Car Cranks but Wont Start

The car cranks but won’t start. The possible reason why car cranks but won’t start is out of gas, broken timing belt, clogged air filter, the battery is weak or frozen battery electrolytes.

Reason why car cranks but won't start

(1) Car is out of gas.
(2) Broken timing belt.
(3) Clogged air filter.
(4) Corroded Battery terminal.
(5) Weak battery.

Car Troubleshooting

When the car cranks faster than normal then it is possible that the car is out of gas, therefore during cranking observe if the car will crank faster than normal then check if the car has fuel. Just fill the car with enough fuel and crank again.

If the car has enough fuel then the possible problem is that the car timing belt is broken. The broken timing belt can cause the engine compression to become low and since the car has low compression it is the reason why the engine cranks but won’t start. Timing belt ensures the engine valve to close during the combustion of each engine cylinder when the belt is broken there will be no compression in each cylinder thus the car won’t start during cranking.

Bring the car to a reputable car shop and ask the mechanic to check the timing belt to confirm if it is indeed broken, if the mechanic confirms the broken timing belt then have it replaced.

If the car cranks normally or is the same as when the car is about to start then the possible problem is a clogged air filter. The clogged air filter is the reason why the car cranks but won’t start because when the air filter is clogged there is not enough air going into the engine, the air filter becomes clogged because of too much dirt in the element, this dirt is preventing the air to go inside the combustion chamber. Since there is not enough air inside the cylinder then it will not start because air is one of the components necessary for combustion.

Now, start the car and observe if the engine cranks the same as when it is about to start. Open the hood and locate the air filter. Removed the air filter then clean it, usually to clean the air filter just spray a pressurized air on the element. Cleaning the air filter is just a temporary solution to the problem.

The permanent solution is to replace the air filter. Normally air filter is replaced every two years, therefore, verify if the air filter installed on your car is past the two years period.

Car Battery is Weak or Battery Terminal is Corroded

If the car cranks slower than normal then the possible problem is a weak battery or the battery terminal is corroded. When the battery is weak there is not enough power to crank the engine, however, if the terminal is corroded then the current that flows into the starter is not enough to start the engine because the corrosion interferes on the flow of current.

Check the car battery.

Car Turns Over But Won't Start

The car turns over but won't start. The car is cranking slowly however, it will not start. If the car is turning over slowly and will not start the possible reason is the battery.
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Do the simple test to check if the battery is weak

1. Turn ON the headlights then turn the ignition key to start the engine while the headlights are ON.

2. During cranking observed if the brightness of the headlight changes, if the brightness changes when the engine is crank then there is a problem with the battery.

Now open the hood and locate the battery. Look thoroughly at the battery terminal for any corrosion present on the terminal. If the terminal is corroded then it is the reason why the car won’t start.

Clean the terminal with a wire brush. Apply a baking soda mix with water into the terminal before brushing with a wire brush. Also after the cleaning apply petroleum jelly on the battery terminal to prevent the terminal from corroding in the future.

However, if the terminal is not corroded then the battery is weak. Now, look at the fluid level of the battery, remove the fluid filler cap and check if the battery fluid covers the top of the battery plate, if not then add distilled water on the battery. The distilled water must cover the top of the battery plate then jump-start the car to start the engine.

How to Jump-Start a Car Battery

Jump starting a car is easy but should be done correctly so that accidents such as a battery explosion can be avoided.
Learn more: How to Jump-Start a Car Battery

However, if the battery has enough battery fluid then you have no other choice but to replace the battery with a new one.

Frozen Battery Electrolytes

If the car cranks but won’t start only when the temperature is very cold then the problem is a frozen battery electrolyte. At a very cold temperature, the electrolytes inside the battery may freeze or partially freeze, if this happens the battery will lose its power and it will not start the engine.

Car won't Start But Battery is Good

If the car won't start but the battery is good, check the timing belt. The car won't start but the battery works well while starting it just turn over and will not start but the car turns over a lot faster than normal.

Learn more: Car Won't Start But Battery is Good

Let the battery get warm for a while before starting the car. Now if you are about to drives on a very cold region use a battery with a higher cold cranking rating.

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The Most Reliable Cars On The Modern Auto Market

It’s an inconvenient truth that cars don’t last forever. Having spent all that money and driven your new car off the dealership lot, you know that it’s doomed. Over time, our vehicles will inevitably have its parts worn down, and take on various damages that push it closer to the end of its useful life.

Unfortunately, you’ll never be able to buy a car that’s going to last forever. However, you can still stretch out the life of your next car by buying the right model. In this post, we’ll list some cars which have been known to last for thousands of miles on the road. While yours might not make it to 200,000, getting one of these reliable machines will certainly up your chances!

Nissan Quest

Nissan Quest image credit

Out of all the vehicles on this list, the Nissan Quest is probably the least well-known. It’s never really been a household name, and some people I know who absolutely adore Nissan haven’t even heard of it. More than 10,000 of these rugged MPVs changed hands through used dealerships in 2015, and they remain a fairly popular choice. 

In all those Quests which were traded last year, a small proportion had over 200,000 miles on their odometer. While they’re certainly not the most luxurious used cars currently on the market, they’re extremely tough and dependable and will give you years of trouble-free use.

Chevrolet Impala

Chevrolet Impala image credit

If you’ve never heard of the Impala, then I can only assume you’ve started your passion for cars long before you’re legally able to drive! The Impala has had a rich and intriguing history. The debuted to a very receptive market in the 50s, had a line of truly gorgeous coupes in the 60s and then some frankly revolting eyesores in the 80s. Over the past 20 years, a lot of the Impala models have been decent machines, but overall fairly forgettable.

Having said that, they’ve also ranked among the most long-lasting passenger vehicles in the world. Around 1.3% have slugged their way past that 200,000-mile mark, a lot of them as part of rental fleets. If you can get your hands on one, you certainly won’t be returning to the dealership any time soon!

Subaru Legacy

Subaru Legacy image credit

Subaru drivers can be fiercely loyal to the brand. I’ve met people who hang onto their cars for decade after decade, splashing out on expensive maintenance just because they know other cars can’t measure up. This strangely devout Subaru fan base leads me to wonder how many people have made it past 200,000 miles in the same car. This is something we may never find out, but there’s solid evidence to show that Subaru can produce some seriously long-lasting cars.

A large proportion of the long-lasting cars sold at various dealerships were legacies, some of which had clocked well over 200,00 miles. This sleek saloon was at its peak in popularity around 2004, so it’s safe to assume that most of the Legacies you’ll find at used dealerships are just over 10 years old.

Toyota Sienna

Toyota Siena image credit

It’s no secret that Japanese cars have a knack for being reliable, and the rest of this list is certainly going to attest to that! Toyota’s Sienna minivan has had something of a puzzling sales history in recent years. 2015 saw its best sales figures since its last peak in the mid-noughties. Some people believe this is because the new generation of millennials is starting families and settling down. When you’ve got kids, you need a vehicle that’s going to be spacious and versatile.

Furthermore, with the various financial challenges which come with a family means it’s important to have a vehicle that’s going to be economical and long-lasting. Sienna has all of that. Every now and then you’ll come across one that’s lasted past 200,000 miles. If you’re in the market for a Currie Motors Used Toyota, keep an eye out for this gem!

Honda Civic

Honda Civic image credit

Despite originating from Japan, the Honda Civic has become something of a western icon. It’s among the most popular models that Honda has ever produced, and that’s saying something! Now in its tenth generation, there are a pretty incredible number of civics out there which have racked up over 200,000 miles, and all Civic variations have an excellent reputation for their low maintenance requirements.

Many of these are older, four-door models, which make up most of the civic fleet. However, you’d probably be able to find a few nice coupes from the noughties scattered around used dealerships.

BMW 4 Series

BMW Series 4 image credit

You may have thought that buying a car for its reliability would mean that you’d have to sacrifice a certain degree of style and aesthetic beauty. If you get a BMW Series 4 Coupe, that certainly won’t be the case! For my money, BMW is one of the most reliable high-end German car manufacturers and has put out vehicles that Mercedes and Audi can only dream of. The series 4 Coupe not only looks incredible, but is wonderful to drive, and its range of engines provides you with excellent performance and economy.

Lexus NX

Lexus NX image credit

If you’re sick of all the saloons and hatchbacks on this list, then maybe a good SUV will be more up your alley. The NX was released as a competitive answer to the BMW X3 and Audi Q5, and really beat them at their own game. They not only offer a lot of practical features but are easy to drive and give you all the major benefits of an SUV. The car is exceptionally reliable, with reports of breakdowns begin very rare and its exceptional build quality being praised by countless motor journals. the Lexus NX also looks a lot more attractive than many of its close rivals, such as the Range Rover Evoque. Although there’s no diesel option for this car and the experience of driving it isn’t the most exhilarating in the world, an NX will definitely serve you well.

Tesla Model S

Tesla Model S image credit

Most people haven’t been paying the Tesla Model S all that much attention. However, in a few decades, people will be looking back on it as one of the revolutionary steps towards a world that’s full of electric cars. This is one of the few electric models which appears to hold a style as a priority, has a great 300-mile range per charge, and has been creating a buzz with the nuances of its supercar performance.

Despite the massive amount of techy features that fill up the car, the construction of the Model S’s electric motor is pretty simple. With few moving parts and an emphasis on reliability, these cars are expected to give their growing base of users years of trouble-free use.

Subaru Forester

Subaru Forester image credit

The Subaru Forester is made up of a great estate body on an exceptionally tough four-wheel-drive chassis. Forester owners can also enjoy a significantly raised ride height, too. If you’re an enthusiast and take a Forester for a test drive, you may realize that this SUV feels a lot like others which have been released around the same time. However, it’s the Forester that pioneered this crossover design. While it’s not electrifying to use, you don’t have to be driving it for long over the rough ground before you can tell that it’s built to last.

The biggest downside of this massive SUV is that it uses a massive amount of fuel and only gets 33 miles to a gallon. However, if you want a durable, practical and rugged car, then you could do worse than the Forester.

Car Vibrates at Certain Speeds

Car Trouble Symptoms
While driving, the entire car vibrates at certain speeds especially when the car reaches high speed.

Possible cause why car vibrates at certain speeds
1)The wheel is out of balance.
2)The tire is out of round.
3)The rim is out of round

Car Troubleshooting

The most common cause of car vibration while driving at a certain speed is a problem on tire and wheels, usually, it is the result of having a wheel that is not rotating evenly, the wheels vibrate when the car is driven. When the car reaches a certain speed the vibration of wheels becomes severe which is enough to cause the suspension components to also vibrate which in turn may also cause the entire car to vibrate.

Now how is it possible for the wheel to rotate unevenly?

There are two possibilities that make the wheel rotate unevenly, first is that when the wheel is out of balance, in this case, the weight of the wheel is not distributed evenly. During wheel assembly, the wheel is balanced so as to avoid the vibration of the car when the wheel is installed in the car. 

A piece of metal called the wheel weights is installed on the wheel to compensate for the out of balance wheel when this piece of metal is detached to wheel for some reason the wheel will become out of balance.

Second, is that the rim or the tire is out of round. This means that tire or the rim is not perfectly round because of some flaws during manufacturing and this will result in the awkward rotation of the tire or rim which may cause the vibration of the car when driven.

What to do?

First is to have all four wheels of your car to undergo wheel balancing. There are two types of balancing, one is the static balancing in which the wheels are removed from the vehicle and the return after the wheels is a balance.  Another type is the dynamic balancing wherein the wheel is on the car while the wheels are being balanced.

How Tire Balancing is Conducted

Of the two types of balancing the dynamic balancing, the best practice is the dynamic balancing because it considers the influence of the brakes during wheel balancing, also while the wheels are being balanced the roundness of the rim or the tire can be determined. If the tire or rim is extremely out of round, replace it.

Car Stalling While Driving

The car is stalling while driving. The stalling occurs when the engine temperature is high or even when the engine temperature is normal. The reason for this is because of the vapor lock or a faulty fuel pressure regulator.

Reasons for Car Stalling While Driving

(1) Vapor lock.
(2) Faulty fuel pressure regulator.

Car Troubleshooting

When the car stalls if the engine temperature is abnormally hot then vapor lock is the usual cause of car stalling. Vapor lock occurs because when the engine is extremely hot the gas will boil before it gets inside the engine. Once the gas is boiling the gas creates air bubbles. The created air bubbles can cause the air/fuel ratio to become lean. When the air/fuel ratio is lean it means that there is too much air and not enough gasoline and when the engine doesn’t have enough fuel then the car will stall.

What to do?

There is nothing you can do when your car encounters a vapor lock. Just wait for the engine to cool down and start the engine again. The real problem here is why is the engine temperature becomes abnormally hot? Probably the engine has a problem on the cooling system, the normal process is when the engine is hot there is a coolant that is circulated around the engine coming from the radiator to cool down the engine, the water serves as a water jacket surrounding the engine but because vapor lock occurs it means that the cooling system is not functioning to cool down the engine.

Has it checked by a mechanic, there might be a leak somewhere in the system, which causes the engine temperature to become abnormally hot.

If the car is equipped with a fuel injection system and also if the car stall even at normal engine temperature then the problem is the fuel pressure regulator. The fuel injection system has a component called the "Fuel pressure regulator", the purpose of this part is to maintain the fuel pressure on each and every fuel injectors, now if the regulator has a problem then the engine will be starved with fuel thus the car will stall.

What to do?

Bring the car to a reputable shop and have a mechanic check the Fuel Pressure Regulator. If the regulator is faulty just replace it to correct the problem. Replace only the pressure regulator and nothing else this usually fixes the engine stalling while driving.

Related Topics : 

Car Stalls When Idling
Car Stalling While Accelerating
Car Stalls at Idle
Engine Stalls While Driving