We've all done it: you hear a new noise come from under the hood, or you notice that your car is drifting a little to the left after that last pothole, and you ignore it. Sometimes ignoring the problem seems like the easiest thing to do, but in truth it's always better to handle the problem right when it shows up. If you've been noticing that your vehicle has had some trouble starting- even if it's only been sitting for a few hours- don't ignore it. It could be because of one or more of these 5 reasons.
5. Dying Battery
Sometimes the problem is no more complicated than what your first thought is. Having trouble starting? It's probably the battery!
Sometimes a vehicle's battery doesn't outright die. Instead, it will slowly limp along, unable to be charged, until eventually it picks the worst possible time to not start the vehicle. In cases like this, it's best to bring your battery into our service center and have it tested before it gives up completely. If it's determined that your battery still has life left, the connection terminals should also be inspected to ensure a secure connection exists between the battery and the car. The alternator should also be tested to make sure it's functioning properly.
4. Bad Starter
If you turn your key in the ignition and hear a series of quick clicks- or maybe a loud shrieking squeal- you may need a new starter. The starter takes power from the battery when you try to start your car and turns the engine over for the first time so that it can run on its own for the duration of the trip. If your battery is fully charged, but turning the key doesn't make anything happen, your starter is a likely suspect.
3. Bad Fuel Pump
The remaining three causes, unfortunately, relate to your vehicle's fuel pressure system. Modern cars require a highly pressurized fuel distribution system in order to get the fuel into the engine block. If it sounds like your battery and starter work fine, but the engine just isn't igniting any fuel, there's a good chance that the engine lost fuel pressure. The first thing to check when this happens is the fuel pump.
If the fuel pump has failed, then there may not be enough pressure to even get the gas into the engine. It may also let air into the fuel lines, which disrupts the fuel-air mixture and prevents the fuel from igniting.
2. Dirty Fuel Filter
The fuel filter does exactly what its name implies: filters the fuel. In the process of doing that, however, the filter can get incredibly dirty or even clogged with all the debris and gunk that it stopped from getting into the engine. If the filter is clogged enough, it can disrupt the fuel pressure and affect its ability to run smoothly or start.
1. Clogged Fuel Injectors
Finally, if all else fails, it is possible that the fuel injectors themselves have gotten clogged. If any debris finds itself in the tip of the fuel injectors, it can completely change the trajectory or pressure of the fuel getting injected into the engine. Any disruptions like this can change the air/fuel mixture and prevent it from igniting.
If you think any of these three suggestions are responsible for your vehicle's troubles, call us at Capitol Toyota and have one of our certified technicians take a look for you.
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Contact
Capitol Toyota
783 Auto Group Avenue Ne
Salem, OR 97301
- Sales: 503-399-1011
- Service: 503-399-1011
- Parts: 503-399-1011
