If your car won’t start when parked in the sun, you might have a dead battery. Your battery is the heart of your car’s electrical system, and it’s what makes sure that your lights and other components work as they should.
If your car is older than five years old, it might be time to replace the battery. If you’re not sure how long it’s been since you replaced it, look for a sticker on the side of the battery that tells you when to replace it.
If you’re still within your battery’s warranty period and want to get a replacement from the manufacturer, look up their website and get in touch with them about getting a new one installed. You can also take your car to a mechanic or auto parts store for help with installation or replacement.
Check the engine
The engine is one of the most important parts of your car, and if it’s not working correctly, you won’t be able to start your car. This can be frustrating, especially if you’re in a hurry or have somewhere to be. If your car won’t start when parked in the sun, there are a few things that you should check before doing anything drastic like replacing the battery or calling a tow truck.
Check the start motor
If your car won’t start when parked in the sun, it’s probably because the starter motor has been damaged by the sun’s rays. The starter motor is what starts your car when you turn the key.
The starter motor is made up of a brush and a commutator that move together as they spin. The brushes touch the commutator, which causes current to flow through them and creates electrical energy that moves through wires to start your engine.
The brushes are made of carbon a non-conductive material that wears down over time and needs to be replaced periodically. When they wear down too much, they can’t create enough friction between themselves and the commutator to get your car started.
Check the battery
Car batteries are sensitive to heat and cold, so they’re more likely to fail in extreme temperatures. If you park your car in the sun all day, you run the risk of doing damage to your battery by overcharging it. Check that your battery is cool before trying to start your car again if it’s warm or hot, let it sit for a while before trying again.
If you suspect that your battery is dead, you can test it with a voltmeter: Connect one end of the meter lead to the positive terminal on your battery and touch the other end to the negative terminal. The meter should read between 12V and 15V.
Check the transmission
If your car won’t start when parked in the sun, it could be a problem with your transmission. You may have overheated the fluid and now it’s stuck to the magnet in the starter, preventing it from turning. The solution is to pull out the battery cables, let the car cool down for a few hours, then try to start it again. If that doesn’t work, you’ll need to replace your starter.
Check the fuses
One of the most common reasons that a car won’t start when parked in the sun is because of a blown fuse. The fuses are located in the engine compartment, under the hood. They protect components like your starter and alternator from getting overloaded and overheated, so if you notice that the car is running strangely or not at all after you park it in the sun, check to see if any of the fuses have blown.
Conclusion
The reason your car won’t start when parked in the sun is that the battery is low. When it’s hot outside, your car’s battery can’t do its job well it just doesn’t have enough juice to get the engine going. So if you park your vehicle in direct sunlight, chances are you’re going to be stuck waiting for a tow truck or walking home from work instead of driving there.
