Auto ignitions are often little thought of until something goes wrong and the car won’t start. By then, it’s usually after we are strapped in and have the car loaded with luggage or groceries and other items.

Don’t panic!

When the car won’t start, people tend to panic. A wave of emotions runs through them ranging from fear, anger, guilt and surprise. Is then engine dead? Is the battery run down? When was the last oil change? Who is the best and most affordable auto mechanic? Does AAA work today? These and dozens of other questions can almost overwhelm you. That’s why it’s nice to know that it may or may not be your ignition system and that there are a few “tests” that you can conduct first, before you call in a locksmith for help. So before you call for a tow truck or call in sick at work, be sure to check out our recommended tips first!

Are you ready?

Our Georgia winters often get cold – very cold! If your car is parked outside for long, or even inside the garage overnight, the motor oil can get chilled to the point where it becomes difficult for the engine to turn over. This is sometimes confused by drivers who think that the ignition has failed when in fact it has not. Another common problem is being in the wrong parking gear. Many a roadside assistance pro has been called to help with a faulty ignition system when all that was really needed was to move the gear back into PARK from wherever it was. Out of gear settings will not allow you to start your car and often the confusion can lead to auto repair bills and towing fees that were totally unnecessary.

Years ago, cars could start in Neutral but late model cars can only be started in the PARK gear and nothing else. We advise putting your parking brake on and securing your car in the right gear to start it. Many deaths and injuries occur every year due to cars rolling forward or backward onto people or pets while they are distracted by something else so please apply your brake and check your gears – jiggle them back and forth and make sure that the right one is locked into place.

Locked steering wheel

Another common misconception is that the car ignition has locked up due to auto repair issues. This is often caused by a locked steering wheel. If pressure is put on the wheel by leaning on it, it can lock into place and if the ignition key is inserted, it will not turn or even come back out. This action can cause panic and a hurried call for roadside assistance. In reality, all that is usually needed is a firm twist to the steering wheel to unlock it and release the ignition key. Save yourself some time and money by trying this option.

Check for drained battery

A run down battery will often produce the same symptoms as a faulty ignition. Fortunately, it’s easy to check the status of your battery; without even leaving your car! Again, put your parking brake on! Now, test your battery by working your windshield wipers, radio or power windows. You can also test your headlights if you are in the garage or close enough to something in front of the car to see if they are shining or not. If your battery is working enough to work these items, the problem is not it. 

Is it the right key?

Believe it or not, sometimes the wrong key can be inserted – obviously it will not start your car. Often, these wrong keys can get stuck in the ignition and won’t come back out or turn. This leads to another dilemma as you don’t want to risk key breakage and then a new key is needed along with key extraction! If you live or work in a place where it’s easy to mingle transponder keys from other folks, you can see how easy it is to accidentally grab the wrong one and try and use it. It doesn’t happen often but it does occur from time to time.

Right key but no chip

This scenario is more common – you dropped your transponder key and tried to use it to start your car. It opened the car door as usual but would not start the car. A missing chip may be to blame. It might have fallen out when the keys were dropped or when the dog was burying it in the backyard. As you know, without the chip embedded in the key head, there will be no radio signal sent to your car’s computer to recognize.