Car Wont Start Has Been Sitting for a Long Time
If you get in your trusty ride only to discover that it won't start up, your first question will most likely be along the lines of "Why!?" Well, that's not always an easy question to answer without a little more information. That's because there are many reasons why a car might not start. For instance, if the engine cranks but won't start, it may not be getting the fuel, air, and/or spark necessary for combustion. If the car won't start and all you hear is a click, there's a good chance that the battery, starter, or charging system has a problem. Find out more below and give us a call if you have any questions. At Byers Airport Subaru, we're proud to serve the greater Columbus, OH area with expert car repair and more in our authorized Subaru service center.
5. Is The Engine Getting Air?
Above, we briefly mentioned the three main things that an engine needs to run. Those things are air, fuel, and spark. In our experience, it's hard to say if one of these is a more common reason for a car that won't start. So, what does air have to do with your engine not starting? Well, gas alone simply won't ignite in the cylinder and run your engine. That's where the air comes in and mixes with the fuel for a powerfully explosive ratio. This means that if your engine isn't getting enough air due to an expired engine air filter or a faulty mass air sensor, it may not start.
4. Is The Engine Getting Fuel?
If your car won't start after it's been sitting for just a little while, there's a good chance that it has to do with the fuel system. Modern engines have electronic fuel injection systems that operate at high pressures. If the fuel system can't maintain that pressure, it often results in a car that might not start after the vehicle has been turned off for a little while. This is a common symptom of a fuel pump that's going out. In some vehicles, this means removing the gas tank to access the fuel pump.
3. Is The Spark In The Cylinder Working?
Gas-powered engines are equipped with spark plugs that ignite the fuel and air mixture at a precise time in the cylinder. On older vehicles, replacing the spark plugs and their wires at regular intervals was an important part of basic automotive maintenance. That's still true today, except the interval has grown upwards of 100,000 miles in some cases. So, as long as you've kept up with recommended maintenance at an authorized service center like ours, bad spark plugs typically aren't a problem in newer cars. Today, the timing of the spark is computer-controlled, so things like bad distributor caps no longer cause problems with the spark in your engine. If your modern car won't start because it's not getting the sparks it needs at the right time, chances are that something like a crankshaft or camshaft position sensor is out. It may also be another issue in the electronic systems. Fortunately, most of these problems will turn on the Check Engine Light, which can help our technicians quickly diagnose the issue.
2. A Bad Starter Might Be The Problem
When you turn the key or push the button to start your car, a small but powerful electric motor called the starter engages to turn the engine over. That's what allows the engine to fire and run on its own. Today's starters are well designed and, in the case of Subaru models, will faithfully do their job for a very long time. However, starters are still among the car parts that tend to wear out and eventually need service or replacement. If the starter in your vehicle is bad, there's a good chance that you'll hear a hair-raising shriek. Though, there are a variety of symptoms of a bad starter, so it's always best to have it tested before replacing it.
Car Wont Start Has Been Sitting for a Long Time
Source: https://www.columbussubaru.com/service/information/5-reasons-car-wont-start-after-sitting-in-columbus-oh.htm