The car won't start: The 10 most common causes

In any case, the following is one of the unwritten laws of this world: A car always does not start when it is particularly unfavorable and usually without any indication of the cause. At least that's how it seems. Whether you're going shopping, going on vacation or going to the dentist, if nothing happens when you turn the key, you're literally stupid at first.

Unless you have read this article or are at hand at the same moment. Here are the 10 most common reasons why your faithful companion suddenly lets you down.

⏰ Summary

• Dead battery is often the problem
• Alternator can be overwhelmed
• Spark plugs defective – more fuel consumption
• Very dangerous: Refueling incorrectly
• Ignition key as the cause

If you are interested in a new car, we have some new car offers for you here:

 

1. Dead car battery

A weak or empty battery is one of the most common causes of a false start. The good news is that this issue is also pretty easy to track and fix. This is because power guzzlers in particular, who still draw energy after the engine has been switched off, are responsible for the fact that your vehicle does not start.

How do I recognize the problem?

The classic: You accidentally leave the lights on in the car in the evening and nothing happens the next morning. The car battery is empty. And now? More good news: An empty car battery is not immediately defective. Often it is enough for someone to give you a jump start with their vehicle, and then you do a 30 to 60 minute charging ride. If nothing else works, you can check whether you can tow the car yourself.

However, if the car organs for a long time before it finally starts (or not), this indicates a defective/too old battery.

Solution

To prevent this from happening to you in the first place, you should test the car battery regularly - this way you can quickly see whether the battery is already low.

Allgemein haben Autobatterien eine Lebensdauer von fünf bis acht Jahren. Des Weiteren können korrodierte Batteriepole oder eine sich immer wieder entladende Batterie ein Hinweis auf einen Batterie-Defekt sein. Entweder prüfst du deine Batterie selbst (zum Beispiel mit einem Batterietester) oder du lässt deine Batterie testen, um herauszufinden, ob du wirklich eine neue Batterie brauchst oder es zum Beispiel schon reicht, diese einmal zu reinigen. Auch bei Kälte kann es manchmal sein, dass das Auto nicht startet.

Nebenbei bemerkt: Wie sieht es überhaupt mit einer E-Auto-Batterie aus? Wie lange hält der E-Auto-Akku und kann man ihn recyceln? Gerade für die Wintermonate geben wir Entwarnung: Du bleibst mit deinem Stromer nicht stehen, wenn du den Innenraum heizen musst.

2. Defekter Generator

The alternator is connected to the battery and is the second most common reason for the car not starting. As a generator, the alternator has the task of permanently supplying the battery with electricity. From here, all systems that require electricity tap off a bit. In contrast to older cars, modern cars are equipped with many technologies that require energy from the battery, such as assistance systems or infotainment systems.

This means that the alternator has to do more than it used to and is a real problem if it is defective. Because then the battery does not get enough power. At the same time, however, all systems continue to draw power from the battery, which is why it will be empty in a short time. And that, as you have already read here, is one reason why the car does not start.

How do I recognize the problem?

A defective generator (or alternator) is noticeable by various signs. You often see a charging indicator light flashing, you have difficulty starting or the lighting is dim.

Solution

It is good to know that problems with the alternator can usually be fixed quickly. Most of the time it is a defective drive belt, which you can even change yourself with a little skill.

However, it is possible that only one cable is broken. You can find out with the help of a voltage meter.

3. No engine starting noise: loose cables

The car won't start? Who doesn't pay rent, but eats their way through cables in the car? Exactly, the marten. These animals are often the culprits when cars can no longer start due to loose or bitten cables. A cable problem can usually be solved faster than found and is therefore tedious in any case. But a marten is not always to blame if a cable is loose or dilapidated. Here is an overview of possible reasons:

– Marten damage
– Vehicle is getting on
in years – Water damage
– Possible damage due to repairs
– Corrosion

How do I recognize the problem?

If you suspect loose cables are a problem, first check the battery and see if all cables are firmly connected. Also, look for the causes mentioned above, usually you will find the problem relatively quickly.

Lösung

Sofortmaßnahmen-Tipp: Sollte beispielsweise das Zündkabel defekt sein, kann das gute alte Isolierband helfen. Aber auch wenn das Auto anschließend anspringt, solltest du den Motorraum auf weitere Marderschäden/ lose Kabel untersuchen (lassen).

 

4. Auto springt nicht an, Klickgeräusche: Defekter Anlasser

Du kannst dein Auto nicht starten und hören Klickgeräusche? Wie der Name schon verrät, sorgt der Anlasser für die notwendige Startunterstützung. Dieser besteht aus:

– Elektromotor
– Freilauf
– Einspursystem
– Ritzel

Wie erkenne ich das Problem?

If you only hear a clacking noise when you start your car, you can assume that the starter has counted its best days. To make sure that it is not the battery, you can try to start the car after an external jump start. It's still clacking? Then you probably can't avoid changing the starter. By the way: The clacking is caused by the sprocket moving forward.

Solution

The only thing that helps here is to go to the workshop and have the starter repaired.

5. Defective spark plugs

The car won't start? So often life is about the spark that jumps over or not. Spark plugs ensure that the air-gasoline mixture is ignited constantly and precisely, otherwise the engine complains. The misfires put a heavy strain on the material, which is why defective spark plugs are also one of the frequently cited causes why cars no longer start.

How do I recognize the problem?

How can you tell if something is wrong with your spark plug? The engine jerks and you consume more fuel than usual. In addition, there are misfires that indicate that the fuel has not been burned properly. In this case, it smells very strongly of gasoline. And you should pay attention to this, because misfires can damage the catalytic converter under certain circumstances.

Solution

To avoid causing major damage, you should have the spark plugs replaced as soon as possible. The longer you drive the car and one or more spark plugs are defective, the more problematic it becomes.

6. Problems in the fuel system

If the problem is in the fuel system, it can occur in the area of the electrical system or the fuel flow. In the event of electrical complications, parts that ensure that the fuel can be transported and ignited are usually defective. This applies, for example, to the fuel pre-feed pump, the injection system or even the ignition coil.

Wie erkenne ich das Problem?

Problems in the fuel flow can usually be traced back to clogged fuel filters or lines. If the engine does not run smoothly or even simply stops, a clogged filter could be the cause.

Solution

As is so often the case, there is no way around a workshop. In the best case, only one filter needs to be replaced or cleaned, but unfortunately a new pump may also be necessary. This costs significantly more.

 

7. Engine won't start: Wrong fuel

Probably the most dangerous cause of your car no longer starting is the following: You have filled up with the wrong fuel. So instead of diesel, gasoline or vice versa. If you notice when refueling that you have reached for the wrong hose, it is best to stop the refueling process immediately. After that, you should not start the car (not even the ignition, e.g. to turn on the radio). This is the only way to prevent the first quantities of the wrong fuel from entering the system. This one has to go! Otherwise, the whole thing can end pretty ugly. Speaking of ugly: These 10 ugly cars have it all!

Mobile pumping services or many workshops help to pull the fuel out of the tank again. Unfortunately, this means that you have to have your car towed there and under no circumstances drive to the nearest workshop yourself, so as not to make the drama even bigger than it is.

In the worst case, the cylinder head gasket has broken, resulting in high repair costs.

How do I recognize the problem?

It's best to realize during refueling that you have the wrong hose in your hand. If not, then you'll notice pretty quickly that your car is stuttering, nailing or running out of round. The engine causes clear problems and sometimes the engine warning light flashes. You will have difficulty starting and the performance will also get lower and lower.

Solution

Stop immediately, do not continue driving and have the car towed. The wrong fuel has to go, a specialist will pump out and clean the engine. However, it is not clear whether the car will still have engine damage in the end.

8. Faults in the air supply

Dieser Grund für einen fehlerhaften Start ist selten, aber möglich. Es kann passieren, dass ein Fremdkörper im Ansaugtrakt steckt oder der Luftfilter verschmutzt ist, weshalb der Motor nicht mehr genug Sauerstoff für die Gemischaufbereitung bekommt.

Wie erkenne ich das Problem?

Wenn das der Fall ist, steigt der Kraftstoffverbrauch stark an und der Motor wird heiß.

Lösung

Es reicht aus, den Luftfilter zu wechseln und/oder den Ansaugtrakt unter die Lupe zu nehmen. Anschließend solltest du beim Starten deines Alltagsbegleiters keine Probleme mehr haben.

9. Fehler in der Öl- und Wasserversorgung

Wenn die Versorgung mit Kühlwasser oder Schmierstoff ausfällt, droht nichts Gutes. Im schlimmsten Fall ein Motorschaden, der sich auch Kolbenfresser nennt. Darum achtest du am besten regelmäßig auf die Motorkontrollleuchte oder die Warnlampen für Öldruck oder Kühlwasser. Sobald eine aufleuchtet, solltest du den Motor sofort ausschalten.

Wie erkenne ich das Problem?

Der erste Indikator dafür, dass etwas nicht stimmt, sind die Warnlampen am Armaturenbrett. Falls du außerdem Öl verlierst oder die Motortemperaturanzeige rasant steigt, ist sofortiges Handeln geboten.

Lösung

Find a place to stop as soon as possible and turn off the engine. Until it is clarified what is broken so far, the car should not be started. That's why the breakdown service is your next point of contact.

 

10. Problems with the ignition key

When nothing else works, the car is often, but not always, the problem. But maybe also the part you want to start your car with: That's right, it's about the key. Today, this is more of a small high-tech device than a key in the classic sense. Especially in newer cars, there are no longer any "real" keys. They are small boxes in which sensors that come into contact with the car are stowed, a so-called remote key. In this context, a problem with the immobilizer can also occur, in which case the car cannot be started either.

In the keyless function, for example, everything is conveyed via codes. This way you can open, start and close your car without even picking up the key aka sensor box.

How do I recognize the problem?

So if your car doesn't start, the first thing you can do is answer a few simple questions: Do you have a key with you? If so, is it really yours? And is the battery of the key possibly empty? Sometimes the key is also defective, in which case it is worth its weight in gold if you know where the spare key is and if this place is not in the locked car.

If you don't have one, you can also have a car key copied. Then you won't have any problems next time. It can also happen that you lose the car key. In this case, you would then have a replacement.

In addition to all these problems, it can of course also happen that you can't find your car on the spot. Contact the police, your car may have been towed.

Solution

It's best to always have a spare key at hand or be careful enough to charge the battery of the remote key regularly so that it always works. But if you haven't thought of that, you'll have to have the car towed away for better or worse.

Result

Among the 10 most common causes of the car not starting, there are plenty of harmless points - but also some that you shouldn't take lightly. In case of doubt, the workshop is always the right place to clarify what the actual problem is.