Car Engine Won’t Turn Over
If you’re trying to start your car and the engine won’t turn over, it can be a frustrating and frightening experience. There are a number of different reasons why this can happen, and it can be difficult to know where to start troubleshooting.
In this article, we’ll go over some of the most common reasons why a car engine won’t turn over, and we’ll provide some tips on how to troubleshoot and fix the problem.
Dead Battery
One of the most common reasons why a car engine won’t turn over is a dead battery. This can happen if you’ve left your headlights on overnight, or if your battery is simply old and needs to be replaced.
To check if your battery is dead, you can use a voltmeter to measure the voltage at the battery terminals. A healthy battery should read around 12.6 volts. If the voltage is below 12 volts, your battery is likely dead and needs to be replaced.
Loose or Corroded Battery Terminals
Another common cause of a car engine not turning over is loose or corroded battery terminals. This can prevent the battery from providing enough power to the starter motor.
To check the battery terminals, remove the negative terminal first, followed by the positive terminal. Clean the terminals with a wire brush or sandpaper, and then tighten them back down.
Faulty Starter Motor
The starter motor is responsible for turning over the engine. If the starter motor is faulty, it won’t be able to engage the flywheel and start the engine.
To check the starter motor, you can use a voltmeter to measure the voltage at the starter solenoid. If the voltage is below 12 volts, the starter motor is likely faulty and needs to be replaced.
Ignition Switch Problems
The ignition switch is responsible for sending power to the starter motor. If the ignition switch is faulty, it won’t be able to send power to the starter motor, and the engine won’t turn over.
To check the ignition switch, you can use a voltmeter to measure the voltage at the ignition switch terminals. If the voltage is below 12 volts, the ignition switch is likely faulty and needs to be replaced.
Fuel Pump Problems
The fuel pump is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine. If the fuel pump is faulty, it won’t be able to deliver fuel to the engine, and the engine won’t start.
To check the fuel pump, you can use a fuel pressure gauge to measure the fuel pressure at the fuel rail. If the fuel pressure is below the manufacturer’s specifications, the fuel pump is likely faulty and needs to be replaced.
Spark Plug Problems
The spark plugs are responsible for creating the spark that ignites the fuel in the engine. If the spark plugs are faulty, they won’t be able to create a spark, and the engine won’t start.
To check the spark plugs, you can remove them from the engine and inspect them for wear or damage. If the spark plugs are worn or damaged, they need to be replaced.
Conclusion
If your car engine won’t turn over, there are a number of different reasons why this could be happening. By following the troubleshooting tips in this article, you can narrow down the possible causes and get your car back up and running.
