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

If your car won’t start, you will probably need professional auto repair. However, you can get an idea of the issue by troubleshooting before taking the car in to the shop.

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

Source: Free Articles from ArticlesFactory.com

ABOUT THE AUTHOR