Your Ford Fiesta wont start if one or more components needed for the ignition process are badly damaged or malfunctioning. These components include the alternator, fuses, spark plug, and battery.
In this article, our team will reveal all the major causes and the best solutions to this issue, so let’s get started.
Contents
What Are Common Reasons Why Your Ford Fiesta Wont Start?
Some common reasons why your Ford Fiesta wont start include a bad fuel pump, a dead/corroded battery, a bad alternator, bad fuses, a bad spark plug, and engine problems. In rare cases, a weak/dead key fob (Frequency Operated Button) battery can also cause the problem.
– Bad/Failed Fuel Pump
A bad fuel/gasoline pump can prevent your Fiesta from starting. The pump is necessary for pumping fuel to the fuel injectors, which then spray fuel into the combustion chambers for ignition. If these pumps fail, no fuel will be sent to your engine and your car won’t start.
Failing pumps usually give signs like difficulty starting, engine jerking, and engine breakdown. Fuel leaks are another major sign that reveals your car’s gasoline pumps are damaged.
– Corroded Battery
Corroded battery contacts can be another reason why your Fiesta won’t start. It’s not uncommon for battery terminals to get corroded over time as hydrogen gas is released from the battery. These corrosions can happen on either the positive or negative terminals.
When battery terminals get corroded, the area of contact is reduced and current flow from the battery is also reduced. As such, your engine won’t crank properly since your car isn’t getting the right amount of electric power to kickstart your engine.
– Bad Key Fob Battery
A bad fob battery is one of the less-common causes of vehicles not starting. This problem can only occur in Fiestas with a start button. The fob sends radio signals to your car once you press the button so you can enter your vehicle or start your car.
Every vehicle’s Frequency Operated Button uses a battery. If this battery is weak, your car won’t start when you push the remote start button.
– Bad/Malfunctioning Alternator
A bad or malfunctioning alternator is another possible reason why your car is not starting. The alternator works to generate electricity used by your entire car and charges your battery while your car is in motion. If the alternator of your Fiesta fails, there’ll be no electricity to charge the battery. As such, you’ll end up with a dead battery that can’t start your car the next time you try to start it.
If you notice that your battery quickly drains and refuses to start your car soon after you replace it, it’s a sign that your alternator, which should recharge the battery while you’re driving, is bad.
The factors that make a car starter fail include a faulty electrical connection/loose wiring, a faulty or stiff solenoid switch, and a damaged electric motor. Starters can also fail due to accumulated wear and tear over time.
– Blocked Fuel Filter
A blocked fuel filter is another common reason why your Fiesta may refuse to start. The filter’s job is to collect dust and other particles from the fuel so they don’t enter the car engine and cause damage. Your filter gets clogged with dirt and debris over time, and when this happens, fuel won’t be able to pass through in the required amounts.
Once this clogging reaches its peak, your engine will receive little or no fuel, so it won’t be able to start. At this stage, cleaning the filter is no longer possible. You’ll have to fix it another way — by replacement.
– Damaged Fuse
A damaged fuse is another thing that can cause your car not to start. The fuse is a car device that controls the amount of current entering through a circuit. Automotive fuses protect the electrical wiring in your car.
Every car starter switch or relay has a fuse connected to it. If your fuse is bad, it can prevent electric power from reaching the starter, so your car won’t start. Also, there are fuses that regulate the power to the gas pump and injectors: if these fuses blow, your engine won’t start as well.
– Bad Spark Plugs
Bad spark plugs can also be responsible for your Fiesta’s starting problems. The spark plugs are a necessary but overlooked part of your car ignition. They provide the spark needed for the ignition of the fuel-air mixture in the combustion chambers.
Spark plugs get clogged over time, and they can also get loose. In any of these situations, they’ll fail to work, and consequently, your car won’t start.
– Rodent Problems
Rodent problems are another thing that can hinder your Fiesta from starting. Rodents can go under the hood of your car and bite through cables and wires, messing up some key systems necessary for the proper functioning or ignition of your car. They can ruin cables needed for fuel, oil, or power supply, all of which are necessary for the engine.
– Engine Breakdown
Engine breakdown can also be another reason why your car fails to start. A typical engine breakdown occurs when one or more components get damaged in the engine. For instance, it could be a damaged fan belt, a lack of lubrication, or an overheated engine. If you’re driving your car at high speed and it suddenly stops and refuses to start, it’s possible you’ve just experienced engine damage/breakdown.
– Weak or Drained Battery
A dead or weak battery is another common reason why your Ford Fiesta won’t start. Your car battery delivers the electric power needed by your starter/starter motor for ignition. A weak or dead battery won’t be able to generate power for starting up your vehicle, so you may find your engine cranking very slowly or not cranking at all. An additional sign of a drained battery is when your headlights appear dim or refuse to turn on at all.
What Are Common Ways To Restart Your Ford Fiesta?
The common ways to restart your Ford Fiesta include changing the battery, changing the alternator, fixing the gasoline pump, changing the fuel filter, replacing the battery of the fob, and changing the spark plugs. In rare cases, you might have to repair the engine.
– Check For Rodent Damages and Fix It
If you stay in a rodent-infested area, checking and fixing rodent damages can bring your car back to life. The most common car parts rodents invade include hoses, ignition wires, and air vents. If you notice weird smells oozing out of your vents or see rat droppings under your car, it’s a strong sign you have rodent problems.
Check all wires and fuses in your car for any rodent damage and replace or change them as necessary. Also, get a rodent repellant, or find another location to park your car. These steps will prevent future visits from rodents.
– Recharge/Change Car Battery
If you have a battery problem, recharging or replacing your battery will restart your car. You’ll first have to test your battery with a voltmeter to confirm whether it is weak or dead. When tested, a weak battery will give a reading of less than 12 volts. Connect your battery to a battery charger for 12 to 24 hours to recharge it.
If your battery is dead, the only solution is to replace it. You can tell a car battery is dead when it appears swollen and emits odd smells. Remember to clean corroded terminals as well. If this is the cause of your starting problem, you may not need to change the battery at all.
– Replace Car FOB Battery
Changing the FOB battery of your car can help you start your car using the button. To change the battery of your FOB, you need to open up the key holder, take out the old battery, then insert the new one. Fiesta cars use a CR2032 3V battery, so ensure you buy this specific type for replacement.
– Replace the Spark Plug
Replacing your spark plugs can make your car start again. Note that your Fiesta has four spark plugs, so you may have to check every one of them and replace the bad ones. You can tell a bad spark plug if it appears burnt or blocked. Ideally, you should change your spark plugs every 30,000 miles. New spark plugs cost about $10 to $20.
– Change the Alternator
Changing the alternator of your car can solve your ignition problems. To replace your alternator, follow this process: disconnect the battery, disconnect the wires connected to the alternator, remove the alternator belt, undo bolts, take out the old alternator, and mount the new one.
Replacing your alternator by yourself can be time-consuming, although it’ll save you a significant amount. A typical Fiesta alternator replacement job at an auto repair shop can cost anywhere from $300 to $400.
– Change the Fuel Filter
If your fuel filter is bad, changing it may revive your car. However, you should inspect the filter first and see if it’s clogged. Flushing of filters is not possible with Ford Fiestas, so if your fuel filter is clogged, you must replace it. You can get a new fuel filter for around $6.
First, raise your vehicle with a jack and support it to change your filter. Next, locate the filter in front of the fuel tank, then pull it out from the clips. Detach the filter from the fuel pipes (some fuel will spill out as you do so) and plug the pipes. Install the new filter, then reconnect the fuel lines. Ensure that the arrow indicating fuel flow is pointing the right way.
Note that newer Fiesta (2019) models have two fuel filters, and you should change both. Ideally, you should change your filters after every 20,000-mile drive.
– Check and Fix the Gasoline Pump
Check your gasoline pump to see if it’s functioning correctly. A functioning pump should produce a humming sound from the hood as fuel is being sent through the fuel line at high pressure. If you suspect your pump is bad, get a new pump for replacement.
To change your fuel pump, first locate the pump. The gasoline pump is in the engine compartment or gas tank for most cars. However, for Fiestas (2008 to 2017 models), the gasoline pump is located under the left rear seat. Consult your owner’s manual if you’re not sure where to look.
Once you’ve located the pump, disconnect the electrical connector and remove the bolts that hold the pump in place. Now the pump is free. Replace it and reinstall the bolts and electrical connector. If you want a mechanic to help, you may have to spend up to $780 in total.
– Fix Engine
Repairing your engine can be the final solution to solving your Fiesta starting problem. Ideally, this should be done by a mechanic/professional as it’s a complicated process. To fix engine failure on a Fiesta, you’ll most likely spend between $4,000 and $5,000. You can easily tell you have a bad engine if you hear loud clicking noises under the hood.
– Reset the Immobilizer
To reset the immobilizer on your Ford Fiesta, lock and unlock the car doors using the remote five times, or lock and unlock the doors from inside your car using the car key, and then leave the car on ignition for about 30 seconds.
Conclusion
Now you understand all the reasons your Ford Fiesta won’t start and how to troubleshoot and fix the issue yourself.
Let’s go over the major points once again.
- Your Fiesta won’t start if you have a bad battery, a faulty alternator, corroded battery terminals, or a blocked fuel filter.
- Other things like bad spark plugs, rodent problems, or a bad FOB battery can also cause your problem.
- To revive your car, check and replace any of the parts suspected to be responsible, such as batteries and spark plugs.
- You can start with simple checks like the battery and fuses before replacing more complex parts like alternators.
With the fixes in this article, you should be better prepared to tackle the issue if your Ford Fiesta is not starting or is currently experiencing issues.
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