly around the battery post, but not so hard that you fracture the battery post or crack the battery case.

Then, try starting the engine.

Try tugging on the battery cables

A loose (+) positive battery cable connection at the starter or a loose or corroded (-) negative cable where it attaches to the engine will keep your car from starting. Check the (-) negative cable connection for a solid, clean connection.

Try tapping the starter

If you can access the starter motor, try hitting it with the tire iron from your car jack. Sometimes, the electrical contacts get stuck and tapping on them can free them.

Try “popping” the clutch (manual or standard transmission cars only)

On manual or standard transmission cars only, ASE and Volkswagen Master Technician Bill Kirkpatrick suggests popping the clutch is a “good technique to know to start a car with a dead battery or a non-functioning starter.” Kirkpatrick said to only try this if you have someone with you who can safely push your vehicle. Here’s how to do it:

• Set the parking brake, then turn on the emergency flashers.
• Make sure the road ahead is free of debris and traffic.
• Press down on the brake pedal and engage the clutch.
• Turn the key to the run position, then place the shifter into second gear.
• Release the parking brake.
• Have your helper push the car from behind. Do not push on any glass, taillights, or trim.
• Once you pick up a bit of speed (about five miles per hour), quickly pull your foot off the clutch pedal.
• The car will “jerk” as the engine engages the transmission with enough power (torque), allowing the engine to turn over and hopefully start.
• Once the engine starts, push in the clutch pedal, shift into neutral and apply the brakes—keep the engine running for 10 to 15 minutes to help recharge the battery.

If There’s No Click When You Turn the Key

Try shifting the shifter

With your foot on the brake, move the shift lever all the way to the lowest gear position a couple of times, then back to the park position and try starting the engine. If that doesn’t work, move it to the neutral position and try it again.

Moving the shifter sometimes reestablishes electrical contact inside the transmission range selector (also known as the neutral safety switch).

If the Engine Cranks But Won’t Fire Up

Here are a few tricks to try if the engine cranks but the car won’t start.

Try swapping relays

With the radio off, turn the key to the run position and listen for a two-second buzzing sound. That’s the fuel pump priming the injection system. If you don’t hear any sound, the fuel pump relay may be bad, or the pump may be on its last legs.

First, find the location of the fuel pump relay in your owner’s manual or on the legend for the under-hood fuse box cover. Yank the fuel pump relay straight up. Then, locate another relay with the same part number and swap it with the fuel pump. Push it straight into the socket. Again, turn the key to the run position and listen for a two-second buzzing sound. Then, try starting the engine.

Try smacking the fuel tank

If your car doesn’t start, hit the bottom of the fuel tank several times with your shoe to jar the fuel pump motor. Then, try starting the vehicle.

Try Un-flooding a flooded engine

If you smell gas, the engine is flooded. While in “park,” press the accelerator pedal to the floor (called “clear-flood” mode) and hold it there while you crank the engine.

Try tricking the computer

A vacuum leak or funky temperature sensor can result in an air/fuel mixture that’s too lean to start a cold engine. If you’ve tried all the other tricks shown here and your car won’t start, press the accelerator halfway and try to start the engine. That’ll tell the computer to add more fuel.

Check the wire harnesses

A loose or corroded wire harness can cause all kinds of mischief. Look under the hood for any dirty or corroded connectors, said Kirkpatrick. Simply disconnecting and reconnecting a dirty connector can clear away enough corrosion or oxidation buildup on wire terminals to get you up and running.

When to Call a Pro

As soon as you realize your car will not start after trying these tricks, call for a tow.

FAQ

Why won’t my car start when I have power?

If the car doesn’t make any sounds when trying to start even though you have power, the easy answer is a defective starter motor, a bad starter relay or solenoid or some other failed electrical connection or system keeping power from flowing from the battery to the starter. However, the battery is most likely the culprit.

A fully-charge battery should read 12.6 volts when the engine is off and around 14.6 volts when the engine is running. If battery voltage drops below nine volts when you try to start the engine—due to a bad battery, defective starter, or high-resistance battery connections—there will not be enough electrical current to close the starter circuit needed to energize the starter motor but still have enough voltage in the battery to turn on the lights or play the radio.

Why won’t my car start when it’s cold?

The main reasons a car won’t start when cold are:

• A dead battery
• Thick motor oil
• Frozen fuel system
• Defective engine sensors
• Starter motor

Why won’t my car start after getting gas?

Any or all the glitches listed here could cause your car not to start after filling up with fuel, plus a few others. A bad evaporative emission control system (EVAP) valve could cause the engine to flood. If the tank was almost empty, ice-cold gasoline splashing onto a hot fuel pump could cause the pump to fail or loosen muck in the tank clogging the fuel filter.

Why won’t my car start with a new battery?

Nothing is more frustrating than replacing a battery and still having the same no-start condition. Check these before exchanging the battery:

• Check the battery is fully charged.
• Make sure the shifter is in park.
• Ensure the battery cables are properly connected to the battery: (+) positive cable to the positive (+) battery post and (-) negative cable to the (-) battery post.
• Check the (-) negative cable where it attaches to the engine for a solid, clean connection.
• A bad starter, or other electrical problem.

About The Experts

• Bill Kirkpatrick has spent over 50 years in the auto repair industry and vocational education. He is an ASE and Volkswagen Master Technician, was a shop owner, and dealership service manager. Bill retired as a Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) certified automotive technology and small engine instructor and is also a PA certified emissions and safety inspection instructor and inspector.

Sources

• Joe Simes, ASE and Toyota Master Technician, Pennsylvania Department of Education certified automotive technology instructor: email June 30, 2024.
• AAA (American Automobile Association): Reasons Your Car Won’t Start.
• Kelly Blue Book: Is My Car Battery Dead? November 29, 2023
• Duffy, J. (2014). Modern Automotive Technology (8th ed., pp.482, 516, 520). The Goodheart-Willcox Company, Inc., Tinley Park, IL.