Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start?

Ford introduced their supermini Ford Fiesta back in 1976. It became increasingly popular due to its unique trim and design.

Ford is known for its engines, and many companies deal with them business-to-business.

Ford Fiesta has a powerful engine that is quite praise-worthy. Moreover, the fuel economy of this car is also commendable.

The latest model of Ford Fiesta took into consideration the latest technology in the market. This made the driving experience not only smooth but also quite efficient.

Despite all the praises it received, several people were reported to have asked questions such as, “Why won’t my Ford Fiesta start?”.

This is exactly what I am going to talk about in this article. If you have been facing similar issues, I have covered you completely.

Impurities In Different Filters
Flaws In The Alternator
Broken Starter
Low Voltage In Battery
Tampered Electrical System

The above-listed issues are the most prominent ones that can cause your Ford Fiesta to stop working. I will now discuss each issue in detail down below.

Table of Contents

1 What Would Cause A Ford Fiesta To Not Start?
2 Frequently Asked Questions
3 Conclusion

What Would Cause A Ford Fiesta To Not Start?

Many issues can stop your Ford Fiesta from starting. It might be difficult for some people to believe that cars manufactured by a company as famous as Ford can also face some issues.

A company that positions itself around its strong engine can also leave its customers unsatisfied with the incompetence of the engines of different cars, such as the Ford Fiesta.

I have carefully handpicked these issues and summarized them in the easiest way possible. So, keep reading this article if you want to learn more about this.

1: Impurities In Different Filters

In every car, different filters are responsible for filtering all the impurities out of the car. In a Ford Fiesta, like any other car, there are air filters, oil filters, fuel filters, etc.

These filters need to be catered to immediately because as soon as impurities enter your car, they would tamper with the engine and then malfunction.

When your fuel filter gets contaminated by corrosion, rust, or dust accumulation, it will slow down the fuel supply to the internal components, which disrupts the flow throughout.

These can get contaminated by different types of metallic fragments.

Your engine would starve for food, but its supply would be minimal. If your car’s air filter gets contaminated, your car will exert more energy than required.

This would cause your car to use more fuel, and the engine would exhaust after some time.

Your engine would be required more power the more your delay the checkup or replacement of this filter.

You can notice this by the color of your air filter. If it goes black or brown, the air filter needs cleaning. If your car’s oil filter gets contaminated, the oil flow to your engine is also disrupted.

This can cause your engine to seize, and your Ford Fiesta will stop working. You will soon hear the cranking of your engine because of this as well.

The oil filter of your Ford Fiesta can get damaged if you use low-quality lubricants.

What Should You Do About It?

You can try fixing the fuel filter by taking your car to the mechanic. It would cost you somewhere between $100 to $200.
You can also fix the fuel filter yourself by first checking where it is located using a manual. After that, wash the fuel filter using a garden hose and ensure the pressure is not too much.
Getting your air filter cleaned would hardly cost you $10 to $25. This is easier because the main contaminant here is dust.
To see if the air filter does need replacement, lift it against the sun, and you will be able to see exactly how contaminated it is.
It would take around $65 to $120 to get your oil filter replaced by a mechanic, but it would be a wise choice not to do it yourself.

2: Flaws In The Alternator

A car’s alternator is responsible for the normal functioning of many important components. Many sensors attached to the car are directly associated with your car’s alternator.

Alternators are difficult to maintain. Even the slightest bit of inconvenience can damage your alternator.

There might be flaws in your car’s alternator because the amount of charge being provided to it is either too high or too low.

In the case of overcharge being supplied to it, the risk is higher.

This would not only take a lot of time to repair but also, if you have to purchase a new alternator for your Ford Fiesta, it would generate a shocking bill for you.

The alternator can be damaged if the pulleys inside or on the sides are not aligned properly.

Moreover, if you have been traveling in areas with a lot of water on the roads, the chances of water disrupting the electrical system associated with the alternator are high.

There are also multiple belts in an alternator. You need to see if these belts are working properly or have been attacked by corrosion/rust.

What Should You Do About It?

Get rid of all the impurities and contaminants affecting your alternator using a degreaser mixed with water.
If you can afford to replace it, set aside a minimum of $500 to $1000 for this job. Only experts can cater to this issue because many things are directly linked with the alternator.
The main problem might not be with the alternator but with all the other components causing trouble. You need to check these parts before investing in a new one.

3: Broken Starter

The first major sign of a broken starter in your Ford Fiesta is if the engine is not turning over.

Another major sign is if you hear abnormal noises coming out of your car. These may vary from clinking to whirring.

Often, smoke might come out of the engine while attempting to start your Ford Fiesta. This also indicates a serious issue with your car’s starter motor.

A lot of different factors may cause your starter to deteriorate.

One of the major factors is that the starter can get corroded, especially if moisture makes its way inside the car’s internal components.

Another cause for a faulty starter could be the electrical system that supplies it with power.

The wiring might be loose, and the bolts might not be tight enough for an optimal power supply.

The entire relay system for the starter might have broken down. You might also want to check the amount of power supplied to your starter or electric motor from your battery.

At times, due to lower voltage, multiple fuses take place at the same time, and the starter fails to work. This is another reason why your Ford Fiesta would not start.

What Should You Do About It?

Getting a new starter from the mechanic would cost you somewhere between $65 to $350. I would advise you to do that if you lack experience.
You can purchase a refurbished starter for your Ford Fiesta only if you can tell that it is original. That would take at least 5 to 6 hours.
Auto electric shops are known for rebuilding starters to customize your car’s needs. You can take your Ford Fiesta to them.

4: Low Voltage In Battery

One of the main issues for a car’s engine failing on you is the low voltage in its battery.

This can be identified using a voltmeter to measure the amount of voltage that is being supplied by the battery of a Ford Fiesta.

This would tell you whether or not the battery is draining for your car, which might, in return, cause the engine to fail on you.

If you want to see if the voltmeter is giving a low voltage reading, then it must range between 11.8V to 12V. This low reading would lead to multiple other factors.

There is not just one thing that is operated using a battery. The engine, starter, alternator, etc., everything runs using different types of batteries.

Multiple factors can lead to your battery having a low voltage.

One of these reasons is that if you have been using your Ford Fiesta for a long time now, your battery has become old and requires replacement.

Another factor could be that the alternator that gives the charge to the battery is not charged properly. It is either overcharged or undercharged, due to which it is damaged.

What Should You Do About It?

Firstly, start by investing in a voltmeter. Checking the battery voltage is not that difficult. Consider replacing it or buying a new one if it has been quite some time.
Check to see if the battery is being disturbed because of the alternator. This would be expensive to fix, but it is necessary to take measures to curtail it before things get worse.
Jump start your car to provide the charge or volts your battery requires. However, do not do this more than a few times.

5: Tampered Electrical System

I am sure you know that having a flawless electrical system in your Ford Fiesta is extremely important.

Be it a bad alternator, faulty starter, or dead battery, everything in a car needs an adequate and efficient electrical system.

This is necessary to allow an optimal flow of charge and electricity throughout the car.

If the electrical system becomes affected due to any reason such as heavy rain, flooded water entering the car, corrosion creeping on the wires, holes in the wires, loose bolts, insufficient charge being produced by the alternator, etc., a lot of other issues in the car can arise out of the blue.

It is very important to keep the electrical system well maintained. The electrical systems are like the veins and arteries that a human body has.

Any blockage in the way can create serious problems and a hefty amount of bills. This can directly impact the alternator belt, which takes $1000 or more to be fixed.

This can also lead to the battery draining quickly. The filters stop working efficiently, and the car exerts more energy than it’s capable of.

What Should You Do About It?

Try avoiding using your Ford Fiesta on roads with a lot of water. It is already a mini car, requiring more attention and care than the other cars being introduced on the market.
Make sure to safeguard the wires of the electrical system by combining them in a wire protection program. Moreover, check to see if the alternator is providing the right amount of charge or not.
Replace the batteries that are corroded or have any rust on them. This would help in making sure that this issue does not spread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start With New Battery?

The new battery in your Ford Fiesta might not be able to adjust to the environment that quickly. This would at least take a day or two to adjust.

Also, check to see if you have carefully attached all the wires (making sure none have tiny holes) and none of the bolts are loose.

Q2. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start Even With A Jump?

A jump start is usually given when the issue lies with the battery. This tells you that the battery is giving the right voltage.

Rather, something else, e.g., the broken alternator, corroded electrical system, or faulty starter motor, might create problems.

Moreover, a single jump start would not work. You need to do it three to four times.

Q3. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start But Lights Work?

If the lights of your Ford Fiesta are working and are in the best condition, you can relax a little because the electrical system is not damaged nor corroded.

The issue might be with your car’s engine, which might not be getting enough power due to leakages in the fuel tank or a bad alternator.

Q4. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start But Cranks?

The engine’s cranking tells you that the main issue lies with the engine of your car, in this case, Ford Fiesta. The issue can be the leakage in the oil and fuel tank.

Another issue might be low voltage or draining battery. The electric motor might not be getting enough supply either.

Q5. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start Just Clicks?

If your engine clicks rather than cranks, the issue is with its starter motor or the ignition switch.

These two are not that expensive to maintain and would cost you somewhere between $100 to $300. It is also easy to find refurbished starters in the marker of genuine quality.

Q6. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start In The Cold Weather?

When exposed to extreme climatic conditions, anything can create issues for you. Ford Fiesta is no exception. Extreme cold weather tampers fuel and oil supply towards the components.

It also requires the engine to exert much more energy than before because the car must curtail the strong air pressure.

Q7. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start After I Get Gas?

If you are facing this issue in your Ford Fiesta, do not spare a second more and get your fuel tank checked for leakages.

Ensure you get the pipes checked below, as the leakage would only appear from that angle. The gas is not reaching your engine for it to start in the first place.

Q8. Why Won’t My Ford Fiesta Start But Radio Works?

Another thing that tells you that the reason why your Ford Fiesta would not start is not its electrical system. The electrical system provides power for the radio to work.

This again assures us that we do not have to check every wire in the car to identify the broken ones. Rather, the issue lies with the alternator or the starter.

Conclusion

It can be concluded that despite positioning itself around its ability to offer the best engines, Ford Fiesta tended to lack behind in the race.

I have provided insights into almost everything of a Ford Fiesta. I hope this must put an end to questions such as, “Why won’t my Ford Fiesta start?”.

So, do not think twice before you leave for an adventure in this car because you now know exactly what to do in every situation in case your car would not start.

Tahir Azam

I am Tahir Azam, and I have been writing amazing articles for TaxiHack for as long as I can remember. I know everything that is to know when it comes to automobiles and is always on top of industry news and developments. While I am not an expert by any means, I pride myself on knowing the ins and outs of many different problems and, of course, their solutions. The articles on our website are some of the best and well-researched content that you will find, and I spend countless hours making sure this remains to be true. This is why I ask you to take your time out and read some of my articles, especially if you find a topic that resonates with you or is something you are looking into. This way, you will find the perfect mix of information and tips on your desired topic. Learn more about Tahir.