Why does my car start sometimes and not other times?

Hello there, no starts are common problem in many vehicles. Given that yours will start sometimes but not other leaves a few possible causes. The most likely causes would include a fault with the ignition switch, battery cables, fuel pump, starter, or low fuel pressure.

What causes intermittent starting?

Intermittent no starts are almost always primary ignition circuit problems, i.e an electronic issue that prevents the coils from being triggered and so you will need at minimum a scan tool that can show you cranking RPM and injector pulse as those two signals tell you that the crank and cam sensors are watching the …

Why does my car take multiple times to start?

Hello – most likely, your hard starting is caused by a malfunctioning fuel pressure check valve, or fuel pressure regulator. A leaking check valve makes the fuel pump work harder, and run longer when cranking, before adequate fuel pressure is available for the injectors.

How do you diagnose a car that cranks but wont start?

When your engine cranks but won’t start or run, it could mean your engine is having trouble producing a spark, getting fuel, or creating compression. The most common causes are problems in the ignition (for example, a bad ignition coil) or fuel system (for example, a clogged fuel filter).

Can a bad alternator cause intermittent starting?

If your alternator is faulty, it would not provide enough ‘juice’ to power your spark plugs while driving, which would drain the battery and make it more difficult to start the car. A faulty alternator is typically intermittent, which would explain the intermittent issue you’ve described.

What are signs of a bad ignition relay?

Bad Ignition Relay Symptoms

• Ignition is Unresponsive.
• Engine Stalls.
• Fluctuating Ignition power.
• Dead Battery after night.
• Bad electronic smell.

What sensor would stop a car from starting?

Which sensors prevent the engine from starting? Faulty sensors can keep your engine from starting as a safety measure. For instance, the crank angle sensor, or crankshaft position sensor, may be located near the transmission belt housing and come in contact with water, which would prevent it from working.

Can a bad starter start sometimes?

Engine Intermittently Fails to Crank or Start Like most other electrical devices, the starter motor can experience intermittent failure, resulting in an engine that occasionally fails to crank or start.

How do you fix a car that starts intermittently?

Checking the connections and the starter solenoid’s functioning or the starter relays can prevent your car from starting intermittently. The positive battery cable connects to the solenoid and must be in good condition to prevent the solenoid or starter relay from failing.

Can a bad starter cause a car to start intermittently?

If the starter goes bad, it can cause a lack of power to the car and cause the car to start intermittently. Your starter motor’s main components include the main housing, overrunning clutch, field coils, brushes, starter solenoid, and the armature. If your car starts intermittently, it could be due to an issue with the starter motor setup.

How to fix a car that wont start?

The battery and key sound okay from what you have said, and it sounds like you can hear the starter engage even when the car wont start, so the starter is probably okay. Replacing parts one at a time (like the battery) will eventually solve the problem, but will probably be expensive (and wasteful).

Why are intermittent car problems so hard to diagnose?

An intermittent problem may not occur while operating the system or even during a test drive. This can make it very difficult to diagnose the cause of the problem. Intermittent car problems can be a pain for everyone involved! This post should help you understand why that is and the complexities of diagnosing the cause of car problems.