If you find your car slow to start, it likely won’t be long before your vehicle won’t start altogether. Fortunately, those who know the signs of a slow cranking car can address the issue immediately.
Here are five reasons why your car takes a while to start:
Your car battery constantly charges and discharges. Over time, the charging and discharging can cause lead plates inside your battery to corrode. When this happens, your battery will require more time to produce sufficient power. As such, it may take longer than usual to start your car.
A slow cranking car typically indicates your battery is weak. So, if you notice your car takes longer than expected to crank, inspect the battery. And, if you need to replace a bad battery, do so right away.
Your car’s charging system powers your battery. If the system is malfunctioning, it won’t be able to provide sufficient power to your battery.
Generally, a defective alternator can affect your car’s ability to properly charge your battery. If your car often starts, then stalls, your alternator may be defective. At this point, you should bring your car to a professional mechanic who can inspect your vehicle and replace your alternator.
A faulty starter can wear out due to high current constantly flowing between electrical contacts that power its motor. As these contacts deteriorate, the amount of power they can provide to the motor dwindles. This causes your starter motor to spin slower than before, so it becomes increasingly difficult to crank your car.
Your car won’t turn over if the starter is defective. If you believe this may be the case, bring your car to a professional mechanic. Next, the mechanic can inspect the starter and may need to replace it.
There are two wires that your car’s starter needs to work properly. One wire connects the starter to your battery. The other acts as a signal that recognizes when your key is turned in the ignition and engages the starter.
These wires can corrode or break. This can hamper your ability to get adequate power to start your car or cause a weak signal when you try to engage the starter. In either scenario, you should have a professional mechanic check out the wiring. The mechanic can then replace any defective wiring or clean the connections.
Your car battery produces less electrical current in cold weather than it would in warm temperatures. This is due to the fact that low temperatures can slow the chemical reaction that generates this current.
Ultimately, a cold battery won’t produce the same amount of power as a warm battery. If you are preparing to drive your car in winter or other instances when it’s cold, give yourself extra time to start your vehicle. Also, keeping your car parked in a garage can help you avoid a lengthy process to get your vehicle started on a cold day.
If you notice your car frequently takes a long time to start, troubleshoot the issue. You may be able to address the problem on your own. But, if you cannot, take your car to a professional mechanic. Then, you can find out why your car takes a while to start and correct the issue.
