Car wouldn't start yesterday but started today
Car wouldn't start yesterday but started today Usually, when we are faced with the difficult situation in which our car does not start (and maybe we are in a hurry or we are far from home) the problem is due to the flat battery or to a malfunction of the starter motor, in 99% of cases it is like this.
The battery could be damaged and discharged if the car remains stationary and unused for a long time, nothing serious and irreparable. Let's see together how we have to behave, especially if the ignition of the car comes on but the car doesn't show any signs of starting, a situation that seems unusual but can absolutely happen.
The ignition comes on but the car does not start: what to do
In case we get into the car, we turn the key, the dashboard lights up, but when we go to turn the key again until the last click (what is needed to start the engine) the car does not start, then a problem obviously c 'is. We hear only a small mechanical noise, which almost seems to indicate an "effort", but the car gives no sign of life, apart from the ignition on, the rest does not seem to work. What do we do?
Surely the problem lies in the starter motor, the fault does not allow the car to start. This fundamental car component:
or it may have temporarily frozen.
In any case, this is a very rare problem, which happens more often in older cars, but which unfortunately could also occur on new cars.
The starter motor does not work: what to do
Having established that the problem of the car that does not start (despite the ignition turning on) is due to a malfunction of the starter motor, there is not much to do, we must try to start it "by pushing", if we do not want to call the tow truck, so you can immediately take it to a mechanic. How to do:
engage second gear and fully push the clutch;
turn the key and turn on the ignition (the key must therefore be inserted and in the position of the first click);
stay in the car and be pushed by someone willing to give us a hand (if you are going downhill just make the car move to make them pick up speed);
release the clutch and accelerate.
In this way the car should start, so it is possible to go to the workshop to solve the problem.
The battery could be damaged and discharged
The car battery is a device that can work for a long time, with an average life span of a few years for cars with a heat engine, reaching almost double for hybrid and electric ones. In any case, often, when the car does not start, the fault lies with the low battery, a rather pleasant situation, especially if it happens at an inopportune moment, for example creating difficulties at work or staying still in an isolated place.
For this reason it is important to always carry out proper maintenance of the battery, following the manufacturer's instructions regarding replacement, respecting the timing on the number of charge cycles and the minimum efficiency level required. Here's how to notice a discharged car battery and what to do in these moments, to quickly resolve and minimize inconvenience.
Low car battery: symptoms
If the car does not start, the battery is undoubtedly the first suspect, in fact in most cases it is this component that is responsible for the car's misfire. The symptoms that can warn of the low charge level are many, although it is not always easy to understand that the battery is running low, however there are some signs that can alert and show the need for careful inspection.
The most common case is that of the car that does not turn on, especially when the battery has already been used for a few years, or if you notice a certain difficulty in starting the vehicle. The same occurs in the presence of a noise similar to a clicking sound when starting, a sound that occurs when the key is turned and can indicate that the car battery is flat.
Obviously, it is also important to always check the car's warning lights, in fact if the yellow battery light remains active after switching on the car, there could be a serious problem, such as a fault in the alternator or the starter motor. Not to be underestimated is also a low intensity or a malfunction of some electrical systems, including weak headlights or poor lighting of the dashboard or on-board instrumentation.
A symptom of a flat battery could also be the sudden turning on of the warning lights, with the anomalous activation of some lights in the instrument panel, without actually there being a real fault as reported by the on-board system. Finally, it is important to consider particular noises coming from the muffler, for example pops and jolts, or malfunctions of some devices such as the reset of the dashboard clock.
The causes of a flat car battery
As we have seen, there are numerous clues that can warn about the incorrect functioning of the battery, symptoms that should not be minimized to avoid being left on foot at the least opportune moment. As regards the causes, there may be various, starting from the exhaustion of the capacity of the device, with the arrival of the time to replace the battery with a new model.
Obviously, it could also be a different problem, for example due to an electrical defect, such as a leakage of current, wear of a cable or a starter motor failure. Furthermore, the reason for the low car battery could be an oversight, such as having left the headlights on during the night, or the vehicle's inactivity for a long period of a few weeks.
In some cases the battery life can drop drastically, reducing its useful life considerably, making it necessary to change before the usual 4-6 years, for example when traveling short distances and sporadically, or for driving in environmental conditions burdensome.
car wouldn't start yesterday but started today the aspects that affect the operation of the battery are in fact numerous, such as the high number of charge cycles, external temperatures, maintenance and excessive use.