Why Do Car Takes Several Tries To Start? [ Reasons & Fix ]

Few sounds are more convincing than the car engine cranking repeatedly. When your vehicle starts, you are already worried about reaching your destination on time. If you leave it stranded, you might think about whether your car engine will start at the next signal. Several possibilities can make you anxious on your way to some location. A car taking a long time to start might be due to multiple reasons. Some of them are quickly resolved, while others are very complicated.

Your car taking multiple tries to start might be due to poor weather conditions, starter health, battery health, fuel pump level, and several other factors. Finding the cause might be tricky if your car is starting slow. Listed below are some possibilities why your car is taking multiple tries to start.

Possible reasons for the car taking several times to start.

Some reasons are listed below.

Faulty charging system

The primary cause of your car failing to start repeatedly is a damaged automotive system. All you need to check is the vehicle’s battery level, which is very simple. If you do not have a multimeter with you, take them to any local auto store, where they will perform a free battery health check.

If your battery is in good condition or has been replaced yet dies again, your car might have an alternator problem. The best method to inspect the alternator is by disconnecting the battery, and you can also use a screwdriver to check your vehicle’s alternator.

• Open the hood of the car.
• Check the service manual and locate the alternator.
• Use a pulley bolt and place the screwdriver on the alternator.
• Turn on the key. The car’s engine won’t start, but lights will appear on the dashboard.

If you do not observe any magnetism, you must replace your car alternator. You can also perform several other checks to test the alternator, and a rusty screwdriver might not give you fruitful results.

Defective starter

If your car’s starter motor weakens over time, it might take several times to start. Ultimately, the starter motor will fail, and your car engine will crank over but won’t start. Starters can fail anytime due to oil leaks or damage. It might also happen that the car’s starter motor has a loose wire, corrosion blocking the signal, or any dirty connection.

If the starter is not damaged entirely, tap over it to get started. Even if it does not start, take them to a local motor shop and get the starter checked before starting your car.

Vacuum leak

The vacuum hoses of your car engine might have leaks that might lead your car not to start after multiple tries. If there is a leak, you might face problems with the idle or fail to see your engine running. The motor might also create sucking sounds due to a vacuum leak.

You will have to conduct a visual test for your vacuum hose for any damage or wear. Every hose is traceable with your hand while checking them, and you might also need a mirror to trace your car hoses in some cases. A vacuum gauge is also a device that can check the leaks in the vacuum pipes.

Poor functioning ignition system

In case of a cold engine, you might face problems starting the car. It happens due to carbon accumulating on the spark plugs, and it can foul the engine and prevent it from starting over.

Failing fuel system

A failing fuel system might not start your car after multiple tries. Check the fuel injectors, fuel filters, pressure regulator and fuel pump before starting your vehicle. Even if your car does not start, take them for an inspection.

What Should You Do To Fix It?

There are a few quick steps that you can follow to take your car back to the road temporarily.

1. Check the battery

The essential thing that you must do is to check the battery. Sometimes, a disconnected cable might prevent your car from starting, and there can also be blocking on the terminals that might cause problems. If you find corrosion in your car battery, spare some minutes and clean it with some water and baking soda to solve the issue.

2. Cycle the key

If you hear a clicking sound while starting your car, you can try cycling the key multiple times. It helps to heat the starter and creates a workaround for a short time.

• Take off your key and try to start your car ten times in a row.
• Wait for some time and try to start your car again.

3. Play with the shifter

If you do not hear any sound while starting your car, you can utilize the subtle shift method to get your vehicle back on the road.

• Put a foot on the brake.
• Bring your car gear back to neutral.
• Place your car back in parking gear.
• Try starting the car once again.

This step can help start your car back again because the default connection in the transmission range gets re-established with the gear shift. This is the last solution to fixing your car problem.

4. Call for automobile repair work

If none of those mentioned above solutions is working, you must try calling a professional to look at the problem. Some of the defects listed can be tested by yourself with basic knowledge and some advanced tools. Try troubleshooting the problem yourself if you can and leave them in the hands of the automotive workers if it gets out of hand.

Final Words

If you have to try turning your car key multiple times to start your car engine, you must not lose hope. Sometimes, all you need is to check loose connection problems and fix them or wash any corrosions to get your vehicle back on the road. But if you see that the problem cannot be solved by yourself, you must contact any automotive professional. Your car taking several times to crank over the engine is not a significant problem until you have the solution with yourself.