Car Engine Won’t Crank

If your car engine won’t crank, it can be a very frustrating experience. There are a number of potential causes for this problem, so it’s important to troubleshoot the issue correctly in order to get your car back up and running.

Common Causes of a Car Engine Not Cranking

1. Dead Battery

One of the most common causes of a car engine not cranking is a dead battery. This can be caused by a number of factors, such as leaving your headlights on overnight, or having a weak battery that can’t hold a charge.

2. Faulty Starter

Another common cause of a car engine not cranking is a faulty starter. The starter is responsible for turning the engine over, so if it’s not working properly, the engine won’t be able to start.

3. Bad Ignition Switch

The ignition switch is responsible for sending the signal to the starter to turn the engine over. If the ignition switch is bad, the starter won’t receive the signal and the engine won’t crank.

4. Loose or Corroded Battery Terminals

Loose or corroded battery terminals can also prevent the engine from cranking. The battery terminals are responsible for connecting the battery to the starter, so if they’re not making a good connection, the starter won’t be able to get the power it needs to turn the engine over.

5. Faulty Neutral Safety Switch

The neutral safety switch is responsible for preventing the engine from starting if the car is not in park or neutral. If the neutral safety switch is faulty, the engine won’t crank even if the car is in park or neutral.

How to Troubleshoot a Car Engine Not Cranking

If your car engine won’t crank, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem.

1. Check the Battery

The first thing you should do is check the battery. Make sure that the battery terminals are clean and tight, and that the battery has enough charge to start the engine. You can use a voltmeter to check the battery’s voltage. If the voltage is below 12 volts, the battery may be dead and need to be replaced.

2. Check the Starter

If the battery is good, the next step is to check the starter. You can do this by hitting the starter with a hammer while someone tries to start the engine. If the starter is working properly, you should hear a clicking sound when you hit it. If you don’t hear a clicking sound, the starter may be faulty and need to be replaced.

3. Check the Ignition Switch

If the starter is working properly, the next step is to check the ignition switch. You can do this by trying to start the engine with the key. If the engine doesn’t crank, the ignition switch may be faulty and need to be replaced.

4. Check the Battery Terminals

If the ignition switch is working properly, the next step is to check the battery terminals. Make sure that the terminals are clean and tight, and that they’re making a good connection with the battery. If the terminals are loose or corroded, they may need to be cleaned or replaced.

5. Check the Neutral Safety Switch

If all of the above steps have failed, the next step is to check the neutral safety switch. You can do this by putting the car in park or neutral and trying to start the engine. If the engine still doesn’t crank, the neutral safety switch may be faulty and need to be replaced.

Conclusion

If you’re having trouble getting your car engine to crank, there are a number of potential causes. By following the troubleshooting steps outlined above, you can narrow down the problem and get your car back up and running.