It is natural for most of us to take in our life for granted. Especially when we are used to things happening a certain way, you never realize how important something is until it goes kaput. This is especially true for our cars. We use our vehicles to perform so many big and small tasks in our daily lives that we rarely think about what will happen if our car refuses to start one day. Here are the top five reasons why your car may not start and how to ensure your car stays in good condition.

1. You may have a dead battery

One of the most common reasons for starting issues is a dead battery. The battery is a critical component used by your car for providing electrical power to the entire car and its electrical components. When the vehicle is in motion, the alternator keeps charging the battery in tandem. However, if the battery is not sufficiently charged, the car may not start properly and nor will any electrical components be active. There are many reasons why your car battery can drain out:

  • Leaving headlights on for a long time when the car was not in motion
  • Having a loose wire
  • Poor conductivity due to dryness inside the component
  • Battery running out of lifespan

Although these are some common reasons why your battery may be compromised, some visible symptoms can help you catch an issue with your battery at an earlier stage. Typically if you notice that your electrical components do not work right away or if your battery light keeps flashing, it is an indication that there is an issue with your car battery.

2. Problem with the ignition switch

If you are sure that your car battery is working fine, but your car still doesn’t turn over in the first few tries, there may be an issue with your ignition switch. You can try to narrow down the problem by checking if you can switch on your car headlight. In most probability, if they can be switched on, and still your engine is not turning on, the issue is probably bad ignition.

3. Starter is faulty

You may be surprised to know that a broken starter is one of the most common reasons for cars experiencing starting trouble. The starter refers to the electrical motor which is connected to the battery. Its function is to set the engine (i.e. pistons, crankshaft, etc.) in motion when the ignition is switched on. If there is an issue with the starter, the engine doesn’t crank properly or may not crank at all. If you hear a clicking noise when you try to start your car, the issue may be a broken or weakened starter.

Although there are many more problems that may lead to a starting problem with your vehicle, talk to an expert technician from Cars R Us for a complete list of issues that may be creating a starting problem for your car. Alternatively, you can also sign up for a regular maintenance schedule for your vehicle.