Car Won’t Start? Read On to See 8 Common Reasons and What to Do

Feb 1, 2024

Firstly, we feel your pain - we know that sinking feeling as you try the engine once, then twice, then three times and it just won’t get going. But don’t fear, we’re here to help. First let’s look at some of the reasons your car might not be playing ball and then we’ll see what can be done about it.

Common reasons cars don’t start and what to do about them

1. Flat or faulty battery

The most common reason a car won’t start is a dead battery. There are a few common causes for this: lights being left on, the car sitting undriven for extended periods, a faulty battery that cannot hold its charge or a fault in the electrics. Sometimes you can identify this to be the likely fault if you find that your radio, windscreen wipers or headlights don’t switch on when the ignition is switched on. Faulty central locking can be another indicator.

Solving it: You might be able to kickstart your car using jumper cables and a vehicle with a well-charged battery - however, you’ll need confidence to do this. If you’re unsure, make a call to a local garage or your breakdown cover supplier.

2. Not enough fuel (and a faulty fuel dial)

It is surprisingly common for people to run out of fuel without realising - if this happens, you will not be able to start the car up.

Solving it: Check Petrol Map to find the cheapest fuel prices near you, grab a container (big enough to hold a good amount of fuel but not so huge it’ll be really heavy) and head down to your local petrol station. Fill your tank up carefully and you’ll be good to go. If you are concerned that your fuel dial is faulty (and that’s how you ran out), then give your garage a call for them to check it over.

If you are concerned you might have used the wrong fuel, keep that engine off and check out our handy guide on what to do if you think you’ve used the wrong fuel in your car.

3. A clogged fuel filter

This is a sneaky one - a clogged filter will gradually cause increased ignition and acceleration issues, but eventually it can lead to the car not starting at all. According to mechanics, ideally you should be cleaning the filter every 10,000 miles and replacing it every 50,000 miles (or 5 years).

Solving it: There are lots of guides online to help you identify and solve this issue at home - but if you’re not confident, it’s always best to give your garage a call. They’ll be able to confirm and solve the issue quickly.

4. The wheel is stuck & ignition jammed

If you cannot turn the key to get the car going, it’s likely that your wheel has locked and your ignition jammed.

Solving it: Check if any of your tyres are jammed up against anything. If they are, then try gently moving your steering wheel side to side while you turn the key back and forth to light the ignition - this should get it loose again. If that’s not working, you can very carefully allow your car to roll by releasing the handbrake (with your foot on the brake) until you get far enough away.

5. Was your security system compromised?

A lot of modern cars have safety features which prevent the car from starting if the immobiliser cannot recognise the fob in your key. If the central locking isn’t working, this is an indication that this could be your issue.

Solving it: If you have a spare key, try that one. If not, replace the battery in your key and try again - if this isn’t immediately available as an option, try holding the fob very close to the start button or ignition switch. If none of the above work, it may be quickest to contact your dealership.

6. A broken or weak starter

If you hear a loud click when you switch the engine on but it won’t start up, this is likely your issue.

Solving it: This is one for the professionals - get in touch with your garage or breakdown cover provider.

7. Make sure you know the start-up protocol

If this isn’t your own car, then it may be that it starts up a little differently from what you know. Most modern cars will require the car to be in neutral to start it up - some will require you to press the brakes, others the clutch.

Solving it: Look for the manual in the glove compartment - the information you need will be in here. If you can’t locate it, a quick internet search should help you out.

8. Your engine is flooded

This is much less likely to happen these days, particularly if you’re in a new vehicle. It’s where there is too much fuel and insufficient air and you’ll usually find it’s a problem with cold engines - especially if you’ve moved your car a few metres only.

Solving it: Try pressing the accelerator pedal down to the floor and starting the engine. Do not attempt this for more than a few seconds or you could do more harm than good. If the car does get started, leave it to idle (while keeping an eye on it) for a few minutes before driving. If it doesn’t get going, make contact with your garage or breakdown cover provider.

Wrapping It Up

Hopefully this article will have provided some practical tips to work out what’s causing your engine start-up issue and how to solve them. It’s important to stress you should only attempt these fixes if you are confident of the exact issue at play and know your way around a car at least a little bit.

If you are unsure, it’s always best to call your breakdown cover provider or your local garage who will have a huge amount of knowledge and may even be able to help you identify and fix the issue on the phone without you having to go in.