Having problems getting your Volkswagen to start? Our VW service center near Phoenix has seen it all, and we have a few quick tips for you to try before you get it towed.
Determine If Your Car Is Cranking Or Not
This step can save you a ton of time, and even the newest of car owners are able to do it. Simply turn the key in the ignition, as you normally would starting a car. If nothing happens, the car is not cranking and there are a few things you can try.
If it makes a noise caused by the starter, but doesn’t start, your car is cranking and is better left in the hands of an experienced technician. If you find your car is cranking but won’t start, you can make an appointment today with our Volkswagen service center in the Phoenix area.
My Car Isn’t Cranking. What’s Next?
The tried-and-true method of jumpstarting your car’s battery should be the first step in diagnosing the problem. You should always carry around a pair of jumper cables, but if not, find someone who has them. Simply hook up the positive (red) cable to the good battery’s positive terminal and the negative (black) cable to the good battery’s negative terminal. Once this is done, you can hook up the positive cable to the positive terminal of the good battery. Make sure to clamp the negative cable to a clean, unpainted metal surface under the hood of the dead car.
Start the car with the working battery and let it run for two or three minutes, then start the dead car. If this works and your car starts, remove the cables in reverse order from when you placed them on.Jump Start Didn’t Work?
If your car’s battery isn’t the issue, it might be a bad neutral start safety switch. To diagnose it, simply try starting your car while it is in neutral. If it does start, this is only a temporary fix and you’ll need to bring it in to a trained technician.
One More Solution
If none of the above fixed the problem, the issue could lie in your battery terminals. These are the parts that connect the wiring to the battery posts. A loose connection or rust and corrosion around the terminals can prevent a car from starting. Always use caution when working around a car battery.
Anyone looking to bring their VW in for a routine inspection or for a specific problem can check out our service and parts specials before coming in.
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