Car Engine Won’t Turn Over but Battery Works
If your car engine won’t turn over but the battery works, there are a few possible causes. In this article, we’ll discuss the most common causes and how to troubleshoot them.
1. Bad Starter
The starter is responsible for turning over the engine. If the starter is bad, it will not be able to engage the flywheel and turn the engine over. There are a few things that can cause a starter to go bad, including:
- Worn brushes
- Faulty solenoid
- Damaged armature
To test the starter, you can use a multimeter to check for continuity between the terminals. If there is no continuity, the starter is bad and needs to be replaced.
2. Bad Ignition Switch
The ignition switch is responsible for sending power to the starter. If the ignition switch is bad, it will not be able to send power to the starter and the engine will not turn over.
To test the ignition switch, you can use a multimeter to check for continuity between the terminals. If there is no continuity, the ignition switch is bad and needs to be replaced.
3. Bad Battery Cables
The battery cables connect the battery to the starter and the alternator. If the battery cables are bad, they will not be able to conduct electricity and the engine will not turn over.
To test the battery cables, you can use a multimeter to check for continuity between the terminals. If there is no continuity, the battery cables are bad and need to be replaced.
4. Bad Ground
The engine needs to be grounded in order to complete the electrical circuit. If the ground is bad, the starter will not be able to get the power it needs to turn over the engine.
To test the ground, you can use a multimeter to check for continuity between the negative terminal of the battery and the engine block. If there is no continuity, the ground is bad and needs to be repaired.
5. Bad Fuel Pump
The fuel pump is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine. If the fuel pump is bad, it will not be able to deliver fuel to the engine and the engine will not turn over.
To test the fuel pump, you can use a fuel pressure gauge to check the fuel pressure. If the fuel pressure is low, the fuel pump is bad and needs to be replaced.
6. Bad Crankshaft Position Sensor
The crankshaft position sensor is responsible for sending a signal to the engine’s computer telling it when to fire the spark plugs. If the crankshaft position sensor is bad, the engine’s computer will not be able to fire the spark plugs and the engine will not turn over.
To test the crankshaft position sensor, you can use an oscilloscope to check the signal. If the signal is not correct, the crankshaft position sensor is bad and needs to be replaced.
