Car Won’t Start and Check Engine Light Is On

When your car won’t start and the check engine light is on, it can be a frustrating and confusing experience. There are a number of potential causes for this problem, so it’s important to troubleshoot the issue carefully in order to find the root cause.

Possible Causes

Some of the most common causes of a car that won’t start and a check engine light that is on include:

Dead battery: A dead battery is one of the most common reasons why a car won’t start. If the battery is not providing enough power to the starter, the engine will not be able to crank.
Faulty starter: The starter is responsible for turning the engine over. If the starter is faulty, it may not be able to engage the flywheel and start the engine.
Ignition switch problems: The ignition switch is responsible for sending power to the starter. If the ignition switch is faulty, it may not be able to send power to the starter, which will prevent the engine from starting.
Fuel pump problems: The fuel pump is responsible for delivering fuel to the engine. If the fuel pump is faulty, it may not be able to deliver enough fuel to the engine, which will cause the engine to stall or not start at all.
Engine control module (ECM) problems: The ECM is responsible for controlling the engine’s operation. If the ECM is faulty, it may not be able to send the correct signals to the engine, which will cause the engine to not start.

Troubleshooting

If your car won’t start and the check engine light is on, the first step is to try to identify the cause of the problem. You can do this by checking the battery, starter, ignition switch, fuel pump, and ECM.

To check the battery, use a voltmeter to measure the voltage across the battery terminals. The battery should have a voltage of at least 12 volts. If the battery voltage is below 12 volts, it may need to be replaced.

To check the starter, try to start the car. If the starter does not engage the flywheel, it may be faulty. You can also check the starter by listening for a clicking sound when you try to start the car. If you hear a clicking sound, it may indicate that the starter is faulty.

To check the ignition switch, try to start the car with the key. If the car does not start, the ignition switch may be faulty. You can also check the ignition switch by using a multimeter to measure the voltage at the starter solenoid. If the voltage is below 12 volts, the ignition switch may be faulty.

To check the fuel pump, listen for a humming sound when you turn the key to the “on” position. If you do not hear a humming sound, the fuel pump may be faulty. You can also check the fuel pump by disconnecting the fuel line from the fuel injector and turning the key to the “on” position. If fuel does not come out of the fuel line, the fuel pump may be faulty.

To check the ECM, use a scan tool to read the trouble codes from the ECM. The trouble codes will indicate which component is causing the problem. Once you have identified the cause of the problem, you can repair or replace the faulty component.

Conclusion

If your car won’t start and the check engine light is on, it is important to troubleshoot the issue carefully in order to find the root cause. Once you have identified the cause of the problem, you can repair or replace the faulty component and get your car back on the road.