Why Won't My Car Start?

Have you ever had your car just "die" on you, you try to start it and it just will not start. You end up calling a tow truck and paying those big tow bills, then to make matters worse the technician at the shop tells you that it will cost hundreds of dollars to make it run again,is that true? Maybe maybe not.

I own and work as a diagnostics Tech here at Ace Automotive in Lakewood Wa and I can tell you from experience if some people knew just a little more about their cars workings they could save a whole lotta money. Say for instance you are driving at night wipers and heater ,lights and radio on you notice that the headlights keep getting dimmer and dimmer soon the vehicle "dies" and now won't start the most likely cause is the alternator has failed, not the battery because if the battery failed the alternator would still keep power to the vehicle until you turned it off then it would not restart.

You are driving for a while and the car just "shuts off" all the instrument lights come on but when you try to start it it just turns over but will not start. First it depends what kind of car this happend to if it was an import like say Honda, acura, toyota, subaru, nissan, mitubishi, the engine timing belt may have broken (if it's been more that 60,000 miles since you changed it last time) you should be able to tell if when you try to start the engine it sounds different like its just "freewheeling" faster than normal, this is bad cause most of the import cars mentioned will do expensive damage to the engine when the timing belt breaks.

If your vehicle is a domestic one chevy ford ect, be patient wait a little bit maybe 30-45 min and try to start it if it starts hurray! But it will "die" again once it's hot enough again, be sure to tell your local tech this valuable information and ask for all parts they replace to repair your vehicle to let them know you know something about the car too.

About the author:
Randy Harkins Owner / Technician Ace Automotive http://www.aceautomotive1.com
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Troubleshooting Your Ford's Alternator and Other Electrical Parts

What's the most important part in your car? You would probably answer it's the engine. The engine, of course, is very essential since combustion takes place here. It is often referred to as the "heart" of the vehicle. However, other systems and auto parts might begin to protest. Certainly, every part in the vehicle has a role to perform; therefore, any of the auto parts cannot be disregarded. Among the auto parts that play equally important role with the engine parts are the electrical parts.

Electrical parts take charge of your car's power supply. It produces, stores and distributes electricity to all parts in the car that needs it - especially the engine. Basically, your car cannot operate without electricity. In order for the engine to produce power for the wheels, the burned fuel and air mixture must be ignited. The spark plug needs electricity in order to fire the compressed air-fuel mixture and create a powerful expansion of the vapor.

A problem on your electrical system, such as a faulty alternator or battery, could render your car useless; thus, you must be cautious if anything abnormal happens to your Ford's electrical system. The battery wears out the fastest and so it needs to be checked every now and then. Likewise, check on your alternator. This part is the source of electricity in your car; thus, when damaged, nothing will supply power to the battery and the rest of the vehicle.

What are the indications of a faulty alternator? First and foremost, if your car won't start at all and all you hear is a click, your alternator might be in bad condition. The battery has not been charged properly so it doesn't have sufficient amount of power for the engine to start.

However, even if your engine still starts, you cannot be confident enough that nothing is wrong with your Ford car's alternator. Check your headlights when idling, if the light gets weaker and weaker, check for loose connections in the alternator. Likewise, check the alternator belt. If it is not tight enough, the alternator won't be able to charge properly. Furthermore, look if there is a formation of rust as this will affect the charging ability of your Ford Alternator.

If your alternator is damaged severely, better start thinking about replacing your old Ford alternator. Remember that the battery supplies power to some car parts only when the alternator is not in use or if the engine is not yet running. If the engine is on, the alternator is the "star" of the electrical system; so a faulty alternator would eventually wear out the battery since it shall take charge of providing for the car's electrical needs.

Replacing your alternator might be the sole solution to your problem. Don't worry because OEM-quality aftermarket and replacement parts for American vehicles such as Ford Parts are easy to find nowadays, even Ford parts used. You can visit Ford Parts Online one of the country's leading auto parts suppliers. High quality Ford alternators are offered here in this store. Make sure your Ford alternator works to its full potential, get it only from a trusted source like Ford Parts Online.

Great Ford Parts Discount deals are also offered on all high quality Ford parts from Ford A/C condenser to Ford bumpers, Ford hoods, Ford mirror, Ford radiator, Ford wheels, Ford spoiler, Ford grille, Ford headlightsw regulators. Check out Ford Parts Online now and get your Ford vehicle back into excellent driving condition once again.

About the author:
Jay Stevens works as a consultant for an established auto parts store in the country. He has expertise in automotive technology and has inside knowledge on the auto parts industry.
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Clean Car for Good Gas Mileag

In addition to all the practical ways, such as not speeding, keeping proper tire pressure and combining several trips into one there are many more ways you can increase gas mileage by simply taking good care of your vehicle.

Keep the engine well tuned and in good running order.

Make sure the spark plugs are in good shape.

Be sure the valves are adjusted properly.

Keep the carburetor clean. A dirty carburetor can cause a car to use 5 to 9 percent more gas than a clean one.

Maintain a clean catalytic converter.

Keep air filters clean. Clogged air filters lower fuel consumption as much as 10%.

Faulty oxygen sensors lower fuel consumption by as much as 40 percent.

Make sure the automatic choke is working properly.

Change the oil regularly as recommended by your cars manual.

Remove snow tires as soon as possible in the spring and replace them with radial tires to gain a 4 percent gas efficiency.

Remove roof and ski racks if not using them regularly. The wind drag caused by these additions reduce fuel efficiency by 5 percent.

Remove unnecessary items from the car and trunk. For every 100 pounds the car eats up 0.5 percent more gas.

For pickup owners remove the tailgate or put it down if not using it. Or replace it with the net-type of gate or use a bed cover. Tailgates cause a drag effect reducing gas mileage by as much as 15 percent.

When driving in muddy conditions clean the car often. Mud under the bumpers and wheel wells add on unnecessary weight.

And lastly, one popular myth today is to pour acetone, or nail polish remover which is mostly acetone, into the gas tank. In tests performed on the gas lines, the thickness of the fuel line went from 3/8 to 1/32 in just 3 days. Acetone, if spilled, will also eat the paint and finish on your vehicle.

For more information on keeping your car clean visit:
http://www.apluswriting.net/gasmiles/5starshine.htm

About the author:
Marilyn Pokorney
Freelance writer of science, nature, animals and the environment. Also loves crafts, gardening, and reading. Website: http://www.apluswriting.net
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