Chevrolet MW Won’t Start: Top 14 Causes & Solutions

Turning the ignition and getting only silence instead of the engine cranking over is incredibly frustrating when you're sitting in your motionless Chevy. A Chevy that won't start will leave you immobilized and uncertain about the cause. The good news is that a number of familiar culprits make a MWs fail to start, and you can fix a lot of them yourself or with a mechanic's assistance.

In this comprehensive guide, we're going to look at the top 14 reasons your Chevrolet MW doesn't start and offer useful suggestions to get your car running again.

Dead Battery

The most common cause a Chevy doesn't crank is a dead or drained battery. Your battery supplies the initial jolt of electricity to crank the engine and get it started.

Indications of a dead battery:

• Silence upon turning the key – no engine cranking
• Electronics not powering on
• Hard time starting in cold weather

The Fix: Keep jumper cables available for a dead battery emergency. Jump starting your Chevy MW using another vehicle or portable charger can deliver enough charge to get it started.

You can also try cleaning corroded battery terminals that are blocking a good connection. If problems continue, have your battery tested – it may need recharging if old.

Bad Alternator

If your battery checks out but your Chevrolet MW still won't turn over, the issue may be a faulty alternator. This vital part charges your battery when running and powers the electrical system.

Clues of a bad alternator:

• Battery warning indicator illuminating
• Lights fading
• Difficulty starting, particularly following short trips

The Fix: Get your alternator checked immediately by a mechanic. A bad alternator can quickly drain your battery. This will need to be replaced by an experienced mechanic.

Bad or Fouled Spark Plugs

Spark plugs ignite the fuel/air mixture in the cylinders to run your car. When they are fouled or worn out, your MW may not start due to no spark.

Clues of bad spark plugs:

• Poor fuel economy
• Rough idle
• Engine sputtering

The Fix: Spark plugs need periodic replacement as they wear out. Most last 30k+ miles. Have your plugs checked and swap any faulty ones. Using quality gas prevents buildup.

Ignition System Issues

Issues with parts like the switch, lock cylinder, fob, or wiring can prevent your Chevrolet from cranking.

Symptoms of ignition trouble:

• No noise upon turning key
• Dashboard flickering
• Key won't turn

The Fix: For fob issues, replace the battery. For other problems, have the system diagnosed and repaired professionally. If you need a new Chevy key fob you can get one online here.

Starter Failure

The starter motor engages when you turn the key to crank the engine. If it's worn out, your Chevrolet MW may not turn over.

Signs of a bad starter:

• No noise upon turning key
• Clicking but no cranking
• Unusual grinding or whining

The Fix: Have your starter tested and replaced if faulty. This requires the help of a professional mechanic to diagnose and repair.

Not in Park or Neutral

If your transmission isn't in Park or Neutral, your Chevrolet's safety features will prevent it from cranking.

The Fix: Shift into Park/Neutral and try once more. If it only starts in one gear, you may have a faulty neutral safety switch needing repair. This will need to be repaired by a local mechanic near you.

Clogged Fuel Filter

A blocked fuel filter can constrain fuel flow to the engine, preventing your Chevrolet MW from starting.

Symptoms of a clogged filter:

• Hard time starting
• Engine sputtering
• Decreased fuel economy

The Fix: Replace the filter per your schedule or if suspected clogged. Use quality gas and replace regularly. You can have a local mechanic repair this for you, or repair it yourself, maybe with the help and guidance of an online mechanic.

Bad or Failing Fuel Pump

The fuel pump draws gas from the tank to the engine. If it fails, your Chevrolet won't start due to no fuel.

Signs of a bad pump:

• No sound upon turning key
• Hard time starting
• Stalling when running

The Fix: Have your pump tested. If faulty, a mechanic near you will need to replace it.

Low Engine Compression

Proper compression is needed to combust the air/fuel mixture. Low compression from leaks can lead to a no start.

Symptoms of compression issues:

• Hard time starting
• Rough idle
• Lack of power

The Fix: Testing can confirm low compression. For diagnostics and carrying out this repair, a local mechanic is usually needed and will have to replace the worn engine components.

Timing Belt Failure

The timing belt synchronizes the camshaft and crankshaft. If it breaks, the valves and pistons aren't synchronized properly and your Chevrolet MW won't start.

Symptoms of a bad timing belt:

• No start
• Unusual ticking noise

The Fix: Have your belt checked and fixed right away if broken. This requires a local professional mechanic to replace the timing belt of your Chevy MW.

Detached or Loose Battery Cable

A detached battery cable can block electricity flow in your Chevy. This common problem can prevent starting.

Symptoms of a bad cable:

• Corroded terminals
• Power loss from wiggling cables
• Frayed wiring

The Fix: Scrub corroded terminals and tighten loose connections. Damaged cables need replacement. You can get expert Chevy mechanic advice and guidance online or with a local mechanic.

Faulty Relays

Relays control power to components like the starter, fuel pump, and computer. Failure can prevent your Chevy MW from starting or running right.

Identifying relay problems:

• Swap relays to test
• Have relays checked by a mechanic

The Fix: Faulty relays must be replaced, often after a larger diagnostic. You will likely need a local mechanic to diagnose if the faulty relay is preventing your Chevy from starting.

Low Fuel or Empty Tank

Running your tank completely empty can cause a no-start due to lack of fuel. This seems obvious however it often happens because of an inaccurate or broken fuel gauge.

The Fix: Keep your tank at least 1/4 full to avoid unexpected emptying. If issues persist, have your fuel sender unit checked by a professional mechanic.

Engine Flooding

Sometimes an engine can flood with too much fuel, preventing starting due to wet spark plugs. This is most common in older carbureted engines.

The Fix: Press the gas pedal fully and crank briefly to clear the system so the plugs can spark. If problems continue, have the carburetor adjusted by a professional local mechanic.

Top 3 Ways To Get a Mechanics Help

With so many potential issues for a no start problem, it can be challenging to pinpoint the exact cause yourself. In some cases, getting assistance from an experienced mechanic can save you time and give you peace of mind.

These are the 3 ways to get a mechanic's help in starting your Chevy again.

1. Local Auto Repair Garage Near You

This is the regular way to get it repaired, however, it can be very wasteful in time and money, transporting your vehicle to them, plus expensive garage fees as they often have expensive overhead costs etc, that they have to pass on to the customer.

2. A Mobile Mechanic Near You

Having a qualified mobile mechanic come to your Chevy and repair it on-site can be a great time and money saver. The best mobile mechanics we can recommend in the USA are RepairSmith and YourMechanic. We have recommended them thousands of times, and they both have great prices, services and coverage across most of the USA.

In the UK the best mobile mechanic we can recommend is Fixter, they will come pick up your car, take it get repaired, and deliver it back to you. You can get an instant free quote on their official websites by clicking the name. We have tested, vetted, and can heartedly recommend each of these services to get your Chevy MW|Chevrolet MW starting again ASAP.

3. Chat with a Chevy Mechanic Online

This is a wonderful possibility for most DIYers or car aficionados. It's often  an easy repair you can do on your own, like switching out or recharging the battery. In these instances, if you know what to do one step after another, you can do it on your own, you are not required to pay a mechanic in person. Well, it's your fortunate day, an online mechanic can provide all the help, guidance, and advice you require, right away by online chat. You can then carry out the easy mend on your own.

The top online mechanic we suggest is JustAnswer, and through our link, you can get a free trial of their assistance for just $5, request endless inquiries for a week, get the assistance you require, and you are not obligated to keep going with the service after that. We adore JustAnswer for this reason, professional auto mechanic help for just $5 is an unmatchable price.

The qualified mechanics at JustAnswer's Ask a Mechanic service are available 24/7 to provide online analysis and recommendations. The perks of consulting with a mechanic online include:

• Convenience: Get help from home without having to schedule an appointment or wait at a shop.
• Fast responses; Mechanics reply rapidly with likely issues and solutions based on your description.
• Cost savings: Pay per question rather than full diagnostic fees – great for basic troubleshooting.
• Documentation: All conversations are recorded in writing, providing helpful reference.
• Expert assistance; Experienced licensed mechanics have the knowledge to address Chevy MW|Chevrolet MW no starting issues with ease.

You will get matched with the best auto mechanic for your particular case, it doesn't matter if it's a MW or your Chevrolet N200 won't start, the expert Chevy mechanic you are paired with, will be the best for the job.

So next time you find yourself searching online for something like “Chevy wont start after filling with gas“, consider our ask Chrevrolet mechanic online service.  In just minutes, you can get expert Chevrolet knowledge to help get your beloved MW going again.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)