Car Not Starting and Engine Light On

Possible Causes

There are many possible causes for a car not starting and the engine light being on. Some of the most common causes include:

Dead battery
Faulty starter
Bad alternator
Faulty fuel pump
Clogged fuel filter
Faulty ignition switch
Problem with the engine computer

Troubleshooting

If your car is not starting and the engine light is on, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem:

Check the battery. Make sure the battery terminals are clean and tight. If the battery is dead, jump-start the car and then take it to a mechanic to have the battery tested.
Check the starter. The starter is responsible for turning over the engine. If the starter is faulty, it will not be able to turn over the engine and the car will not start.
Check the alternator. The alternator is responsible for charging the battery. If the alternator is faulty, it will not be able to charge the battery and the car will eventually run out of power.
Check the fuel pump. The fuel pump is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine. If the fuel pump is faulty, it will not be able to deliver fuel to the engine and the car will not start.
Check the fuel filter. The fuel filter is responsible for filtering out impurities from the fuel. If the fuel filter is clogged, it will not be able to allow fuel to flow to the engine and the car will not start.
Check the ignition switch. The ignition switch is responsible for sending a signal to the starter to turn over the engine. If the ignition switch is faulty, it will not be able to send a signal to the starter and the car will not start.
Check the engine computer. The engine computer is responsible for controlling the engine’s operation. If the engine computer is faulty, it will not be able to control the engine’s operation and the car will not start.

Diagnosis and Repair

Once you have troubleshooted the problem, you will need to take the car to a mechanic for diagnosis and repair. The mechanic will be able to diagnose the problem and recommend the necessary repairs.

Prevention

There are a few things you can do to help prevent your car from not starting and the engine light from coming on:

Keep your car regularly maintained.
Check the battery and starter regularly.
Replace the fuel filter regularly.
Avoid driving in extreme weather conditions.

Conclusion

If your car is not starting and the engine light is on, there are a few things you can do to troubleshoot the problem. If you are unable to diagnose and repair the problem yourself, you will need to take the car to a mechanic for diagnosis and repair.