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The car won't start - how to deal with the problem?
Problems starting the engine - what to do if the car won't start?
Problems with starting the engine most often occur in winter. Low temperatures contribute to this. What to do if the car won't start? What are the emergency ways to start the engine?
Do the engines differ in the way they start?
Gasoline and diesel engines work on different principles. The first one needs a spark to work properly spark plug. It ignites the fuel-air mixture when it is compressed.
The diesel engine is also called a compression ignition engine. At the moment of compression, the fuel-air mixture ignites under the influence of high pressure. The process is supported by glow plugs.
This means that if the car won't start, the engine may be to blame.
Problems with starting the engine – what can be the main causes?
Due to their different designs and the fact that gasoline and diesel engines use different fuels, starting problems may also vary. However, the main causes are usually similar and most often concern the electrics and the fuel system.
The problem with starting the car on a cold engine may be due to a malfunctioning battery. It may be insufficiently charged or completely discharged. The cause may also be, for example, loose terminals.
The power unit may also fail to start due to a failure of the starter or the ignition switch itself. In the case of petrol engines, problems may also be caused by worn spark plugs. Plugs may cause problems with starting an LPG engine, because the unit operating on gas is exposed to higher loads. In the case of LPG cars, you also need to remember about the appropriate amount of gasoline in the tank, as the engine should be started on this fuel.
Your diesel engine may not start if the glow plugs are not working properly. Another problem may be paraffin, which precipitates from diesel fuel under the influence of low temperatures, clogging the fuel filter or lines. We write more about this issue in the article What is winter fuel and when does it appear at stations?.
There may also be a problem with starting a warm diesel engine. Insufficient pressure in the fuel system may result in no diesel fuel in the injection rail, which prevents the mixture necessary for ignition from being created in the combustion chambers.
What should you do if you need to start the car urgently?
One of the basic ways to start a car is to start it with cables. It involves drawing electricity from a car with a functional battery.
How to start a car with cables? We describe it in detail in the article How to start a car with jumper cables connected to the battery? How to choose the right jumper cables?. First of all, we care about safety and the selection of good quality jumper cables.
The engine of the vehicle from which we will "borrow" electricity should be turned off and the key removed from the ignition. We also remove the key from the ignition in our car just in case, so that no sparks appear when connecting the wires. We connect the cables as follows: plus to plus, minus to ground or to the negative terminal. We start by connecting it to a working battery.
We can also use a car starting device, commonly known as a booster. This equipment works on a similar principle to jumper cables, but we do not need the help of a second driver, because the discharged battery is connected directly to the starting device.
Alternatively we can remove the battery and charge it using a charger. However, this conflicts with the concept of quick, emergency starting of the engine, as the process may take several hours.
Charging the battery won't always help. What to do if the problem with starting the engine is not related to a lack of electricity?
Are there any remedies that can help when your car won't start?
If, after turning the key, the starter starts the unit in motion without any problems, but the engine does not start, we can try to use the so-called self-start.
This is a preparation that will help start the engine, especially in case of problems with the injection system. The self-start creates a mixture with air that ignites and sets the engine components in motion. It is best to apply this agent directly to the intake pipe, first dismantling the air filter can or removing the clamp.
For the previously mentioned problems with starting a diesel engine in frosty weather, related to the precipitation of paraffin from diesel oil, the best remedy is heat. If possible, put the car in the garage or tow it to a covered supermarket parking lot. We can also just wait for the temperature to rise.
To avoid such a situation in the future, it is good to use it regularly depressant. It is a fuel additive that prevents paraffin precipitation at low temperatures, while also improving the engine's operating smoothness.
What should you especially avoid when experimenting with starting the engine?
A rather risky method is to start the engine with push or tow. Trying to start the car while moving may result in the timing slipping.
The consequences can be serious. The collision of the pistons with the valves will make the engine suitable for overhaul. In extreme cases, the crankshaft may even be damaged.
Problems with starting the engine - reporting a failure
Where should you go if you can't start your car?
What should we do if we have problems starting the engine due to a discharged battery and there is no one nearby to help us? We can hook up to a taxi called. Typically, the cost of such a service is PLN 20-40.
If we have purchased assistance, the problem with starting the engine should be solved by a mobile service. If emergency start attempts fail, the car must be towed or transported to a mechanic by a tow truck.
You still have to go to the service center often, even if you manage to start the engine. If problems with starting the car are not related to a faulty battery, you will need to carry out diagnostics of the electrical or fuel system.
