# Car won't start

**URL:** <https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737>\
**Category:** Maintenance/Repairs\
**Created:** [June 26, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737 "2011-06-26T18:14:40Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![lhamann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9a28c/32.png) [@lhamann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lhamann)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 6:14pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/1 "2011-06-26T18:14:40Z")

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I have a 2004 Sebring 2.4 car. The engine wont to turn over and i am getting no spark. A friend of mine said it could be the alternator or timing belt. I don’t think it is either one of those. I brought a new crank sensor but have not put it in yet. Anybody have any other ideas.? I was also told it could be the ignition module but i have no idea where it is located.

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**Author:** ![Cougar](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/cartalk/user_avatar/community.cartalk.com/cougar/32/21348_2.png) [@Cougar](https://community.cartalk.com/u/Cougar)\
**Post date:** [June 26, 2011, 8:24pm UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/2 "2011-06-26T20:24:36Z")

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The first step to do on this kind of trouble is to make sure power is getting to the ignition system. If that checks out then check for any error codes that can provide clues to the trouble. Trouble with the alternator can’t cause this kind of problem. A broken timing belt or bad crank sensor can.

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**Author:** ![lhamann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9a28c/32.png) [@lhamann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lhamann)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 12:19am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/3 "2011-06-27T00:19:15Z")

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If its a broken timing belt will it still try to crank over?

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**Author:** ![lhamann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/a9a28c/32.png) [@lhamann](https://community.cartalk.com/u/lhamann)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 12:20am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/4 "2011-06-27T00:20:03Z")

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How do you check power getting to ingintion system?

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**Author:** ![PhillipNeuman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/e9c0ed/32.png) [@PhillipNeuman](https://community.cartalk.com/u/PhillipNeuman)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 1:09am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/5 "2011-06-27T01:09:40Z")

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If it is a broken timing belt, the engine will crank faster because you will have no engine compression.

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**Author:** ![FordMan59](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/eb8c5e/32.png) [@FordMan59](https://community.cartalk.com/u/FordMan59)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 4:12am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/6 "2011-06-27T04:12:43Z")

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You say the engine doesn’t turn over, my perception of this is that when you turn the key to the start position nothing happens. Is this correct? If the engine is not turning over the first place I’d start is checking the battery terminals, grounding point, and connection at the starter to make sure everything is clean and tight. If all this checks out the starter would be another possibility. If the engine is turning over and just not firing the problem could be the crank sensor.

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**Author:** ![piter\_devries](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/aca169/32.png) [@piter\_devries](https://community.cartalk.com/u/piter_devries)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2011, 6:32am UTC](https://community.cartalk.com/t/car-wont-start/65737/7 "2011-06-27T06:32:27Z")

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Starter relay, ballast resistor (if they still have those)… Please clarify your second sentence and add more detail.