Engine Won't Start
When your car stubbornly refuses to start, it always ruins your plans and forces you to look for alternative ways to get around. There can be many reasons - from a dead battery to serious problems in the fuel system. Don't panic, but you'll have to figure it out.
Likely causes — most common first
Dead or Damaged Battery
Most often, the engine won't turn over or does so very slowly because the battery doesn't have enough energy. This can be due to leaving the headlights on, the age of the battery, or short trips in winter.
Starter or Solenoid Failure
The starter (electric motor that cranks the engine to start) may click when you turn the key, but not turn at all. Often, the contacts inside wear out or the brushes get worn down.
Worn-Down Starter Clutch (Bendix)
Sometimes the starter spins loudly, but the engine doesn't come to life. This happens because the starter's gear doesn't engage with the flywheel teeth due to the mechanism slipping.
Fuel Pump or Filter Issues
The starter cranks the engine enthusiastically, but it doesn't even 'catch'. This usually happens because fuel isn't getting to the cylinders through a clogged filter or a faulty pump in the tank.
Faulty Spark Plugs or Glow Plugs
In petrol cars, spark plugs get flooded or worn out, and in diesel cars, glow plugs don't work, which heat up the combustion chamber. Because of this, the fuel-air mixture simply can't ignite.
