There is nothing more frustrating to a person in a hurry to hit the road than a vehicle that refuses to start. Engine troubles such as this are actually far more common than most vehicle owners imagine. Even if you follow a regular car maintenance schedule, you can still experience vehicle breakdown at any time.

While having your engine die on you is highly inconvenient, it is an issue that can easily be resolved. Just like any other problem, the first thing you must do to fix it is to determine its cause.

To be able to determine the exact reason why your car’s engine won’t start, it is important for you to understand how the assembly starts in the first place. When you turn your key in the ignition, voltage in your car’s battery travels to your ignition switch. The voltage then moves towards the starter relay and starter motor. When the starter motor receives the voltage, it spins to crank up the engine. If there is enough spark in the cylinders, compression, and of course, fuel, the engine will start.

You should know that there are many possible reasons why your car will die on you. To narrow them down, listen closely to what will happen after you turn the key in the ignition. If you do not hear a sound from your car, the problem lies with the battery. It could be dead or heavily corroded. If you will hear a ticking noise, then it’s one of two things. It could be your battery or your starter motor. If it’s not the battery, then there maybe an issue with the ignition system not receiving enough voltage.

When you hear your engine turn over but still refuses to start, these are the most probable reasons:

• Wires connecting the battery to the starter motor may be frayed or loose, thereby preventing the motor from receiving voltage.
• Not enough spark in the cyclinders.
• Ideally, if your engine turns over but still won’t start, the first thing you check for is a spark. It’s always a good idea to have a spark tester stored in your trunk at all times. If there’s no spark, the problem lies with the ignition system.
• Insufficient fuel.
• However, if there’s a spark and the issue is still unresolved, check your fuel next. If the fuel meter shows there is still enough fuel but your car still won’t start. You can check the fuel pump, the pressure in the fuel line, the fuel filter, and the fuel injectors.
• Insufficient compression.

If not enough fuel is the problem, then the problem can be attributed to lack of compression, which in turn can be caused by a timing belt gone loose. Once you have determined the reason why your car simply won’t start, you can go ahead and perform minor fixes. If you are clueless on how to go about fixing the problem, then it is time for you to seek the help of a trusted car repair service.