IOWA CITY CAR WONT START HELP

The Basics Behind Car Wont Start Help Service at Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City

Car Wont Start Help Service near Iowa City IA: Cars need the electrical power produced by batteries for many different purposes, including starting the engine, storing electrical energy, and supplying electrical power to the engine. Cars use battery power to operate electrical systems when the alternator is not running, including headlights, stereo, and most dashboard control operations. Car batteries are charged by the alternator, but starting and stopping the engine within a short time span can cause the battery to die, because the alternator needs about 20 minutes of engine power to fully charge a drained battery. Leaving electronics or lights running while the car is off will drain power from the battery, and extreme temperatures can cause a car battery to fail. Severe cold or heat can cause problems with a battery’s chemical reaction needed to generate power. If you are experiencing battery problems, then you may need a jump start to get going again.

Why Should You Have a Car Won’t Start Help Service Performed at Mobile Auto Truck Repair Iowa City?

Car Won’t Start Help Service near Iowa City IA: If you find yourself with a dead battery, there’s no need to panic. Our knowledgeable staff will be happy to help you get your vehicle up and running. If you don’t know how to jump start your vehicle or no one else is around to help, give us a call. Incorrectly connected jumper cables can destroy your battery or even your entire engine control computer. After a member of our service staff arrives on the scene, he or she will determine whether the problem lies with the battery or with a different part of your vehicle. If a dead battery is the source of your issues, our staff member will handle the jumpstart process from start to finish so that you don’t have to worry. Just give us a call when you’re in need of assistance.

Car is not starting Inspection Service

A car that fails to start is a rare occurrence in this age of greatly improved efficiency and reliability. But it still happens occasionally, and the advanced electronic technologies that have made cars better have also made the job of roadside diagnosis difficult, if not impossible, for even reasonably handy owners. One of our expert mobile mechanics can provide an expeditious diagnosis and provide a quote for any necessary repairs.

Common reasons for this to happen:

If the engine cranks, but the car doesn’t start:

• Bad fuel pump: A faulty fuel pump won’t deliver fuel to the engine, even if you’ve just filled up.
• Bad spark plugs: Without hot sparks to ignite the fuel charge in each cylinder, there is no combustion and no expansion of the burning mixture. Thus, the engine will not start.
• Bad timing belt: If the timing belt stretches or breaks, the engine will not run. Moreover, continuing to crank the engine may bring the valves into contact with the piston, causing serious engine damage.
• Bad ignition coil: Without a functional coil to step up the voltage, there can be no spark. No spark means no start.
• Faulty cam or crank sensor: If the sensors are faulty they will either provide no information to the ignition system, or will provide incorrect data. Either way, the engine will not fire. If nothing happens after you turn the key:
• Bad battery or terminals: Batteries have a finite lifespan, and terminals can loosen or corrode.
• Bad starter: This should be obvious from the response to the key. If nothing happens at all when you turn the key, the starter may have reached the end of its life.
• Ignition problem: This could be due to faulty contacts in the ignition switch, or in the wiring.
• If there is a grinding noise when you turn the key:
• Starter is bad: Do not persist in cranking the engine.

What to expect:

Car Wont Start Help Service near Iowa City IA: A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the cause of your car’s failure to start through a series of diagnostic procedures. You will receive an upfront, fair and transparent estimate for the necessary repairs. The mechanic will book a follow-up appointment to perform the repairs and will bring the required parts and tools. All repairs are covered by our warranty.

How it’s done:

The mechanic will check the ignition system, fuel system, and charging system, and then look for any mechanical damage. The mechanic may also try an alternative fuel source, like a quick shot of brake or carburetor cleaner into the throttle body, or a quick shot of liquid fuel via a vacuum line. If the car starts momentarily and then dies, that indicates that you have a fuel delivery issue.

How important is this service?

It goes without saying that a non-starting car is an important issue to address. Do not ignore or abandon the car if it’s not starting; this is an issue that should be dealt with promptly. Book a mechanic to perform a thorough diagnostic as soon as possible.

5 Main Reasons Why Your Car Won’t Start

Car Won’t Start Help Service near Iowa City IA: You never really realize how important something is until it’s gone… and this is especially true for your car. You use it for driving your kids to school, driving to work, getting groceries, travelling across the city, and even more. So when it stops working all of a sudden, it’s a huge pain.

There are a lot of reasons why your car won’t start, but some are more common than others. Below are 5 common reasons why your car won’t start and some advice to ensure your car stays in its top shape!

1. Dead battery

Car Wont Start Help Service near Iowa City IA: A dead battery is the most common reason why your car won’t start. The battery is what the car uses to provide electrical power to the entire car and electrical components (e.g. lights, radio, etc.). While the vehicle is running, the alternator charges the battery. If the battery is not charged sufficiently, you will not be able to start the car or use any electrical components.

Your battery can die for a variety of reasons:

• Your headlights or dome light was left on overnight or for too long
• You have a loose wire
• The water inside the component evaporated, leading to poor conductivity
• The battery’s lifespan has expired

Some common symptoms include:

• None of the electrical components work (e.g. the lights, radio, etc.).
• Battery light is on.

One way you can test to see if the battery is the problem by jump starting your car. If the jump start works, you’re most likely dealing with a dying battery or an alternator that is just having trouble recharging the battery. Consider replacing the battery or alternator, cleaning the connections, or having a technician do the service for you.

2. Defective ignition switch

If you know your battery is working properly, but your car doesn’t turn over on the first few tries, you might have a problem with the ignition switch. You can try to narrow down the cause of your issue by turning on your headlights. This is because your car’s battery controls your headlights and dashboard, and if it’s the case that they turn on your engine isn’t able to start, then a bad ignition switch is the likely culprit.

3. Faulty starter

A broken starter is another common reason your car won’t start. A starter is an electrical motor that is connected to the battery. It’s role is to set the engine (i.e. pistons, crankshaft, etc.) in motion when you turn the ignition switch on. Once the engine starts and is in motion, the starter’s job is complete. If the starter goes bad, the engine will not crank properly or may not crank at all when you turn the ignition key on. If you hear a clicking noise when you try to start your vehicle, a broken or weakened starter could be the reason why your car isn’t starting. This is very similar to the bad ignition switch example listed before.

Some common symptoms include:

• Car is not starting when turning the ignition key.
• Hear a loud clicking sound when turning the ignition key, but the engine does not start.
• Very noisy when trying to turn on your car.

4. Clogged fuel filter

If your fuel filter is clogged, the gasoline won’t be able to reach the engine. This makes it difficult for your car to burn the fuel it needs to get going. Fuel filters should be changed every 15,000 to 20,000 kilometers, so consider swapping fuel filters next time you get your car serviced.

5. Empty gas tank

Car Wont Start Help Service near Iowa City IA: You might feel a bit silly if this is the reason why your car isn’t starting, but it happens more often than you may think! When driving around all the time, it’s sometimes easy to forget that your gas tank needs to be refilled. The solution here is simple… get more gas!

Hopefully you never experience the scenario where your car doesn’t start, but if your car isn’t starting and you need some assistance, one of our expert mobile mechanics will come to you to properly diagnose and assess the issue. Furthermore, a full car inspection will be included as part of this service. If our mechanic can’t fix it on the spot, we will provide a cost and parts breakdown to you to ensure you understand what the problem is, how it will be fixed, and how much it will cost. If you decide to move forward with the follow up repairs with us, the initial inspection becomes free and we will only charge you for the follow up repairs.