No power to Car? Here's what you should do.
No power to car? Find out how a car gets it power
No power to Car? Don't Worry, Here's some Help
1. If you are driving and you suddenly lose power, carefully steer your vehicle off to the side of the road out of the way of other traffic.
If your vehicle suddenly "dies" and all your electrical devices stop working, then power isn't getting to them for some reason. If your engine stops as well, then the ignition system is also not receiving the power it needs to function.
Power failures like this can be temporary where your vehicle will all of a sudden start to work again, however, if it does happen, you will need to get it checked out so it doesn't happen again.
Sudden power failures like this could be caused by any of the following:
Bad Battery Connections:
Take a look at both your positive and negative cable connections to your battery to make sure that they are tight. If you notice signs of corrosion on the terminals or cable ends, then make sure you clean them before reattaching and tightening them.
Finally, follow your battery cables to the other end to make sure that they are secure at both ends. The following video will demonstrate how to easily check your battery cables.
No power to car? Check that your battery cables are tightly connected
A Faulty Ignition Switch:
If your battery connections are fine, then you may want to check your ignition switch. This is a more complicated process than checking your battery connections, so you may want to have a professional take a look at it for you.
In order to check your ignition switch, you will need to take apart a number of small pieces so that you can access your steering column or dash. Look for any burned-out wires. If your ignition switch is damaged, then you will need to get it replaced.
The following video will show you how you can access and troubleshoot your ignition switch.e
No power to car?If you have a faulty ignition switch, then you should get it checked out
A Bad Alternator:
Another possible reason why there is no power to your car could be your alternator. Your alternator provides power to your vehicle's electrical system while you are driving and it recharges your car's battery.
When your alternator starts to wear out or fail, power will only be coming from your battery which will eventually lose its charge. Checking your alternator is a difficult process, so it is best to have a professional do it for you.
2. If you have no power when you try to start your car you will need to check your vehicle's power sources.
If there is no power to your car when you try and start it, then it could be due to some of the following:
Bad Battery Connections:
Battery Failure:
If your car won’t start, then your battery might be drained. Check to see if you left anything electrical on by mistake like your radio, an interior light, or if a door was ajar.
Try charging up your battery using booster cables. If it won't hold a charge, then it may need to be replaced.
No power to car? Learn how to jump start your car with booster cables
A Faulty Ignition Switch:
A Failed Starter Motor:
If you get a clicking sound when you try and start your vehicle then your starter motor may be broken. If you notice that your car won't start but the dash lights are on, then it's not your battery but probably the starter motor that is the issue.
You can also tell that it is the starter motor if jump-starting it fails as well. If your starter motor has gone, then you should get your vehicle checked out by a professional.
A Bad Alternator:
No power to car? Maybe you have a faulty ignition switch or starter motor
3. If you have no power when you try to go up a hill, you will need to check your fuel filter, exhaust filter, or air filter.
If you notice that your car has no power when you are going up an incline, it could be caused by battery or alternator issues as explained above. However, there may be other causes as well. These include issues with your:
Fuel filter
Exhaust filter
Air filter
These may be dirty or damaged and will need to be replaced. It is important to remember that if your vehicle is struggling to go uphill, resist the temptation to step on the accelerator even harder. This will only cause extra stress on your engine and it could cause further damage.
Learn how to change your various car filters
4. If you have no power when you are driving on a flat plain, then you will need to get your vehicle checked out for mechanical problems, a malfunction in your sensors, or a malfunction of your actuators.
Losing power while you are driving on a flat surface, could be an indication of other issues such as:
Mechanical Problems:
You may have low compression, a clogged fuel filter, a dirty air filter or a clogged exhaust manifold. It is a good idea to get this checked out as soon as possible.
Malfunction of Sensors:
You may have a problem with your camshaft position sensor, mass airflow sensor, oxygen sensor or crankshaft sensor. This is an issue that will need to be inspected by a trusted mechanic.
Malfunction of Actuators:
Loss of power could also be the result of bad injectors, a broken fuel pump, or bad spark plugs that will need to be replaced.
5. If you notice a drop in your car power while driving on a very hot day, your air conditioning could be the problem.
Your air conditioning uses a portion of your engine's power to generate cold air. On particularly hot days, when you have it turned on for long periods of time, you may notice a decrease in your vehicle's power. You may want to turn it down slightly and even get it checked to see if your AC needs a boost.
No Power to Car: If you live in the Waterloo region and your car has no power, contact Hansma Automotive. You can trust Hansma with all of your vehicle’s maintenance and repairs.
As a Tech-Net professional auto repair facility, Hansma Automotive is committed to serving you, our customer, with professional auto service repair at a reasonable cost.
We use quality CARQUEST auto parts, guaranteed coast to coast. We stand on sound business principles and uphold high ethical standards. Our goal is to make your automotive repair experience friendly and successful.
By providing good, old-fashioned customer service over the years, Hansma Automotive has gained a loyal following in the community.
Many hundreds of area residents have come to depend on our team and rely on the technical expertise of our friendly staff to keep their family vehicles in peak running condition. Book an appointment now.
What Our Customers are Saying…
“Hard working and honest. They are the best I’ve found in the region so far and they’ve yet to let me down.”