My Engine Won’t Start

Possible causes if your engine won’t start

There’s nothing more frustrating then turning the key on your jeep fully expecting it to start and then, NOTHING!

There are only a few things that are required for your vehicle to run.

• Battery

• Starter

• Gas

• Spark

• Compression

• Timing

Lets first take a look at some simple causes so you don’t spend unnecessary money on an expensive mechanic.

The Battery

If your engine doesn’t turn over when you turn the key, the first thing you should check is the battery terminals. Open the hood and look at where the battery cables connect to the battery.

If you see a white/grey substance on your battery terminals, they have started to corrode and causing a bad connection. This could be why your engine won’t start. This happens to my 97 Wrangler about every two years if I don’t keep my battery terminals clean.

PLEASE NOTE!Use care when cleaning the corrosion form your battery as this substance will burn your skin and eat holes through your clothing. It is always wise to ware gloves when working with your battery.

If your battery connection is good then it’s possible that you have a dead battery.

Checking for a Dead Battery

To check for a dead battery, turn your key to the position just before the engine starts. If your battery is good, you should see your dash lights come on.

If your dash lights don’t come on, or they are very dim, your battery doesn’t have enough power to start your jeep.

If you do have dash lights and they are dim, you can do one more check by turning on your windshield wipers. If they run slower then normal, you have a low battery.

It could be that you just left some lights on that caused your battery to run low and is the reason your engine won’t start. If so, all you would need to do is have someone give you a jump start. Make sure you read your owners manual before jump starting your vehicle.

If your battery is more then a few years old, you should replace it with a new one.

If everything checks out good with the battery and the engine still won’t turn over the problem most likely is a bad starter or starter connection.

If the problem still persists, then you should take your vehicle to a qualified service professional for further inspection.

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