Reasons Your Car Won’t Start After Losing Power While Driving
A very common issue many people face with their car is that it loses power while driving and the car will not start. When that happens, it can get very troublesome for the driver. So, why does it happen?
Usually, a car losing power in the middle of driving has several different causes. The common ones are a bad fuel pump, clogged fuel filter, no fuel, battery problems, ignition coil issues, alternator damages, etc. Sometimes a faulty injector can also cause this problem.
Here, we will dive into this issue’s details to learn more about the causes. Also, we will try to give some fixes along the way. Let’s get into it.
What causes a car to lose power while driving and not start again?
Knowing the causes is the first step towards solving the problem of losing power while driving.
As we will be stating the fixes here, you leave with every bit of information you need. Without taking much time, here are the causes of your car losing power while driving.
Low fuel or no fuel
We don’t think low fuel or no fuel is that big of an issue. You forget to refill the fuel tank, so you run out of fuel while driving your car.
While sometimes you may avoid the low fuel warning, other times you can also get a faulty warning.
In either case, you should check the fuel tank and see if there is enough fuel or not. Solving the problem only requires you to refill the tank with fuel, and that’s pretty much it.
Bad fuel pump
You can’t drive your car without proper fuel delivery. The fuel pump is the component that ensures that your car gets fuel properly. When the fuel pump goes bad, a car doesn’t get the necessary fuel to run anymore.
Issues with the fuel pump include a bad fuse or relay and sometimes damage to the fuel pump components.
You can repair the fuse or relay issue with a replacement part. But if you have a faulty or damaged fuel pump component, you must go to a mechanic.
Clogs in fuel filter or exhaust pipe
Clogs are one of the many reasons that can result in your car stopping while you are driving it.
Mostly, clogging in two particular components can cause the problem. If you have a clogged fuel filter or a clog in the exhaust pipe.
Since the fuel filter is responsible for screening out all the impurities in the fuel, it gets clogged up from the impurities from time to time.
Because of the clog, fuel can’t enter the vehicle properly. As a result, the car will stop in the middle of driving.
The same thing happens with the exhaust pipe. Clogs in the components of the exhaust pipe can result in the engine power going down.
At some point, when the power gets too low, your car will stop even in the middle of driving.
Fixing the issue requires replacing or cleaning up the filters. Usually, repairing isn’t an option for most of the components.
So, we would suggest replacing the clogged or damaged parts to solve the issue.
Loose wiring
Another leading cause for a car to stop while driving is loose wiring all over the car. The connections can come loose at various electrical components.
Even a loose wiring connection with your car battery can cause your car to stop while driving.
Make sure to check up on all the wiring in your car before coming to any serious conclusions. It’s one of the easiest problems to fix.
You just have to find where the connection is loose and then tighten it to solve the problem.
Faults with the injectors
While you may not even be aware of it, fuel injectors are one of the most crucial parts to keep your car running.
It’s the component that ensures fuel is properly getting inside your engine. When it goes bad, it fails to properly deliver fuel to the engine.
In this case, getting a replacement fuel injector is the only solution to try out.
But don’t try to replace it by yourself because it does require some expertise to do so. Go to a mechanic and let them replace your car’s fuel injectors.
Sensor malfunctions
A lot of the time, we don’t even pay heed to the sensors in our cars. But these sensors are very important for the car’s functionality as they send information to the engine.
Without that information, the engine can’t function and provide power to run the car.
Here’s a little table of the different sensors and their function in keeping the car running –
No matter what sensor has gone bad, you will face the same result: the engine is not delivering enough power.
Not enough power simply means your car will stop at some point and won’t start from there.
You must first find out which sensor has gone bad to solve the problem. Afterward, you simply replace the sensor.
Remember that sensors are quite difficult to replace and require a lot of experience. Also, they can be a bit expensive as well.
Ignition component failure
The ignition coil is the component of a car that creates the spark your engine needs to start the car. A failure of the ignition coil means that your car will fail to start because it lacks a spark.
When it’s the ignition coil, your car will fail to start, but other things like the lights or the radio will work fine.
So, if you see this sign in your car, check for ignition coil damage immediately. However, if it’s the ignition switch, then nothing will work, so keep that in mind.
Fixing the problem isn’t that difficult. All you do is replace the ignition coil.
It’s something you can do yourself if you can find the right ignition coil for your car. The replacements shouldn’t cost too much either.
Battery issues
One of the most common causes that lead to car stopping midway is problems with the battery. It can be due to bad battery terminals, or it can be a dead battery too.
But always consider the battery a possibility for your car to lose power while driving.
In the event of a bad battery connection, you can fix it right away. You must locate your battery and clean the terminals to solve the issue.
On the other hand, fixing a dead battery comes down to various methods. The basic solution is to charge the dead battery to fix the problem.
However, if your battery has crossed the defined lifespan, you will need to replace the battery.
Replacing the battery should fix the problem right away. While replacing it, ensure you properly install the new battery on your car.
Alternator problems
When it comes to powering your car, the alternator is as important as having a car battery. It’s the component that has the responsibility of charging your car battery.
Also, it distributes the electrical energy from the battery throughout the car components.
One easy way to tell that the alternator is having issues is to check your car’s lights. If you see the lights slowly dimming, it’s probably the alternator that has gone bad.
As soon as you notice problems with the alternator, we recommend taking your car to a mechanic.
You will probably need them to replace the bad alternator with a new one, and it doesn’t cost too much. But ignoring the problem can lead to bigger issues.
How to avoid sudden power loss in the car while driving?
Yes, there are fixes to the problems and issues, but wouldn’t it be better to avoid the whole situation as much as possible?
We believe the problem is avoidable if you become careful about some things with your car.
The first thing to do is always follow regular maintenance for your car. Honestly, you can avoid almost 80 to 90 percent of problems in your car if you follow a regular maintenance routine.
Always keep your fuel pump, filter, and fuel injectors in check to avoid sudden power loss.
Also, keep track of the wiring in your car, so there are no loose connections or damaged wires. Making sure the battery is charged at all times can also be quite helpful in avoiding the issue.
Another very important thing to keep in mind is to use quality fuel. Many people opt for cheaper fuel options that eventually damage the components of a car.
Always use good quality fuel to avoid your car from going into a sudden power loss state.
Frequently Asked questions (FAQs)
Until now, we have given you every bit of knowledge you need on the issue. However, there are some popular questions we came across that we will be answering below. Check them out for additional queries.
How Do You Approach Fixing A Car That Has No Power And Won’t Start?
A good way to approach this problem is to start with the easy-to-find issues and then go deeper. Start by checking the battery and fuel level of your car. Then, get into the internal components like the alternator, fuel pump, ignition coil, sensors, etc.
Is It Possible To Drive A Car With Electrical Power Issues?
While you can drive a car with electrical problems, it’s not the best thing to do. It’s safe, but you can come across several other issues along the way. Moreover, you can further damage your car if you continue to drive it this way.
Can You Restore Engine Power?
Yes, you can restore engine power if you are having performance issues with your car engine. To restore power, start using synthetic lubricants. Try to keep good compression in your car. And follow proper maintenance of the engine.
Can A Car Battery Die While Driving?
Yes, a car battery can die even while you are driving. In fact, the car battery can die with a running engine as well. However, the engine will stop working if the battery dies. Also, you will face electrical issues when the battery dies.
Conclusion
By now, you know why your car might have lost power while driving and the car will not start. It all comes down to the different components connected to your car engine to keep the car running.
In short, anything related to powering your car going bad can cause this to happen. The suggestion we can give is to look out for the signs and check the components in a specific way. Start with the easy problems, like the battery or the fuel.
Then, if you are confident about the technical stuff, you can move on to the internal parts. Other than that, we always say one thing to car enthusiasts. Never ignore the importance of regular maintenance on your car.
Related Posts:
