Updated at: 04-04-2022 - By: micdot

Do you have a car that cranks but won’t start? This comprehensive tutorial will assist you in locating and resolving this common issue. If you’re looking for an expert on this subject, you’ve come to the right place. On our website, you may find out more.Starting a modern car is often as simple as pressing a button, thanks to technological advancements. Things can go awry, and the car turns over but doesn’t begin to run.Some possible causes of a car that cranks but won’t start include defective spark plugs or an incorrect compression ratio.We’ll go over the most prevalent causes in this tutorial so you can get back to business as soon as possible.

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List of Chapters

Why Is My Car Cranking But Not Starting?

Getting your car up and running is all about its ignition system. The ignition system comprises of a number of components that all work together in order to get the engine up and running in a matter of seconds. As soon as you turn the key or push the start button on your automobile, an electric starter kicks in and begins turning the engine. When you first turn the key in your automobile, you’ll hear the familiar whir of the crankshaft and pistons as they begin to move. There must be a problem with one of the components of the chain reaction mentioned above if the car cranks but won’t start. The starter motor is usually not the problem if you hear the car constantly cranking. The following elements are frequently implicated as root causes:

Flow of fuel

Plugs for the ignition system

Crankshaft

Ratio of compression

Battery

In the following sections, you’ll learn how to test and fix all of these possible problems.

Bad Fuel Flow

Getting fuel into the combustion chamber is critical to the engine’s operation. The engine won’t start if the fuel flow isn’t right. Problems with the pump, injectors, or empty tank are the most common causes of poor fuel flow.

Bad Fuel Pump

Car Cranks But Wont Start: How To Fix It | The Drive

In order to get fuel from the tank to the injector, you’ll need a pump to do so. The fuel pump can be easily tested if you suspect that it is the problem. You should hear a slight buzzing sound as soon as you switch on the ignition (without starting the engine). When the engine cranks, the fuel pump is activated at the same time, making it more difficult to hear the pump. If you see the fuel pump come on, that’s a positive sign, but you should still have it checked out.

Bad Fuel Injector

The fuel injector is in charge of transporting the fuel from the fuel pump to the combustion chamber. A throttle body fuel injector allows you to inspect the spray for yourself. It’s advisable to check if your electronic fuel injector is working properly by listening to it. Either a cheap mechanic’s stethoscope or even a screwdriver will work for this. Listen for a clicking sound with a stethoscope or screwdriver on the injector’s body. As the valve opens and closes, you should hear a sound.

Empty Fuel Tank

Engines cannot start if fuel is unavailable, regardless of how hard you try. It is the simplest option on our list if you are experiencing this problem: fill up your car. If the fuel tank is empty, check to see if any leaks have occurred and that all of the fuel lines are intact.

Bad Spark Plugs

Spark plugs start the combustion process by igniting the fuel-air combination. To run an engine, the fuel-air mixture must ignite. Bad spark plugs cause your engine to misfire, run rough at idle, and take longer to accelerate, among other things, when you’re behind the wheel. You may have a problem with the spark plugs if you experienced these signs before your car wouldn’t start. Using a spark plug tester is an option, but defective spark plugs can often be identified just by looking at them. The ignition coils must also be eliminated as a possibility.

Faulty Crankshaft

When the engine is running, the crankshaft plays a critical role in the synchronized actions that take place. If the crankshaft position sensor is malfunctioning, this could be the cause of the problem. The ECU receives data from the position sensor, allowing the spark plugs to fire at just the proper time.

It is therefore possible that a malfunctioning sensor might cause the engine to run at an insufficient level of power (or to start it).

Insufficient Compression Ratio

Does Your Car Crank But Won't Start? Here's The Fix [2022]

Inadequate compression ratios can cause problems comparable to those caused by a malfunctioning crankshaft sensor, such as the one detailed above. Leakage from faulty seals and gaskets is most likely to blame for the lack of compression in this instance. Alternatively, a faulty timing belt could be to blame. In order to correct this issue, new piston rings, valve seals, or anything else is preventing an acceptable compression ratio should be installed.

Battery Problem

Electricity powers the starter, which is a critical component in getting the engine started. In order to keep the battery charged, the engine is not running, so all of the electricity must come from the alternator. A grinding sound is often heard when a starter is defective. The flywheel could be seriously damaged if you try to start your vehicle after hearing this. Having a faulty battery or starter could prevent the engine from starting. The gasoline pump, for example, is an electrically powered component.

To get the car started, you’d need a working battery that could power all of these components at once. A blown fuse is another probable cause of a defective power supply. A test light is all that is needed to check the fuses, so switch the ignition on and see if there is any current.

Conclusion

The ignition system is at fault if the engine cranks but the automobile won’t start. The system consists of a number of components, each of which could be responsible for a failed start. In most cases, the starter isn’t to blame until the vehicle makes a loud grinding noise. Fuel flow, spark plugs, the crankshaft, compression ratio, or the power supply are the most common culprits in most engine failures. Everything can be tested. Others require a lot of experience to detect the problem, while others are rather simple to test.

It is important to keep note of when various components were last replaced. Most of the time, it’s time to replace the faulty component. Keeping your car well-maintained and replacing all of its parts at the recommended intervals is essential.