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Mechanic engineer charging car battery with electricity using jumper cables.

Why Won’t My Car Jump Start?

What is the first thing that comes to mind when your car won’t start? Most people will think it is due to a dead battery. In that scenario, the most logical thing to do is to perform a car jumpstart. You can do this with another car or you can also call a reliable roadside assistance provider to do it for you. 

However, if your jumpstart fails, then you might need your car towed to the shop for further diagnosis and repair. Until the shop checks your vehicle, failure to jumpstart your vehicle will remain a mystery. 

Let’s reveal that mystery today. Below, we are going to tell you the most common reasons why your jump start procedure fails.

Completely Dead Battery

When we refer to a dead battery that needs a jumpstart, the battery isn’t actually dead. It is simply drained so it just needs to be recharged to function again. However, when the battery is completely dead, it won’t be able to charge because it is already completely damaged. It is possible that it can no longer hold a charge that’s why your jump start fails. 

Alternator Problems

The electrical system of your car is composed of various parts. The battery is the most popular one but the alternator also has a very important function in it. It is possible that a failed car jump start may be due to the alternator problems. When you start your car, it is the job of the alternator to keep the battery running. With problems with the alternator, the battery would not charge properly so you’ll end up with a failed jump start every time you do it. 

Faulty Terminals

The terminals are the parts of the battery that are connected to the jump start cables to give them a charge. When the terminals are faulty, the electrical charge won’t be received properly. 

Problems with faulty terminals could be caused by loose terminals, corroded or crusty ones. One simple fix would be to clean the corrosion off and try with the jumpstart again. 

Starter Needs Replacement

The starter plays a role in getting the engine going once you turn the keys to the ignition. With a bad starter, the engine won’t be able to start to work. Usually, problems with the starter are obvious because it produces a characteristic clicking sound when you start the vehicle. 

Low Quality Jumper Cables

High-quality jumper cables should be chosen not only for safety reasons but also for their durability and effectiveness. When poor-quality jumper cables are used, it may not be able to work properly. 

Sometimes, cheap ones only work in the beginning but they don’t last. Even if it seems that the cables are fine on the outside, the wires inside could have already been broken. They could also be too thin that’s why the car battery isn’t receiving enough power to charge it. To improve your chances of a successful jump start, make sure to choose high-quality jumper cables. 

Malfunctioning Neutral Safety Switch

The neutral safety switch is there to prevent your car from starting when it is not in neutral or park gear mode. Sometimes, this can malfunction and won’t detect that your car is in the right gear to start. Even after you jumpstart and the battery receives power, you’re not going to have your car started.

Fuel-related Problems

Fuel may also be the reason why it would seem that your jump start process fails. Even after a successful jumpstart, an empty fuel tank won’t let your car start. In some cases, there may still be fuel in the tank but it doesn’t efficiently get delivered to the engine due to other problems involving the fuel pump, fuel injector, fuel filter, or fuel lines. 


Is your car not starting at all? You might need a jump start service. For such a task, it would be best to leave your car in the hands of the professionals at Top Dogz Towing…

Top Dogz Towing Company

Stranded and need a jump-start? How about a top-notch towing service? Why not call the best Roadside Assistance in the Southeast. Top Dogz Towing in Charlotte NC offers comprehensive, professional roadside assistance services available 24 hours a day - every day. And because we're centrally located in Charlotte, we can guarantee our arrival at your location within 30 minutes of your call or sooner. Whether its jump-start assistance, mobile flat tire repair, or you’ve been involved in an accident and need a flatbed tow truck you'll always receive best-in-class service from Top Dogz Towing. Simply give us a call at 704-774-8669 and one of our knowledgeable towing service reps will be ready to assist you to quickly get you up and on your way.