Car Hesitant to Start – What Are The Causes And Fixes?

It can be frustrating when your car isn’t starting. Here are the most common causes and how to fix them. We don’t take for granted that our cars will start in the morning.

When you discover that your car doesn’t start, you realize that something isn’t right. When a car hesitates to start, it’s a sign of a problem, but what can you do to fix it?

A bad engine sensor and low fuel pressure are some of the most common causes of hesitation. It could be a problem with the spark plugs.

The issue could be a bad starter or low battery. Even though some of the possibilities are more probable than others, we evaluate them. We show you how to resolve each condition.

Common Causes

It is important to find the problem correctly because many different parts can make your car engine hesitate to start.

If a sensor fails in your car, it will store a trouble code in the advanced computers that monitor it.

Before you do any further diagnosis or replace any parts, it is important to read the trouble codes with a code scanning device.

Some things may make you hesitate to start your car.

Fuel System Issues

To start a car, air and fuel are necessary, as well as enough fuel to get to the engine.

Problems with the fuel system can prevent the right amount of fuel from getting to where it is supposed to be.

If you have a diagnosis that leads to the fuel system, you need to find out what part failed and replace it.

You may be looking at issues with a fuel pump that’s malfunctioning or a fuel filter that’s not working.

Low fuel pressure can cause this problem because the engine needs to inject more fuel into the cylinders during the start-up moment than when it is running.

Bad engine sensor

A bad engine sensor can cause the engine control module to inject too much or too little fuel into the engine during the start-up moment, which can result in a rich or lean air-fuel mixture.

It is important to check the error codes first because there are so many sensors in your car.

If your car hesitates to start when the engine is warm or cold, that could be a sign that the engine temperature sensor is malfunctioning.

A bad camshaft position sensor is one of the possible causes of starting issues.

Bad Battery/Connection

The car battery provides the necessary power for the engine to start. The engine can’t be started right away if the battery doesn’t provide enough voltage.

It may take some time. The less cranking the battery can do, the less power it can provide.

Your issue could be related to the connection if the battery is in good working order.

The battery will not be able to transmit the power needed to start the vehicle if there are any problems with the cables or posts.

To make sure everything is clear, you should do a visual inspection of the connections. Baking soda and water can be used if you need to clean them off.

You want to check the health of the battery regularly.

If you want a free check, you can take it to most auto parts stores. You shouldn’t be left stranded if you replace the battery as soon as it dies.

Faulty Spark Plugs or Ignition Coils

In addition to the charging and electrical side of starting a car, you also have to contend with the ignition system.

The failure of spark plugs can make it harder to get the engine running.

If you change the spark plugs at recommended intervals, you shouldn’t notice any performance issues as the plugs get older.

If the engine is getting hard to start, and you haven’t changed the plugs, it’s a good idea to pull them and take a look.

If the spark plugs are getting bad, they could cause a weak spark, and they might need to be replaced.

Poor Fuel Quality

Most people don’t think about the type of fuel that’s going into the car.

You may be trying to find the least expensive option without thinking about what it could do to the engine.

If you think you have put bad fuel in the car, you can try an Additive to get the car running. You should only fill up at places with top-tier fuel for better protection after that.

Malfunctioning Starter

The vehicle might be slower to turn over if the starter motor wears out. The starter gear is activated when the key is turned.

This action causes the starter to turn quickly until the engine takes over. The car is going to struggle to start if it isn’t spun fast enough.

Bench testing the starter is the best way to check it. Most auto parts stores will do it for free if you do not know how to do it.

Clogged Air Filter

The right amount of fuel and air is required for the engine to start. One part of the equation isn’t making it to the combustion chamber if the air filter has become clogged.

It is not expensive to install a new one. It’s important to follow the recommended maintenance schedule to make sure this vital component is not damaged.

Failing Alternator

The failure of the alternator can cause problems starting the car. If the battery is not charged while the vehicle is running, you might not have enough cranking power.

Many people don’t realize that the alternator is bad until they get a new battery. At your local auto parts store, you can have the alternator tested too. It is possible to test it yourself.

If the car engine is off, use the multimeter to test the battery voltage. You can test it with the battery running. The number should go up when the engine is running.

Vehicle Hesitates to Start When Cold

If the car is only having trouble getting started when it is cold, that could be because the battery is struggling to supply the cold cranking amperage that is needed.

You will find two different ratings when you choose a battery. The first thing to look at is the cranking amps, while the second is the cold cranking amperage.

The battery can provide the full amount of cranking amperage without a problem when the temperature is mild. The problems begin to occur when the temperature drops.

The number of Amps provided to the car starter by the battery is shown in the CCA rating.

The CCA rating will always be lower than the cranking amperage because most cars are designed to start with less than that.

The CCA starts to decline once the battery begins to age. The problem won’t be noticed in the summer months because the CCA isn’t needed.

It is important to check the health of your car battery before the winter season begins.

It is possible to prevent getting stuck with a car engine that won’t start if you know that it is struggling ahead of time.