The last time you turned the key, your faithful set of wheels spun into action, but this time it’s a no go. Often it’s a simple problem that’s avoided detection until your plans for the day are in ruins. Before you give up and call the tow truck, here’s some tips on how to get your vehicle back on the road in a pinch.
One expert mechanic weighs in with a warning: Don’t immediately assume it’s a defective sensor, says Eric, “The Car Guy,” who offers advice for solving vehicle performance issues. Do check the obvious, such as an oil leak that drained the crankcase, he says.
And for cars made after 1996, keep in mind manufacturers have a “limp-in” mode. This kicks in to keep an impatient driver from running a car at full throttle when there is a problem that could damage the engine at higher speeds. If you’re mulling over the idea of making a run for it to the nearest auto shop, it may not be the best strategy.
Every now and then you’ll run into one of those hard-to-resolve conundrums — “Why won’t it start?” In this case, no stack of instructional manuals or online videos is going to readily yield a reason as to why your car engine appears dead.
So, before you decide to go on a hunt-down-that-bad-part-and-destroy-it mission, you may want to save yourself a lot of time and hassle. We can check for those hard-to-find short-circuits in your vehicle’s electrical system.