Reasons Why Car Won’t Start at Home
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Malfunctioning Fuel System
The fuel pump supplies the engine with fuel for it to run. If the fuel pump is not working, the engine won’t be able to operate correctly, and it will shut off. If the fuel pump, fuel injector, or fuel filter are damaged or clogged with debris, this can cause the “car won’t start at home” situation.
Unfortunately for this issue, there is no way to ignore a broken fuel injector or faulty fuel pump – you need to repair or replace the damaged part. You should also check the fuel filter to rule this component out as being the main problem. The fuel filter’s job is to clean the fuel going into the engine, but the engine will be receiving contaminated fuel if this part is damaged.
The last thing that could be faulty with the fuel system is the fuel supply line. The fuel lines transport gas from the engine to the fuel tank supply. If the supply lines are clogged, there is no way for the gas to get to the engine. If the gas cannot get to the engine, your car won’t start at home.
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Dead or Dying Battery
One of the main reasons why your car won’t start at home is a dead or dying battery. Some electrical components are still able to operate and run off of a very low charge – a charge that is so low some accessories will turn on, but too low to cause your car to start, leading to your car not being able to start at home.
Some parts of your car might only require a very little amount of power. This means that the parts can run off of a very low or almost dead battery. If your car needs more electrical current for certain appliances and can’t provide this power, your car won’t start at home.
However, your starter can require nearly 300 amps at once to get the engine started. Using the starter, alternator, or trying to turn on your car can cause your battery not to work correctly. If your battery is damaged or worn-down over time, your car won’t start at home.
If the battery is dead and not working properly, your car won’t start at home. In this case, you will need to get a replacement or repair the battery. Sometimes, you need to decide if it is better to repair or replace the battery depending on the damage’s extent. Fixing the problem can help you solve the car’s issue won’t start no noise phenomenon in your vehicle.
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Faulty Alternator
The alternator supplies your vehicle with a stream of electricity. Suppose your car shuts off while driving, it is likely that your alternator has gone bad and your car won’t start at home. A broken alternator will cut the power to your car, signaling this to the driver by a flashing dashboard light.
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Ground Cable Wiring Issues
Another cause of your car won’t start at home can be a ground cable problem. If the ground cable is damaged or completely bad, the power flow will be cut off and restricted. This means that the engine power will not be able to crank the engine.
Ground Cable Symptoms
Signs of a ground cable problem in your car include dim lights, flickering lights, electrical devices turning on and off, a faulty fuel pump, damaged throttle, and hard starting. Along with these causes of why your car won’t start at home, you may also find that you have a dead battery.
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Damaged Fuses
If the battery is not the cause of why your car won’t start at home, then you might want to check for a broken fuse. Check your car’s manual to find the fuse box’s location and see if the fuse or metal wire is damaged. If the plastic wire in the plastic is damaged, then a damaged fuse might prevent power from getting to the starter relay.
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Faulty Ignition Switch
If you determine the fuse is working correctly, the real problem is the car’s ignition switch. This electrical switch is inside your car and provides power to the electrical components within the car. However, if the ignition switch is damaged, it can mean your car won’t start at home.
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Damaged ECU
The ECU, or engine control unit, is your car’s computer, ensuring your vehicle runs smoothly. This engine control module controls actuators on the internal combustion engine to ensure the engine is running at an optimal level.
If there is an issue with your car’s ECU, you can lose power in your car, and your car won’t start at home. Typically, you will notice the check engine light on your dash that can indicate a clear problem in your vehicle.
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Malfunctioning Starter
Another reason your car won’t start at home is that it is not functioning at the optimal level. The starter is the electric motor cranking your engine to turn on your vehicle. The entire system consists of the motor, the solenoid, and the flywheel.
Whenever your car will not start, and the battery is charged, the starter motor is usually the culprit.
Starter Symptoms
A few common starting problems can cause the car’s engine not to turn over and the vehicle to not turn on. The starter can crank, but the car will not start, which is usually due to battery failure, poor connections, damaged battery terminals, or a bad battery. Sometimes, this could be due to the starter, with the control terminal becoming corroded and damaged over time.
What To Do If Car Won’t Start At Home
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No Sound and No Lights
If you notice that your car won’t start at home and there is no sound and no lights, this can refer to two different causes – battery connection issues or a dead battery. If you realize you might have a battery connection problem, you might notice a loose connection or a connection that has been contaminated with debris or dirt. To figure out if the dead battery is the cause of your car not starting, you need to try and jump-start your vehicle to see if it turns on.
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No Sound But Dashboard Lights Work
If your car won’t start at home, but there is no sound, and your dashboard lights work, you need to see if your car will work in other gears besides neutral. If the car isn’t in the park position or neutral position, the transmission may have gone bad.
This can be the result of a faulty starter motor or a damaged ignition switch. If this is the case, you need to go to a local mechanic right away before this prevents your starter from turning on the engine. The second reason your car won’t start at home but the dashboard lights are on could be a problem with a key fob.
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Engine Cranking But Won’t Fire
If your engine cranks and runs but the engine does not fire, you run out of gas or have a flooded engine. A flooded engine is when there is excess fuel in the engine, and the spark plugs will not cue the ignition timing. If this is the case of why your car won’t start at home, you can diagnose the issue by holding the gas pedal all the way down and cranking the engine.
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Cranking with a Spinning Noise
One of the last things to do when you notice your car won’t start at home is noticing the type of cranking that occurs in your car – if you notice a super-fast cranking with a spinning noise, this could be due to a broken timing belt. If the pistons do not have any resistance between the belt, they will move down quickly and can severely damage your engine.
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Engine Clicking Sound
If your engine will rev but makes a noticeable clicking sound, this could be due to a weak, dying, or dead battery. If this is the case, turn on the headlights and determine if the battery is in good condition or if you have a bad connection. If the lights only come on dimly, then you should try to jump your car to prevent your car from not starting at home.
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Crank With Grinding Noise
If you notice a crank with grinding noise, then this could be the reason as to why your car won’t start. The cause of this grinding noise could be due to the starter not engaging the flywheel. If this is the case in your vehicle, you need to cycle the key on and off so that it can catch the flywheel to start.
Conclusion
When trying to find out one of the main reasons your car won’t start at home, you need to determine the main symptoms of this problem within your engine and find out the root cause of your vehicle’s issue.