Car Trouble Symptoms When the ignition key is turn ON the car won’t start, no sound at all when trying to start.
Possible Cause (1) The battery is dead. (2) Battery Terminal is corroded. (3) Bad Solenoid ( starter problem
Car Troubleshooting There is a simple test that can be done to determine if you have a battery-related problem.
Turn your ignition key to the point just before the engine starts to turn over. With the key in this position, look at the dashboard lights.
• If the dash lights are out or extremely dim then it’s a battery-related problem. • If the dash lights are not out or are not extremely dim then the problem is a bad solenoid.
Now open the hood of your car and locate the battery. Check the battery terminal for the presence of cruddy like substance(corrosion) in the terminal.
• If there is no cruddy-like substance present in the battery terminal then the battery is dead and may need replacement. • if there is a cruddy-like substance in the battery terminal then the terminal is corroded.
Even though the battery may have enough charge, the corrosion on the battery cables is preventing the current from reaching the starter. This is the reason the car won’t start.
What to do?
If there is corrosion in the battery terminal
You need to remove the corrosion from the terminals. A wire brush is a good tool for doing this. You may also want to apply some baking soda and water to help dissolve it. Avoid getting the dissolved corrosion on your hands since it is an acid. Finally, after the battery terminals are clean, you may want to coat them with petroleum jelly to help prevent these deposits from forming in the future.
There are mainly two things that cause the starting problem a battery problem or a bad solenoid. If the battery was not able to establish as the culprit, the cause is probably a bad solenoid. The solenoid sort of turns the starter on. So, when it is not working, the engine will not start.
What to do?
The solenoid needs to be replaced. When the solenoid goes bad, it's probably a good idea to have the entire starter and solenoid unit replaced with a rebuilt one. Call various shops for the best price. Of course, though, you can do the job yourself if you like. Refer to a repair manual that covers this make and model for detailed instructions.
