When you turn the key in your car, you don’t want much. You’re not looking for anything fancy; you just want the car to start. That’s it. The familiar sound of the engine turning over signals you’ll be able to put that thing in reverse and head off to work, to run errands, or to pick up the kids.
Few things are more frustrating than turning the key and nothing happens. Depending on where you’re trying to go, a car that won’t start could be a simple inconvenience or a minor emergency. Before you panic, there are a few things you can try.
No Sound and No Lights
This may be a simple battery connection, which is good news for you as the fix could be fast and easy. Open the hood and check the battery cables. You won’t necessarily be able to see anything amiss, so check if you can easily move them by hand. If so, the connection is loose. Remove the cables, clean them with a rag, and then reconnect using a wrench to make sure the connections are tight.
It could also be a dead battery. If you are able to jump it using another car or portable battery charger, you’re in luck. If not, you might have to call for roadside service. Either way, you should immediately drive somewhere to have your battery tested (auto parts stores do this, usually at no charge) to prevent being stranded again by a bad battery.
Dashboard Lights But No Sound
Sometimes, the reason your car won’t start boils down to simple operator error. If you try to start your car when it’s not firmly in park or neutral, it won’t start. Move the gear, and try again.
It could also be a bad starter, or the ignition switch isn’t working properly. In that case, you’ll need to have a repair completed by a mechanic.
Another possibility is a dead battery or bad transponder in your key fob. Your owner’s manual may have a solution for starting the car when the fob is malfunctioning in this way.
Clicking Sound
This could signal a weak battery. Here’s how to test that: Turn on your headlights. If they are shining bright, it’s not the battery and could be a bad connection or starter. If the headlights appear dim, you have a weak battery and should give the car a jump.
Engine Cranks But Will Not Turn Over
There are few possibilities for this situation. The first is that you’re running low on gas or may even be out of gas. If you know you put off a much-needed trip to the gas station, try adding a gallon or two to see if that helps (and then don’t let your car get below half a tank again!).
A flooded engine is another possibility, but only if your car is older and has a carbureted engine. If so, try flooring the gas pedal while cranking the engine to remove the fuel from the chamber.
Finally, check for a blown fuse by looking in your owner’s manual for the location of the fuse box. If that’s the problem, you’ll likely find extra fuses in the box to fix it.
Those are a few of the possible reasons your car won’t start, but there are others. If nothing above fits your situation, or if they do, but you could not resolve it, the team at Giles Subaru's service department can help. You can schedule your appointment easily online, and all work is done by highly-skilled, experienced professionals. We’ll get you back up and running and on your way!
