car won't start?

Question

Starter motor engages but doesn't start

Answer 1

"Won't start" is pretty vague. It could be hundreds of posibilities.
Dead battery, Low battery, bad ground wire to engine, bad power wire to starter, bad power wire to battery, bad connection at battery post or terminals, blown fuse, bad key switch, bad starter, bad fuel pump, bad injectors, out of gas, neutral safety switch, seized engine, broken connecting rod, no compression, no spark, bad oil pressure switch, broken timing belt, plugged fuel filter, bad starter solenoid, bad starter, broken rotor, cracked distributor cap, Anti-theft device, water in/on engine, out of gas, vacuum leak, bad gas, bad ignition coil, blown computer, faulty cam or crank sensor ...

I could list 50 more things easiy...

When you turn the key to start it, what happens?

Could you be a little bit more specific??

Several times a day, someone asks a very similar question to your's.

It's very helpfull to include a little more information in your question to help us, help you, in your times of trouble.

Some of the simple things to include in your question is:

1) Year of car.
2) Make of the car.
3) Model of your car.
Those three things can help us narrow down known issues with particular vehicles that have certain problems that occur on a regular basis. (ie. recalls and such)

Next, If you could give a more detailed explanation of what is happening when you turn the key to start your car.
1) Nothing happens?
2) You hear a "click", but nothing else?
3) You hear the starter turning, but the engine doesn't turn?
4) The starter turns the engine, but the engine won't start up?
5) The engine turns over, but very slowly.
6) the engine turns, but there's an awful banging noise?

Lastly:
What happened last time you drove it?

1) Drove home fine last night, just won't start today?
2) Was driving fine, and it just died on you?
3) You haven't driven it in a while. It's been parked in storage?

I like to say: "The better the question, the better the answer"

Answer 2

Three things to check Fuel getting through (fuel pump) Spark to Spark plugs through distributor from voltage regulator or coil Mechanical ring gear engages with starter solenoid engine actually tuns over when starter engages,
good luck

Answer 3

REGULAR SERVICING-this wont help you now but once your car is running it will save much time-money+frustration.After years of trouble free motoring i cant get over the amount of folk who have to be told this!Read your cars handbook and it will tell you how often it needs doing-its cheaper to maintain than repair a car.

Answer 4

If it engages but won't turn the engine it sound like battery (or possibly completely seized engine) if it spins but engine won't start it could still be battery (won't turn engine fast enough) if it's turning the engine fast enough it could be any one of a number of things. In a situation like this I would use my Universal Tool Kit (mobile phone & RAC card!!)

Answer 5

always check the obvious first, is it getting spark thru the plug wires to plugs, is it pumping gas to the carb?, could be fuel pump, clogged filter, solenoid , the list can go on,, would need more info.

Answer 6

Crazychris.
Perfectly feasible explanation with the information provided.

Although, William you will have give a few more clues??

Answer 7

not enough information,does it just clunk and lock or does it turn the engine without it starting,does it turn the engine fast or slow.does it just make a whiring sound and nothing happens?

Answer 8

What kind of car is it? Make/Model/Year...

Can be a variety of different things depending on the car.
Also check online forums like car.com , http://www.autotropolis.com/cs/forums/default.aspx , carspace.com ,

Answer 9

Sorry not enough info.
What car is it, does it have an alarm/immobilisor,
Petrol in it, oil, etc

Answer 10

starter selnoid!