Car won’t start? What to check before you call
The sound your car makes (or doesn’t make) when you turn the key is the best clue. Here’s how I read it, and what you can safely check yourself first.
By Elie, mobile mechanic · Auto Service Alimotorsforall · Updated 2026-09-29
Listen: what happens when you turn the key?
Before calling anyone, try once and pay attention:
- Nothing at all, no dash lights: often a dead battery or a loose or corroded battery connection.
- Dash lights on, one loud click: often the starter or its circuit.
- Fast clicking: usually a battery that’s too weak to turn the engine.
- Slow, lazy crank: a weak battery, especially on a cold Montreal morning.
- Normal crank but no start: fuel, spark or a sensor problem, not the battery.
Safe things to check yourself
These take a minute and sometimes solve the problem:
- Automatic in Park (or clutch fully pressed on a manual).
- Key fob battery: hold the fob against the start button if your car allows it.
- Headlights and interior lights off; don’t keep cranking a dead battery.
- Battery terminals: look for loose clamps or white-green corrosion (don’t touch if you’re unsure).
- Fuel gauge: an empty tank happens more often than people admit.
When a boost is enough, and when it isn’t
If a boost starts the car, the battery was discharged. The real question is why. A battery that’s old or damaged won’t hold the charge, and a failing alternator won’t recharge it. If the car dies again after a boost, the charging system needs testing.
Do you need a tow?
Often not. Batteries, starters and alternators can usually be tested and replaced where the car is parked. A tow makes sense when the car is somewhere unsafe to work, like a highway shoulder, or when the problem is deep inside the engine.