These are the most common things you will find when the engine doesn't crank over but there are more. Let the experts at Expert Car Advice help you with those and any other auto repair problem you may have that you can't figure out.
Saturday, April 30, 2011
Starter wont turn the engine over
A good place to start checking for a starting problem is first check to make sure the battery is good and if in doubt on the battery try a jump start to make sure. Then after you know you have a good battery you will want to located the starter relay (normally in the fuse box under the hood) and switch the relay with another relay in the fuse box to see if the relay itself has failed. If the vehicle still wont start then you will need to remove the starter relay from the fuse box and do some voltage tests. First take the positive lead of the meter to where terminal 30 plugs into the fuse box and the negative lead of the meter go to a good ground and make sure getting voltage. If no voltage here you will need to check the fuse as terminal 30 should always have voltage to it. Then if you have voltage to terminal 30 the next test will be to see if you have voltage to terminal 86 with the key in the crank position (use the meter as described earlier). If no voltage to terminal 86 in the crank position then you will need to check the ignition switch as voltage comes from the switch to terminal 86. If you have voltage to terminal 86 then you will have to check and make sure the relay is getting a good ground to terminal 85 which is grounded by the computer and if not getting a ground will then need to check the safety neutral switch and the computer. If getting a good ground then will need to install the relay back into the fuse box and with the key in the crank position see if getting power to the small wire of the starter when the key is in the crank position. If power there and the starter doesn't turn then you need to replace the starter. Below is a couple pictures of a relay and you will see it has a picture on the side of the relay to show you which terminal is which. Some relays will have numbers on the bottom instead of the side or even in the fuse box itself so just look around.
These are the most common things you will find when the engine doesn't crank over but there are more. Let the experts at Expert Car Advice help you with those and any other auto repair problem you may have that you can't figure out.
These are the most common things you will find when the engine doesn't crank over but there are more. Let the experts at Expert Car Advice help you with those and any other auto repair problem you may have that you can't figure out.
Friday, April 29, 2011
Diagnosis of a Check Engine Light
Ever have this ugly light show up on your dash?
If your lucky enough to own a newer model Chrysler vehicle you can get the codes from your vehicle with out a scan tool! Simple turn the key on and off three times and do not crank the engine. The last time the key is turned on leave it in the on position and watch the odometer. This procedure will need to be done in a matter of seconds for it to work. The key cycles will look like this: ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON and the codes will look like this:
In this example using a 2008 Dodge truck we got the codes P0171 and P0174 after the last code is displayed you get the message done:
After you get the codes for the check engine light go to http://www.expertcaradvice.com/ and ask one of the experts there about the code. They will help you finish the diagnosis as the code is just the start of the diagnosis. In this example for one of the codes we had code number P0171 which means the fuel system is lean. The experts at Expert Car Advice can walk you through how to check the oxygen sensor, fuel pressure, MAP sensor, Engine coolant sensor, ect. to determine which one is causing the problem. Now your on your way to fixing your own vehicle with the help of Expert Car Advice!
If your lucky enough to own a newer model Chrysler vehicle you can get the codes from your vehicle with out a scan tool! Simple turn the key on and off three times and do not crank the engine. The last time the key is turned on leave it in the on position and watch the odometer. This procedure will need to be done in a matter of seconds for it to work. The key cycles will look like this: ON-OFF-ON-OFF-ON and the codes will look like this:
In this example using a 2008 Dodge truck we got the codes P0171 and P0174 after the last code is displayed you get the message done:
After you get the codes for the check engine light go to http://www.expertcaradvice.com/ and ask one of the experts there about the code. They will help you finish the diagnosis as the code is just the start of the diagnosis. In this example for one of the codes we had code number P0171 which means the fuel system is lean. The experts at Expert Car Advice can walk you through how to check the oxygen sensor, fuel pressure, MAP sensor, Engine coolant sensor, ect. to determine which one is causing the problem. Now your on your way to fixing your own vehicle with the help of Expert Car Advice!
Check Engine Light
Your Check Engine light on? Looking to save money on the diagnostics? Have an auto repair question or are looking to try to make your own car repair? Then welcome to Expert Car Advice! We have the best Auto Technicians and Mechanics available, on demand and in real-time, to help you with whatever vehicle repair or question you have! All of our Technicians are ASE Certified and/or factory trained with years of experience in the automotive repair and check engine light diagnostic field. We can provide you with step-by-step car repair procedures and even provide images to help you successfully complete any auto repair task! So, are you ready to take on your automotive task? Then simply type your question in the scanner above, and get ready to experience the best on-line auto repair service, complete with your very own auto mechanic virtually by your side! You can do it! And Expert Car Advice can help- Guaranteed!
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