Q: Car is on but the engine won't run

asked by on January 14, 2017

The car is on but for some reason the car won't rev and the check engine light is on

My car has 119240 miles.
My car's transmission is unknown to me.

Check Engine Light is on Inspection $94.99 - $114.99 Get a Quote

Generally, the check engine light comes on when something fairly serious is going on with the vehicle. This can happen for many different reasons such as a faulty mass air flow sensor, a faulty O2 sensor, a bad catalytic converter, bad spark plugs or wires and many other reasons. Due to the wide range of possibilities for the check engine light to come on, the best and most efficient way to narrow down the scope of what may be causing this is to have the vehicle hooked up to a scanning tool to download any potential fault codes that may have registered in the computer. This will allow a mechanic to determine more specifically what to look for in diagnosing your vehicle. I would recommend having an expert from YourMechanic come to your location to take a look at your vehicle to determine what may be causing your check engine light to come on.

The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. Please see our terms of service for more details

Get an instant quote for your car

Our certified mechanics come to you ・Backed by 12-month, 12,000-mile guarantee・Fair and transparent pricing


Experienced Mechanic?

Earn up to $70/hr

What others are asking

Problems with keyless start
With problems that are intermittent, it can be tricky to diagnose them. There is a common issue with these cars though, which is a failed brake light switch. This is the switch that indicates when you have applied the brake...
The only way I can deactivate the alarm at this moment is by turning on the car.
Hello, thanks for writing in to YourMechanic. Most cars support a "reset" mode for the alarm that works as follows: close all doors and lock the car with the key in the drivers door. After 2-3 minutes, unlock the driver...
Car chugs when AC is on at a stoplight - 2005 Chrysler PT Cruiser
Hello - there may be a problem with your idle air control valve (.https://www.yourmechanic.com/article/symptoms-of-a-bad-or-failing-idle-control-valve). Its job is to bump up engine idle when there is an additional load on the engine, such as the AC compressor. Other possibilities include a...
Valve body solenoids
Hi there. Once a solenoid has been installed in a vehicle, it is linked with the ECU of that particular vehicle. So, in this case, the mechanics you've spoken to would be correct. The best solution here is to purchase...
Car is jerking at 45-50 then vibrates at 50 and jerks again 50-55 then drives smooth at 60 mph and in reverse jerks sometimes
What you are describing may be a result of a faulty speed sensor, potentially low transmission fluid (https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/transmission-fluid-service) or a even a faulty transmission control solenoid. As your vehicle travels down the road, the computer analyzes data being sent by...
Hesitating reversing and over 50 trans light comes on in drive
If you have a transmission fluid dipstick, check the fluid level. If there is no dipstick, view the bottom of the transmission case and output shafts and see if there are any obvious big leaks. Inadequate fluid is one cause...

Related articles

A Buyer’s Guide to the 2012 Toyota Camry
America’s America’s best-selling passenger car for over a decade, the Toyota Camry is highly reliable, comfortable, and gets great gas mileage. It’s now available in a four- or six-cylinder engine, as well as a hybrid option, and it continues to...
The Best Used Cars to Buy If You're a Mobile Housekeeper
If If you are a mobile housekeeper, chances are that you are looking for a small, reliable used vehicle that offers good gas mileage and enough space to store your supplies. With that in mind, we present to you the...
How to Use Intelligent Parking Assist in a Toyota Prius
The The Toyota Prius is an innovative vehicle packed with features that make your driving experience smoother and easier. One such feature is the Intelligent Parking Assist which helps a driver to properly center the Prius in a parking spot....