Car won't start after winter layup.

Car won't start after winter layup.

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562303dan

Original Poster:

14 posts

151 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Hi,

Pretty infrequent poster on here, but a bit stumped so thought I'd trawl the hive mind for information...

I own a 1.6 K series Caterham, which due to work and weather related issues I've had laid up in the garage since late September. I had disconnected the battery but everything was working fine before I did so.

Now I have come to reconnect everything back up again to get it back on the road for Easter. All seemed fine, the immobiliser light comes on and the lights etc all work as they should. Clicking the fob turns the immobiliser light off as I would expect on start up and the fuel pump primes when I turn the ignition the first click.

HOWEVER, when I then come to try and actually start up, there is a really loud clicking coming from what seems to be down by the starter motor (multiple loud, rapid clicks, not just a single click and stop). There is no turn over, just the alarming noise. Additionally, there is a high pitched electrical whine coming from somewhere, which I couldn't quite put my finger on but which indicated current was being drawn from somewhere. I've given up on it for the night as my garage is crap, down the road and has no power, so I can't see any more; to that end I've just reconnected the battery to avoid draining the battery overnight before turning to the internet for some idea of what is going on (which I haven't been able to find, hence this post), before looking at it again in the morning.

I should mention that over the winter I got a new battery and I have checked the terminals and it has a full charge, so I don't think it is that. My assumption is that there must be some sort of immobiliser issue, however what is happening is significantly different to what happens when I have tried to turn the car on whilst immobilised in the past (where it sort of turns over for half a second before cutting out).

As it was only me down at the garage at the time I couldn't manage to press the starter button and get my head down to the front end of the car for a better look/ hear of what was going on around the alternator/ starter; I'll get some one else down tomorrow but I'm pretty clear that the loud noise is coming from that area.

Electrical stuff is not really my thing, but I'm clear there is some sort of weird electrical problems present; I'm buggered if I know what to do about it though.

Anyone got any ideas? Am I missing something obvious?

Tango7

687 posts

225 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Sounds like the battery hasn't got enough juice in it. Try jump starting it from another (running)car and see if that resolves it. Also make sure that the terminals are clean and tight esp the earth connection.

GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
sounds like the starter is jammed - give it a thump with a rubber hammer (or other large heavy implement) - k series starters are notorious for this....

562303dan

Original Poster:

14 posts

151 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Cheers. I think that the battery is OK, although TBF I have not tried to jump it yet. The old battery was often dying and the sounds that I'm getting now are quite different to what it sounded like when trying to start with a low battery before (then it would sort of half click and then die; this is more like a very aggressive clacking which it seems would go on for as long as I have the ignition pressed).

That said the only thing I have changed is the battery, so makes sense that there could be something in that. I'll give it some more juice in the morning.

562303dan

Original Poster:

14 posts

151 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
And if all else fails I'll hit it with a hammer!

GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
562303dan said:
And if all else fails I'll hit it with a hammer!
I "fixed" another K-series with starter issues using the same method at the weeekend biggrin

If that doesn't work push start it, chances are once you get it running the heat and stuff moving will free off the sticking starter. The clicking noise is more than likely the solenoid in the starter trying to do its stuff.

rubystone

11,252 posts

258 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
I'd bet your (banner?) battery is fked. Only takes one cell to go down on a Banner and its toast. The high pitched whir/electrical whine sounds like like a battery related issue not starter motor.

Moulder

1,463 posts

211 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
GreigM said:
sounds like the starter is jammed - give it a thump with a rubber hammer (or other large heavy implement) - k series starters are notorious for this....
I would go with this as well, symptoms exactly the same as when mine was jammed. For a slightly more elegant fix the starter can be taken out from the top, stripped/greased, and put back in in a couple of hours. The hammer fix risks getting it going but leaving you stranded at the petrol station, pub, etc.

fergus

6,430 posts

274 months

Friday 27th March 2015
quotequote all
Moulder said:
GreigM said:
sounds like the starter is jammed - give it a thump with a rubber hammer (or other large heavy implement) - k series starters are notorious for this....
I would go with this as well, symptoms exactly the same as when mine was jammed. For a slightly more elegant fix the starter can be taken out from the top, stripped/greased, and put back in in a couple of hours. The hammer fix risks getting it going but leaving you stranded at the petrol station, pub, etc.
Not if you take the hammer with you...scratchchin

Gingerbread Man

9,171 posts

212 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
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After shipping my car, I had to bump it to get it going as one company had left the battery isolator switch on.

Pressing the starter button made a racket from the starter motor but no attempt to turn the engine over. Hooking some jump leads up to another car and it fired right up. I have since put the battery on a battery charger and all is now fine. I'd try the battery.


GreigM

6,726 posts

248 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
Moulder said:
I would go with this as well, symptoms exactly the same as when mine was jammed. For a slightly more elegant fix the starter can be taken out from the top, stripped/greased, and put back in in a couple of hours. The hammer fix risks getting it going but leaving you stranded at the petrol station, pub, etc.
indeed, didn't really mean it as a long-term solution, just gets you going and lets you know where the issues is....if its started to stick it will stick again

562303dan

Original Poster:

14 posts

151 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
Well I went for a slightly unscientific option and both jump started it and gave the starter a bit of a whack with a hammer. Started up no issues, so not 100% sure what the problem was, but it seems to start on its own now so happy in the short term. I'll keep the hammer handy for now and IDC once we've got the house move sorted I'll take off the starter for a look.

Thanks all!

downsman

1,099 posts

155 months

Saturday 28th March 2015
quotequote all
I think you can be sure it is the starter at fault from the sound of it.
Hopefully, once the car has had some use it will be OK, but if it keeps playing up replace it.

texr2000

59 posts

108 months

Wednesday 1st April 2015
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Normally multiple click is the battery being to weak (batter fault or flat), one click is a jammed starter (starter fault)
Or could be corrosion on the main earth or lives meaning your not getting full amps from battery to starter and back