*UPDATED MAY 2022
You're driving along and suddenly your car has no power. Here’s some information to help you. Click on each section to learn more:
If you are experiencing a loss of power in your vehicle and you need to have a professional look at it, contact the experienced and trustworthy experts at Hansma Automotive.
Learn what to do if your car has no power
Car Has No Power - What To Do
1. Common signs that you are losing power
If you are driving your vehicle and suddenly everything "dies" - i.e. all of your electrical devices stop functioning - it means power isn't getting through. If your engine stops as well, then the ignition system is also not receiving the power it needs to function.
Here are some common signs to watch out for if your car is losing electrical power:
Your headlights start to go dim while you are driving
You have difficulty trying to start your vehicle
Your vehicle won't start at all
The power slowly dies while you are diving ie. radio, dashboard lights, etc.
You may notice your headlights start to dim
Sometimes this can just be a temporary failure and the vehicle will all of a sudden begin to work again.
Possible causes of a power failure could be either bad battery connections, a bad ignition switch, or a bad alternator. What you need to do is check your vehicle’s power sources.
2. What Causes A Power Failure & what to do
Bad Battery Connections
If you are losing power, the first thing that you should check is your battery connections. If your connections are loose, then it will affect the flow of electricity so that less power is going to the electrical systems of your vehicle.
1. Tighten loose connections: Examine both the positive and negative cable connections to make sure that they are tight. If they are loose, then tighten them.
2. Clean any corrosion: If you see any signs of corrosion, then you should clean the terminals and cable ends before you tighten them up. To clean the terminals, use an old toothbrush dipped in baking soda and vigorously scrub them.
This will take a bit of effort and you will want to keep cleaning off your toothbrush and adding more baking soda as you go. Keep scrubbing until all of the corrosion is gone.
3. Check opposite end: It's also a good idea to follow the cables to make sure that they are tight at the other end as well. If they are loose, you should also tighten them.
This video shows you how you can check your battery cables
Faulty Ignition Switch
Your ignition switch provides power to your engine as well as to other accessories in your vehicle like your headlights, radio, power windows, power locks, and interior lights. If your ignition switch fails, you might notice the following happen:
Engine stalls while driving: If your engine switch fails, then your engine might stall while you are driving. If this happens, you will need to get your vehicle looked at right away.
Engine starts then immediately stalls: Another sign of ignition switch failure is that you will be able to start your car, but it will stall shortly after. This is because there is enough power to get it started but not enough to keep it running.
Checking your ignition switch is more complicated than checking your battery cables as it involves taking apart a variety of trim pieces in order to access it in the steering column or dash. If you start this process, keep an eye out for any burned wires.
If you are unsure of how to do this, then it is a good idea to take your vehicle to an auto repair shop that you trust. If the ignition switch is damaged then it will need to be replaced.
This video demonstrates how to access and troubleshoot the ignition switch
Bad Alternator
If your car has no power, it may be a sign that your alternator is beginning to wear out.
When your alternator stops functioning, your vehicle relies solely on the battery to power its electrical system. Once your battery runs out, everything in your vehicle will shut down.
Here are some signs indicating that your alternator is failing:
A warning light (that usually looks like a battery) on your dashboard comes on
Your lights start to go dim or start to flicker
Your battery is dead
You hear a growling or whining noise
You notice a strange smell like burning rubber or the smell of an electrical fire
It isn't easy to test your alternator at home and it is best to take it to a professional.
Learn more about alternators in this video
3. Where Does Your Car Get Its Power From?
Today's gas and diesel-powered vehicles get their electrical power from two sources: the battery and the alternator. The battery stores power and the alternator generates power while the engine is running.
What Your Battery Does
The battery's function is to store power and then use it to do the following functions:
Start the engine
Run accessories while the engine is off
Power the alternator's voltage regulator
What Your Alternator Does
The alternator plays an important role in gas-powered engines. It converts the mechanical energy that is produced by your engine's rotating crankshaft into electricity through a process known as induction.
Your alternator works in conjunction with your battery. It generates power while your engine is running and provides the necessary electricity to run components such as your headlights, wipers, and radio. It also recharges your battery.
If you have an electric car, you won't have an alternator as electric vehicles are driven by an electric motor and battery combination that has lots of energy to run your car's accessories.
Trust a professional to check your car’s power system
4. Why Your Car Has No Power Driving Uphill
There are other scenarios in which you might find your car without sufficient power and driving uphill is one of them.
If there are faulty components in your vehicle, this will make it difficult for your engine to push it up a hill as you attempt to accelerate.
Above and beyond the issues mentioned above, here are a few things to check if your car has no power while going uphill:
Fuel filter
Exhaust filter
Air filter
Note: If you have acceleration problems as you attempt to drive uphill, do not add pressure to the gas pedal. You will only put more stress on your engine and could make matters worse.
Faulty components in your car could cause you to have no power going up a hill
5. Why Your Car Has No Power When Pulling Away
Perhaps you notice your car has no power while attempting to drive on a level plain.
Again, there could be several different reasons, including the following:
Mechanical problems: Low compression, clogged fuel filter, dirty air filter or clogged exhaust manifold.
Malfunction of sensors: Camshaft position sensor, mass air flow sensor, oxygen sensor or crankshaft sensor.
Malfunction of actuators: Bad injectors, bad fuel pump or bad spark plugs
Additionally, if you’re noticing your car is low on power while driving in hot temperatures, be aware that your air conditioning uses a portion of your engine’s power. So if you are blasting the AC, you may notice a drop in your car’s power.
Get your car examined by a professional mechanic as troubleshooting may be required
6. What to Do When Your Car Has No Power? Contact a Reliable Mechanic
When your vehicle has no power, you want to get it looked at right away. It is important that you find an auto repair shop that you can trust. This way you know that they will only carry out the necessary repairs.
Hansma Automotive is that type of auto repair shop. Hansma has a 4.8 rating on Google Reviews and carries out a full range of auto repairs on all makes of vehicles. Our customers have come to appreciate our honest service. Our word-of-mouth referrals continue to be our largest source of new customers.
Check out our reviews for yourself and discover why we are one of the highest-ranked and most trusted auto repair shops in Kitchener-Waterloo.
“Been a customer at Hansma's for many years. Had a 1990 pickup that ran like a new vehicle due to the work and upkeep they gave it. Awesome service, friendly staff."
- Marian Z.
Other Great reasons to choose Hansma
Competitive Pricing: Whether you are looking for a new battery, alternator, or ignition switch, or you require one of our other automotive services, our highly trained technicians will be able to diagnose and fix your vehicle at a highly competitive price.
Reliable Repairs: You can rely on the technical expertise of our friendly staff to keep your vehicle in peak condition.
Over 33 Years of Service: We've been serving the Waterloo region with the highest quality automotive services since 1987.
Locally Owned and Operated: You can feel good about supporting a locally owned and operated family business.
True Customer Care: At Hansma, we truly care about our customers. We will do our best to provide you with great customer care and service. When you come to Hansma, you'll be treated like family.