Car wont start - Thoughts?
Discussion
Hi guys,
My Eunos wont start, and whilst waiting for the recovery man I thought I'd pick some brains.
The battery is about 2 months old, all the electrics work with no issues. It's not the immobiliser, as using a different key it wont even turn over. I try to start the car, I can hear it clicking like it's trying to start, but it wont catch.
It's done this before once, and I pushed it a few feet then tried it and it worked. Just tried doing the same now pushing it up the road but it didn't make a difference (I've been told the wet cell batteries don't allow you to jump start them anyway)
Any thoughts what it could be?
Ta.
My Eunos wont start, and whilst waiting for the recovery man I thought I'd pick some brains.
The battery is about 2 months old, all the electrics work with no issues. It's not the immobiliser, as using a different key it wont even turn over. I try to start the car, I can hear it clicking like it's trying to start, but it wont catch.
It's done this before once, and I pushed it a few feet then tried it and it worked. Just tried doing the same now pushing it up the road but it didn't make a difference (I've been told the wet cell batteries don't allow you to jump start them anyway)
Any thoughts what it could be?
Ta.
Sounds like the clicking could be the starter solenoid. Are you sure you've not left an interior light on or something that may have drained the battery?
Try starting the car with the headlights on, if they dim noticeably, it's the battery. There may be enough juice in the battery to run your electrics but not to start the car.
Otherwise try giving the body of the starter motor a few sharp taps with a hammer.
Try starting the car with the headlights on, if they dim noticeably, it's the battery. There may be enough juice in the battery to run your electrics but not to start the car.
Otherwise try giving the body of the starter motor a few sharp taps with a hammer.
Edited by IROC-Z on Saturday 8th October 15:07
IROC-Z said:
Sounds like the clicking could be the starter solenoid. Are you sure you've not left an interior light on or something that may have drained the battery?
Otherwise try giving the body of the starter motor a few sharp raps with a hammer.
Hammering the starter motor is a good idea! I've not left any lights on, I have done two short journeys in it today, just turning it round whilst I jack it up to adjust the suspension. But the battery shouldn't be dead it was brand new 2 months ago?!Otherwise try giving the body of the starter motor a few sharp raps with a hammer.
Riknos said:
Hammering the starter motor is a good idea! I've not left any lights on, I have done two short journeys in it today, just turning it round whilst I jack it up to adjust the suspension. But the battery shouldn't be dead it was brand new 2 months ago?!
Curious! 
Have you got any means to test the battery, i.e. a multimeter? I know it's almost brand new but that doesn't mean it could be faulty, especially if it's recently been changed and now you've got starting issues. I'd give the starter a whack and see if that does anything!
ked. Scrap it. Starter might have seized
Battery might be new, but as mentioned, could be either a short draining it or the alternator's kaboshed.
Multimeter on the battery should read around 12.6V when the car's off, and when running should read around 13.8 - 14.4V if the alternator's ok.
Anything under 13V or so when the engine's running, the alternator's had it - usually the brushes / volt regulator pack has gone and needs replacing (if it's a seperate part that can be changed), if not it's a new alternator.
Battery might be new, but as mentioned, could be either a short draining it or the alternator's kaboshed.
Multimeter on the battery should read around 12.6V when the car's off, and when running should read around 13.8 - 14.4V if the alternator's ok.
Anything under 13V or so when the engine's running, the alternator's had it - usually the brushes / volt regulator pack has gone and needs replacing (if it's a seperate part that can be changed), if not it's a new alternator.
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