Car not starting ? It could be your battery or your starter.
A car not starting may be from a bad battery or starter.
If car not starting, recognize the different sounds your car makes when the car is not starting. A click usually means there is not enough current to start the car, while a whine usually means there is a misalignment. When you start to hear these noises when trying to start your car, you should speak to a mechanic to see if the starter needs replacing or can be rebuilt.
Check the battery first. A weak battery cannot turn the starter over. Also, clean any corrosion from the battery and make sure the grounding wire from the starter is connected. If the battery is at full strength, and you still only hear a clicking noise, then your starter needs replacing. Turn on the headlights and crank the car. If your lights go out or dim when you turn the key, then you have a problem with the battery or power and not the actual starter. Your headlights remaining steady while your car clicks instead of turning over points to the starter.
Car not starting is easy to troubleshoot.
Get help identifying sounds. Keep track of how often many times the car actually starts. If your car turns over and starts intermittently, but then does nothing at other times, you should recognize that as a problem with the starter. Sometimes tapping or shaking the ignition or starter can get your car going again, but you should replace the parts as soon as you get a chance. No kidding! Shake it!
Clean and rebuild a starter before replacing it. If you get the starter apart and any of the parts are corroded or cracked, you should invest in a rebuilt or new starter. Learn to recognize the difference between dirt and corrosion. Simple dirt and grime can be cleaned off with a wire brush. Measure the amperage on the cable that runs from the battery to the starter using a multi meter. Under normal conditions, the starter should draw about one ampere per cubic inch of engine displacement (on a large engine that means 200 or 200A). If the amp draw is too high or too low, then the starter needs to be replaced.
