• A TR Group Site
  • Help
  • Cart
Driving Tests DT logo small
Driving tests
  • Learner licence
    • Car
    • Motorbike
    • Heavy vehicle
    • Learner Licence Plus
  • Courses
  • Tourist
  • Resources
  • Learn
  • Resources
  • Learner licence
    • Car
    • Motorbike
    • Heavy Vehicle
    • Learner Licence Plus
  • Your courses
    • Enrolled courses
  • View all courses
  • Tourist
  • Resources home
  • iOS application
  • Android application
  • Contact us
  • Terms and conditions
  • Privacy
  • Home
  • /
  • Resources
  • /
  • Advice
  • / My car ignition turns over but it won’t start. Is it flooded?

My car ignition turns over but it won’t start. Is it flooded?

You’ve moved your car a couple of metres into your car port or garage, turned off the engine after a few seconds and now it won’t start again – it just turns over without firing. Don’t keep trying to start it – it’s almost certainly flooded, and pumping more fuel into it will just make it worse.

When your engine is flooded it means that there’s too much petrol and not enough oxygen in the engine. This makes the spark plugs wet and they won’t ignite the fuel.

If you’ve only just moved your car a few metres, it’s very common that it won’t start immediately. If you have left it sitting for a while, then it may be OK as the excess fuel could have evaporated. If not, you may need to have the car towed to a garage to clean the spark plugs (or you can do it yourself if you know how and have the right tools – usually a socket set and some spark plug cleaning fluid). In some cases you may need to replace the spark plugs.

If you don't know what the spark plugs are in this image, you probably should ask someone else to clean them

If you don’t know what the spark plugs are in this image, you probably should ask someone else to clean them

You may need to clean your spark plugs if you have flooded your engine

This is what they look like when they’re out of the engine block.

If you do need to move your car a short distance, let it idle for a minute or two in order to burn up the excess fuel and reduce the risk of flooding.

How to get your car started if it’s flooded

This method usually works: push the accelerator to the floor to get as much air into the engine as possible then crank the engine. It might take 10 seconds of turning over before it fires, and it could be lumpy for 10 or more seconds afterwards while the air/fuel ratio levels out.

This might not work in some modern cars if they have electronic throttle control, in which case you’ll need to contact your mechanic.

By Darren Cottingham

Darren has written over 3000 articles about driving and vehicles, plus almost 500 vehicle reviews and numerous driving courses. Connect with him on LinkedIn by clicking the name above

‹ What does fleet management software do?
Advantages of air suspension ›
Posted in Advice
  • DisqusDisqus
Recent Resources
  • How to Choose the Right EWP for Your Project: A Comprehensive Guide
  • Pre-Operational Inspection Checklist for Gantry Crane Operators
  • The Importance of Harness Systems When Working on Boom Lifts
  • Safety Procedures for Working Near Power Lines with EWPs
  • How do you plan efficient dig patterns?
  • Common Gantry Crane Accidents and How to Prevent Them
  • What are heavy machine operation modes?
  • How do you excavate around tree roots?
  • Training Requirements for Gantry Crane Operators in New Zealand
  • Why do fibre optic cables need extra care when excavating?

Licences and Courses

  • Car
  • Motorbike
  • Heavy Vehicles
Car
  • Core
  • Behaviour
  • Parking
  • Emergencies
  • Road position
  • Intersection
  • Theory
  • Signs
Motorbike
  • Bike-specific questions
  • Core
  • Behaviour
  • Parking
  • Emergencies
  • Road position
  • Intersection
  • Theory
  • Signs
Heavy Vehicles
  • Class 2
  • Class 3-5
  • Core
  • Behaviour
  • Parking
  • Emergencies
  • Road position
  • Intersection
  • Theory
  • Signs

Vehicle and workplace training

  • About
  • Resources
DT Driver Training TR Group
About
  • About us
  • Contact us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms and Conditions
Resources
  • Homepage
  • Driving Tests Android App
  • Driving Tests iPhone App
  • Getting your learner licence
DT Driver Training TR Group
Copyright 2010-2025 DT Driver Training Ltd, PO Box 12541, Penrose, Auckland, 1642. All rights reserved. Questions and images are used with permission from NZTA; question answers are proprietary.