Why Your Jeep Won’t Start But Turns Over? (Solved)

You recently purchased a Jeep and one day you get in the car and turn the key to hear only the “brumh brumh” sound before turning it off. Oh, your jeep won’t start but turns over?

When driving a Jeep Wrangler, this humorous situation is undoubtedly encountered by many car owners. The fact that they refuse to start perplexes and concerns the driver. It can be very expensive to repair if the motorist is unaware of the problem.

What you need to do is stay calm to find out what the exact cause is. There are many reasons for this, it may be due to the cold weather, the car running out of fuel, or some other reason.

To save you money, we’d like to share the cause of the car not starting and how to fix it with you today.

Why is my Jeep turning over but not starting?

There are two scenarios in which the car will not start: either the engine will not start or the engine will start but then shut down. The following are the most common causes of these two situations.

1. Fuel Pump Issues

Whether your Jeep turns over but won’t start, the first thing you should do is check to see if your fuel pump is operating, since if it isn’t, your Jeep engine will not start.

In truth, the Jeep gasoline pump system is extremely long-lasting. However, due to dirt, wear, or overload, the fuel pump can fail after a lengthy period of usage. If the fuel pump fails, the process of injecting fuel into the cylinder chamber fails as well, resulting in improper gas and fuel mixture combustion and reduced engine output.

2. Broken spark plugs

Spark plugs are an extremely delicate component of a Jeep; they can become caught or break, preventing the Jeep from starting.

The ability of the spark plug to ignite can be hampered by dirt and wear. Furthermore, condensation in the cylinder can cause the engine to grow cold, requiring the spark plugs to work harder to create a spark that ignites the fuel, and making starting the engine takes longer than usual.

You can use a magnet to try to magnetize your spark plugs, or you can examine them with a smoke test.

Alternatively, color can be used to determine the state of spark plugs. Oil has seeped into the cylinder, causing the spark plug to stick and not ignite, as evidenced by black and viscous spark plugs and a burning odor. A white spark plug indicates a cooling system malfunction, and the spark plug will take longer to ignite. The engine is running normally if the spark plugs are yellow-brown.

3. Ignition Coil Failure

If the ignition coil is under or not operating, the spark plug will not work. This indicates that your Jeep will not start. 

Here are a few symptoms that your ignition coil isn’t working properly. That is the increase in emissions; the motor makes a loud noise; the engine rpm is reduced; the fuel warning light illuminates despite the presence of fuel, and the final is poor engine performance.

4. Bad Octan

The octane number is one of the most essential parameters in engine operation. You may have difficulties starting your Jeep if you have a high compression engine and are using low octane gas or less than what your engine requires.

5. Fuel Filter Blocked

Gasoline filters on cars are responsible for filtering fuel before putting them into the combustion chamber, including residues and impurities accumulated in the fuel tank for better engine operation.

However, in the process of use, due to not being replaced, the fuel filter will be dirty, clinging to many impurities, causing the fuel filter to become clogged, affecting the fuel supply process for the car engine and adversely affecting the fuel filter for vehicle operation.

If you put the key in and start but the engine cannot start, it is likely that the fuel filter is too dirty to prevent gasoline from entering the combustion chamber. That’s why cars can’t explode.

According to car care and maintenance experts, when the filter is blocked and the driver tries to increase the gas, there will be a popping sound in the engine due to lack of fuel. In some cases, the car will be difficult to start, take a long time to start and the explosion is not smooth. Or if starting the engine but not running.

The reason is that the fuel filter is clogged, so the amount of gasoline passing through the filter will be less and not enough to supply the engine to work normally.

6. Battery failure

The makers do not recommend driving the car and letting it run out of gas on a frequent basis. Because it appears simple, “when you run out of petrol, go buy gas,” your fuel filter will be seriously impacted if you allow this circumstance to occur too frequently. 

Because the car’s method of action is that if the fuel level in the tank is too low, the engine will still respond, but the combustion chamber will not work, and no burning event will occur, rendering the vehicle useless.

As a result, when driving, pay attention to the fuel needle and replenish when the gasoline tank is more than 2/3 full to ensure that the fuel filter continues to function effectively.

7. Damaged Starter

The engine control unit acts like a computer, they manage the drivability and performance of the engine. This unit receives information from many different sensors of the car engine.

Then, they use this information to calculate and adjust the engine’s operation so that fuel consumption is efficient and optimal power in each situation.

If completely damaged, the engine control unit will make the car unable to start or unable to roll. The engine may still be spinning, but it may not be possible to start the engine without receiving a request from the computer.

What to Do If Your Jeep won’t start but turns over?

In the previous section, we have pointed out the reasons why your Jeep does not work even with the key on. Here are a few fixes you can refer to.

Examine the battery

Check your battery first to determine if there is a voltage drop before or after the engine starts. If this is the case, you’ll need to replace the battery.

Examine the used gasoline

If your Jeep does not have a fuel injection system, the only way to check your fuel is to utilize a fuel pressure regulator or a carburetor float. The only item you need to check when evaluating fuel pressure is the pump.

Replace any damaged spark plugs.

When your Jeep starts to turn over, it’s time to inspect the spark plugs that are inserted. If you can’t find a spark plug tester to rent, put a piece of paper around the tip of your spark plug before attempting to test it. Replace all of them if they aren’t sparking. Alternatively, as mentioned in the previous section, you might look over the spark plug colors. We recommend some ways to choose the best spark plugs for you, hope it helps.

Fuel Pump Replacement

The only way to check your gasoline in an earlier Jeep without a fuel injection system is to use a fuel pressure regulator or a carburetor float. The pump will be the only thing you need to examine when checking the fuel pressure.

Check for clogged fuel filters.

It’s time to see if your gasoline filter is clogged or dirty once you’ve tested all of your fuel-related components. If this is the case, clean them right away and your car will start right up.

If necessary, take the Jeep to a professional.

The most important factors have already been mentioned and described in great depth. If you’ve done everything and your Jeep still won’t start, we suggest taking it to a mechanic. The team will investigate the cause of the vehicle’s failure to start. This is healthier for the health of your Jeep.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What would cause my Jeep to shut off while driving?

A stalled engine might be caused by a shortage of fuel, insufficient airflow, or faulty ignition. One of the most common causes of engine stalling is a lack of gasoline, although dirty fuel injectors or a clogged fuel filter might also be to blame. Your engine, too, requires air to function correctly.

Q: Why won’t my car start despite the fact that I have power?

A fading or dead battery, loose or corroded connecting cables, a broken alternator, or a starter problem are the most common reasons for your vehicle not starting. It can be difficult to tell whether you have a battery or an alternator problem.

Q: Why did my Jeep die?

It’s nothing to be concerned about if your Jeep starts and then dies immediately. A Jeep will frequently stall if the gasoline filters are clogged or old, the fuel pump is leaking, or the fuel pump is malfunctioning, among other things.

Final thoughts

Through the article, we have provided a lot of information to help you determine the disease of your Jeep. If fixed, your Jeep will be significantly stronger. Hopefully, the condition of the car will not cause you too much concern. If you have any questions about your vehicle, please contact us for help.

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