Every driver dreads turning the ignition to find that his car won’t start.  Do you know what you should do in this situation?  You can always call a mechanic, but without an auto warranty you may find yourself with costly repairs.  First, you should check a few things on your own.  Every car relies on air, fire and fuel.  Without one or two of these ingredients, a vehicle won’t start.

The most obvious thing to check is if your car has fuel.  If there is enough gas, you may have flooded your engine.  You can put the gas pedal to the floor for approximately ten seconds, but make sure you don’t pump it with the ignition turned.  If you are still having a problem getting the engine started tap the carburetor.  This might free the line in the case that the needle valve is stuck.

Next, check for spark plug wires that may be broken or loose with the engine off.  The wires that lead from the spark plugs to the distributor cap should have the ends secured down.

Now it is time to check for air.  If your car has a carburetor, remove the top of the air filter and examine the choke plate.  If it’s stuck, open or close it and jiggle the plate to allow it to move freely.

Follow these simple steps if your car won’t start.  If you don’t find anything wrong, contact a professional.  Make sure you have an auto warranty so you don’t find yourself paying costly repairs.