A dead battery, an alternator issue, or a bad starter are the three most frequent causes of a Volkswagen Jetta not starting.
In This Article...
When a Volkswagen tries to start, what happens?
If you’ve ever tried to start your car after turning the key in the ignition, you most likely felt a great deal of aggravation. Your automobile definitely needed some kind of expert assistance, such as assistance from an auto club and a jump start so you could transport it to a certified VW repair facility.
What stops an automobile from starting? There are numerous causes:
A battery issue is among the most frequent causes of automotive trouble. The battery frequently fails to give the starter system enough power. Despite cranking slowly, the engine might not start. The dashboard lights frequently don’t turn on. Your power windows, windshield wipers, and everything else connected to your electrical system won’t work if the battery is dead. Your battery issue can be identified by an Ottohaus certified VW repair specialist, who can also replace it if necessary.
The key not turning in the ignition is another factor that prevents you from starting your vehicle. The ignition lock, which is the most frequent cause of this, locking the steering wheel. The wheels are frequently turned to the side and pressed up against a curb, which causes this. Most of the time, you can turn the ignition key by gently jiggling the steering wheel. But there can be a problem with the lock itself or the ignition system. The specialists at Ottohaus of Charleston are skilled in fixing VWs and can take care of your issue.
You can have a problem with the ignition system even though you can freely turn your key and make sure your battery is working properly. It’s possible that the ignition switch, which signals the starter, has to be repaired. The starter motor or the wiring from the ignition switch to the car’s computer could possibly be at fault. Technicians from Ottohaus will be able to identify the problem and carry out the required fixes.
If your car is having trouble starting, get in touch with Ottohaus. We’ll be pleased to inspect your car, find the issue, and carry out the required maintenance. We can assist you in Charleston at two convenient locations.
when all the lights are on but your car won’t start?
If your headlights work but your car won’t start, your battery is charged but the starter or ignition isn’t working properly. A starting engine can be jumped using a charged battery if the starter or ignition is the issue.
It might be a battery or alternator problem.
When trying to start your car, a loud clicking sound may indicate an issue with the electrical system. It’s possible that your battery is dead or that the alternator, which charges the battery, is malfunctioning.
The starter, a small motor powered by the battery that starts the engine, is unable to maintain power if the clicking noise is electrical in origin. Instead, it makes a clicking sound and switches on and off quickly.
Remember that in situations like this, a starter that doesn’t work properly is only a sign of the problem. Your automobile’s electrical system is probably to blame, which is why a jumpstart could briefly move your car.
Once it’s operating, have an experienced technician inspect the entire electrical system. Your alternator or battery might need to be replaced. Alternately, the issue might be resolved by simply cleaning the battery terminals of corrosion to improve the battery’s connection.
You’re not the only one having issues with your automobile battery. According to AAA, among the top three reasons members call for roadside assistance are battery issues, with the majority of those calls occurring in the summer.
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Try Shifting the Shifter
Try to start the engine while keeping your foot on the brake and shifting into neutral. Move it back to park and try it again if that doesn’t work. Electrical contact inside the transmission range selector can occasionally be restored by moving the shifter (also known as the neutral safety switch).
Why won’t my car start despite a good battery?
Ever ponder the cause of a non-starting car? A weak or dead battery could be one of the causes. Use a battery tester to check the battery’s strength if it can measure cranking amps. If the battery cannot be tested, attempt jump-starting. If the car starts immediately away, a dead battery is most likely the cause of your issue. Charge the battery and clean the terminals and cable connectors to ensure excellent contact. If you try to jump-start your automobile and it won’t start, your starter, alternator, or another electrical system part may be broken. Make careful you read and abide by all handling and safety directions provided on the battery on our website.
How can you identify if the problem is with your starter or battery?
Let’s start by diagnosing this problem since it is the least expensive and easiest to replace. Does the car make a clicking noise when you try to start it, but it won’t turn over? That might be encouraging. A dead battery is likely the culprit if a jump starts the car but it won’t start once it is turned off.
Why did my car battery die?
Consider checking to see if you may have left the vehicle’s interior or exterior lights on or if a door may not have closed all the way. We’re confident you already did this as soon as the problem began. Open the hood and inspect the battery terminals if the problem wasn’t caused by the lights. You may only need to give the terminals a brief clean with a toothbrush and some baking soda solution if you notice corrosion (a white powder-like substance) there. Still not an issue? Think about the battery’s age. The average automobile battery lasts 4-5 years. Have your problem diagnosed as soon as possible if your battery is less than four years old and has no other problems. If the problem is with the battery, you might be covered by a warranty and be able to get a replacement. If the diagnosis reveals that your battery is in good condition, the problem may be with the alternator.
The next step is to inspect the alternator if there doesn’t appear to be anything wrong with your battery yet it won’t maintain a charge.
If the battery is good, why won’t the car start?
To start the combustion system, your car needs the proper air-fuel ratio (fuel pressure) and spark.
If your car won’t start despite having a healthy battery and enough gas in the tank, you probably have a bad spark plug.
Here’s how to recognize a faulty spark plug:
- accelerating problems
- erratic idling
- Significant drop in fuel efficiency
- engine stalls
Describe them. A distributor controls the flow of power to the spark plugs that ignite the fuel. It sends spark plugs a high voltage current coming from the ignition coil.
It contains a revolving arm or rotor inside a distributor cap, which serves as a cover to safeguard the distributor’s internal components. The contacts between the internal rotor and the spark plug wires are likewise kept in place by the cap.
Now, the spark won’t travel if the distributor cap isn’t on firmly or the rotor isn’t operating correctly.
What can you do about it?
Bad spark plug symptoms are difficult to identify and frequently coexist with problems with other car parts. It’s better to have a qualified mechanic check your car to see whether the ignition coil, distributor cap, or spark plugs are damaged.
What happens if the battery in my key fob dies while I’m driving?
This issue has been foreseen by automakers ever since the key fob was created. Nothing will happen if your key fob dies while you’re driving. Simply because the key fob is a locking and starting device only, the automobile will continue to run. The key fob has no influence over the ignition or engine once the automobile is moving.
Even though you’ll need to go to a general store or pharmacy to get the battery, replacing the battery in your key fob simply takes a few minutes if you’re pressed for time.
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How can I tell if the battery on my VW key fob is low?
Many key fobs have a tiny LED light that turns on when one of the buttons on the fob is pressed. If the LED light is completely dark, either the fob’s battery is dead or the fob is experiencing some other issue. You can use a voltmeter to check the voltage of the fob battery if you already have it out.
How is the battery on a Volkswagen reset?
To start with, you should determine whether the immobilizer is the issue. To do this, start your Volkswagen’s batteries and check to see whether your dash’s immobilizer warning lightmost likely in your speedometeris flashing. It ought to resemble the silhouette of an automobile with a key inside.
If it is flashing, the immobilizer is no longer attached to the system. You must do a cold reboot in this situation, which may be done by following these steps:
- Severing the two battery cables
- Tap the two cables collectively.
- Disconnect the cords for fifteen minutes.
- Reconnect the cords to the battery
You can also attempt the following alternate technique to get your key to self-reprogram if the previous one doesn’t work:
- Make sure a charger is being used to charge the battery.
- Keep the battery charged and the engine off while leaving the key in the ignition for one hour.
Bring your automobile to the closest Volkswagen dealership if nothing else works, and have the immobilizer resynchronized with your vehicle there.
Why do the radio and lights in my car work but my car won’t start?
A battery that is only partially charged is the most likely problem. The starter motor uses a sizable amount of current despite the fact that the lights and radio are operating, so it must still have some power. Starting the car requires much more energy than, say, running the headlights.
Something sounds off.
When you turn the key or press the start button, there may be a clicking sound, which is one of the signs of a defective starter. However, a starting can stop working altogether or make noises that signal its approaching demise, such as buzzing and grinding. Oh, listen!
You’ve got lights but no action.
You may have a problem with the starter if you try to start the engine and the dashboard illuminates but nothing happens to the engine.
Your engine won’t crank.
Even after attempting a jumpstart, does your engine still not start? At this point, you should dial a towing service and drive your vehicle to the closest Firestone Complete Auto Care. Nothing other than a qualified technician will start your engine if a jumpstart doesn’t work.
Smoke is coming from your car.
The starter is a component of your car’s electrical system and is vulnerable to short circuits and blown fuses. Your car’s starter may overheat if you’ve been trying to start it for a long time, which increases the likelihood of electrical problems and the accompanying smoke. Call for assistance if you see or smell smoke instead of twisting the key more.
Oil has soaked the starter.
If your vehicle has rear-wheel drive, the starter is often located on the passenger side of the engine, directly below the exhaust manifold. If it is a front-wheel-drive vehicle, look above the transmission on the driver’s side or under the exhaust manifold. On some automobiles, they may also be found just beneath the intake manifold. If you open the hood to discover that your starter is covered in engine oil, your broken starter may be a sign of an oil leak, which is another issue. Keep an eye out for oil leaks to prevent starter problems of this sort because, regrettably, what begins as a few droplets of oil can steadily and often unnoticeably evolve into a costly problem.