CAR WONT START - ONE CLICK

[Grant533]

Evening all!
I’m BACK! YAY! Astra J 1.6 Turbo A16LET
After my car being sat a few months I’ve decided to try and Get it sorted this summer!

So In January my car would not start. I get one click.Called RAC we managed to bump It. But completely drained the battery when driving. So was diagnosed as alternator/starter motor.

had startermotor done but not a original part ??

and got a second hand (tested and working alternator)

car still one click….but would still bump. Car ran for 30 mins completely dead battery (new)

could it be the starter motor? What else could this possibly be? Will bump and run fine? But drains straight from battery and still won’t start itself?
Any ideas welcome please and TIA

So car won’t start, had starter, alternator and new battery. Will bump start but only runs from battery

kind regards,
Grant

[spikeyhead]

Do you own a multimeter and know how to use it?

[Order66]

Need to do the basics - what's the voltage across the battery before trying to start, and if you bump start it, what is it when running?

Could be the windings in the starter have failed and shorting to each other/groud, but if the battery is new and going flat after running for 30 mins I'd suggest the alternator is the issue - need to test voltage across the battery to be sure.

[Monkeylegend]

I would check the battery earth first, make sure it is nice and clean and nice and tight. A bit of grease on the connections will help.

If not could be the starter solenoid.

After you have checked battery health of course.

[Grant533]

Cleaned up all earths and brushed them so they have no corrosion on, still nothing?

Also done the jump to engine mount to earth it but still nothing

[Monkeylegend]

Probably a new battery then.

My son had the exact same on his van a few months ago, sorted with a new battery.

[spikeyhead]

What voltages have you got where?

[paintman]

Start by fully charging the battery with a battery charger.

Bump starting with a flat battery & driving around for half an hour will do precisely f.all as far as charging your battery is concerned.

[Grant533]

paintman said:

Start by fully charging the battery with a battery charger.

Bump starting with a flat battery & driving around for half an hour will do precisely f.all as far as charging your battery is concerned.

Was a brand new battery at 100 percent and on trying to start still just one click? Bumped and died after 30 mins so not charging at all?

[paintman]

Suggests either the battery was already flat - never assume that a brand new one is fully charged - or there are issues with the vehicle's charging circuit.

A proper diagnostic with vehicle specific kit (as opposed to a cheapie code reader) would be the next step.

[spikeyhead]

I'd start with a multimeter and some nous

[Penelope Stopit]

As above

Multimeter will find the fault/faults

[dickymint]

parasitic drain? you need a multi-meter and/or clamp meter.

[Grant533]

dickymint said:

parasitic drain? you need a multi-meter and/or clamp meter.

Thanks,

Any idea on where to start? What to look For?

What to do? 😂