It’s a sinking feeling: You put the key in the ignition, turn it and … nothing happens. If this happens to you, listen closely. The sound your car makes—or doesn’t—is a clue to what’s going on under the hood, and whether you should call for a tow or try to fix it yourself.
Here are some of the most common issues, according to Richard Reina, product training director at CARiD.com, and what you should do about them.
No Sound, No Lights
It might be: A battery connection problem.
What to do: Check the cable connections at the battery. They may look fine, but see if you can twist and turn them by hand; if you can, the connection’s loose. Remove them, clean them with a paper towel or rag, reconnect (you’ll likely need a wrench to tighten down the clamps) and try again.
It might be: A dead battery.
What to do: Try a jump start. You’ll need cables and someone with a car to connect your battery to theirs. Here’s how to jump start your car.
No Sound But Dashboard Lights Go On
It might be: The car isn’t in park or neutral, or the switch on the side of the transmission has gone bad in the park position.
What to do: Move the gear to neutral and see if the car will start. Also try pushing the brake pedal (or clutch, in a car with a manual transmission).
It might be: A faulty starter motor, or your ignition switch or cables from the ignition to the starter aren’t working properly.
What to do: Call for a tow and get to a repair shop right away.
It might be: A problem with the key fob, like a bad transponder or a dead battery.
What to do: There should be an option to start your car even if the fob’s battery is totally dead. Check your owner’s manual.
Engine Makes A Clicking Sound
It might be: A weak battery.
What to do: Turn on the headlights. If they come on brightly, your battery is good and the clicking means you have either a bad connection or a bad starter. If the lights come on very dimly, the problem is a weak battery, and you should try a jump start.
Normal Cranking But Engine Won’t Fire
It might be: You’re out of gas, or running very low.
What to do: Call a service to bring you some fuel.
It might be: A flooded engine, if you have an older car with a carbureted engine. This happens when there’s too much fuel in the engine and the spark plugs are wet and won’t spark.
What to do: Hold the gas pedal all the way down and crank the engine; this will clear the fuel out of the combustion chamber.
It might be: A blown fuse for the fuel pump or ignition circuit.
What to do: When a fuse fails, it’s easy to spot—you’ll see the metal strip is broken and has a bit of black around it. Check your owner’s manual for the fuse box location and replace the fuse. Most car makers provide spare fuses in extra spaces in the fuse box.
A Slow, Dying Crank
It might be: A weak battery.
What to do: Try a jump. Then get to a mechanic as quickly as possible, because it’s only going to happen again.
A Crank With A Grinding Noise
It might be: The starter is not engaging the flywheel.
What to do: Cycle the key on and off three or four times; it should catch the flywheel and start. However, this means that you have broken teeth on your flywheel, so get your car to the shop right away.
Super-Fast Cranking With A Spinning Noise
It might be: A broken timing belt. The connection between the upper half and the lower half of the engine is broken. The pistons have no resistance, and they’re moving up and down faster than usual because some valves remain open.
What to do: Stop cranking immediately and call for a tow; this is a serious problem. To help prevent this problem, replace your timing belt as part of your regular maintenance.
If your car won’t start, hearing a tow truck is a welcome sound. Fortunately, it’s easy to call one with Emergency Roadside Service, available through the GEICO Mobile App. Another nice noise? Hearing that you could be paying less for car insurance from GEICO. Get a quote now and see if you could save!
Read more: The Extreme Weather Driving Guide
By Ellise Pierce
Illustrations by Curt Merlo
Marley says,
Ja it looks like that lady is stuck in the middle of nowhere, cars are very complicated and if you’re a woman you don’t want to get your hands dirty. It’s always best to be safe than sorry…I have one towing company in my phone that I have trusted since I purchased my car.
Zach Potter says,
Thanks for the information here as it proved useful. I know very little about cars so when I have a question I usually run to my cousin who seems all knowing when it comes to car maintenance. Luckily I haven’t had too many troubles with my car though we recently just needed a tow truck for my wifes car.
lorretta says,
Found info to be helpful and informative-thx!
Lilly Sedrick says,
I had no idea that a bad alternator could lead to a car having to get towed. That is just one reason why it is so important to make sure that you have a good alternator that is checked regularly. This can definitely help you prevent your car from having problems starting. This can also help save you a lot of money in the long run.
James Bay says,
I had no idea that the fuel line could freeze in the winter. I will make sure to keep my tank half full. That doesn’t sound cheep to fix. Thanks for the help.
Casey Jones says,
My car won’t start. Hopefully it is just something simple like a wet spark plug. I will give it an hour or so before I call a towing service.
Carter Michaelson says,
Getting stranded with a car that doesn’t start is something that I never want to experience. Making sure that you have a towing service on speed dial is a really good back up plan. A friend of mine used one a few days ago because of a flat tire on the freeway. I will definitely use these tips in the future, thanks for sharing!
danny happy customer says,
I own a 2003 ford ranger with only 84000 miles it is the best vehicle I have owned, not that iv owned that many. But my only clam was for a lock out as it was a stressful time I do not recall the company that was sent to my aid , I was back in my truck in less then half hour. I was still on time to make it to my wife surgery for cancer at the city of hope. Which makes me so glad I did break out that little window it the. Come to find out its one of the most expensive pieces of glass in the whole truck.
So anyway thank you so much.
Now let’s see how it goes adding renters insurance
breezzy brown says,
i reaaly love this keep on with the education
Stephie Smith says,
This is good to know! My car wouldn’t start a few days ago; I’d hear a rapid clicking when I turned the key. I was surprised to hear that it was my battery since I’ve only had it for 8 months, but since it was under warranty it didn’t cost anything to replace it. I’ll have to keep these tips in mind to diagnose these kinds of issues sooner, thank you.
Skylar Mitchell says,
Recently, my car has been having a hard time starting. I can usually get it to work after jump starting it, but I am concerned that one of these days it just won’t start. It is really helpful to know what to do in case that happens. I will definitely try these alternatives, but if I am still unable to get it to work, it sounds like the best thing to do is call a tow truck. That way, I can be sure that my car is taken care of and that I am not stranded.
Chris White says,
Sometimes when these things happen, it is best to get some towing services. That way you can figure out what the reason is that your vehicle is not starting. You do not want to chance it being something serious, it is best to get it towed to a auto shop and have it looked at. Better to get things taken care of before they get any worse.
Trea kargbo says,
Thank I really like the tips offered, for the women’s here I would like to add for safety if your car don’t start please call your husband for help not strangers. As you will be venerable from a stranger knowing your car won’t start. It also good if can’t reach your spouse to just call road side assistant to tow you home in that instance. Banter and starter issue can leave you with a no start.
Emily Smith says,
Nathan, the other day a friend of mine had trouble starting her car. She had to end up calling for a tow. I don’t want to be stuck in that situation. I will have to take your advice and get some preventative maintenance and be prepared!
Zach Thalman says,
I think it is smart to have a car service on speed dial just in case you get stranded like you’ve seen in movies and all over the place. It is also smart to get your car serviced before you leave on a trip so you can catch any problems that could happen. I think doing those are good things to do before you leave on a trip.