Auto Repair: Common Electrical Problems That Keep a Car from Starting

If your car is not starting, there are several issues that could cause
this. If you are not a car expert, then you will likely need auto repair
from the experts, but before you assume this, you should try to get an
idea of what the issue may be. A range of problems could keep a vehicle
from starting, but electrical issues are some of the most common, so
start there.

One of the most likely culprits is a dead battery. You can find out for
sure by getting a jump from someone else, which nearly anyone can do
with some jumper cables and a running vehicle. If your vehicle starts
easily with a jump, then it is pretty obvious that the problem is the
battery, and you do not need to pay for auto repair. As long as you buy a
new one and put it in, you can be on your way, so this is one of the
cheapest repairs.

In some cases, the problem lies with the battery, but you don’t need a
new one as long as you clean the one you have. The connections tend to
become corroded overtime, which means it is hard for your vehicle to
connect to the battery. Thus, cleaning the connections should be an easy
fix. You can use a dry cloth to do so, but it may be hard to make much
headway since corrosion takes some elbow grease to remove. There is a
small tool made specifically for this purpose. It is a metal piece that
fits around each connection, and since the inside is rough, when you
twist it over the corrosion a few times, the grime should start coming
off. You can buy this at a store that sells auto repair supplies.
However, you can also use an old toothbrush to scrub off the corrosion.

You may also turn out to have a bad ignition switch. The way to test
this is to turn the key partially so that the radio and dashboard lights
come on. If they turn on, then the ignition switch is probably fine.
Turn the key all the way and try to start the car; the lights should all
dim at that point, meaning that the ignition switch is fine. If none of
the dashboard lights or radio come on when you turn the key a little,
though, you probably have a bad ignition switch that needs to be
replaced.

Some of these electrical problems can be fixed by people with little
knowledge of cars, especially if you have a little help from a friend.
However, if you are not sure of how to solve these issues, take your
vehicle to an auto repair shop that you trust. This is the best way to
get the auto fixed without hurting yourself or further damaging the car.
These tips are just ways to try to diagnose the issue before taking the
auto to a professional, so get started on choosing an expert to use
after you are pretty sure of the problem.



Article Tags:
Electrical Problems, Auto Repair, Ignition Switch