Help! Wont start

[chimhunter]

Got in the car today to take the GF into town, and the car wouldn't start. The fuel pump kicked in as normal, but when I twisted the key all I got was a lous, fast clicking noise. All of the dash lights turned off each time it clicked, and then came back on a split second later. The battery and MIL light lit up as well.

First thoughts were a relay or solenoid or something but I'm at a loss. Any ideas? Hopefully its not serious...

Rob

[dlewis]

Battery power/condition?

[chimhunter]

I went out for a good run on Wednesday so it should have been tip top. The fuel pump primed with no problem and the alarm was fine. I've had an almost flat battery before and then it primed but wouldn't crank. The is definitely different. Keep the ideas coming...

Rob

[david beer]

How long was the run ? The "take" from the battery on start up, will take around 30 mins to replace. There is also the alternator fuse to check out, you know the one, in the most awful place, in all the muck under the car.

[tallbloke]

Sounds like a bad earth. Test to see if this is the problem by running a jumplead direct from the battery negative pole to the engine near the starter motor.
If so try cleaning the contact patches on the braided strap running from the engine to the chassis.

[Podie]

Sounds like a knackered abttery to me.

Turn the light on, and then try starting it. If they dim, yer battery is knackered... if not, it's a sticking starter, so give it a sharp tap and try again.

[peter miller]

If a battery is going to fail to turn over the engine, It will most probably happen on a cold day like today, so I would check the obvious first, and give it a good overnight charge to see if it helps.
The other thing to be aware of is a cell can fail instantly, and although being able to perform low power tasks, eg dash lights fuel pump etc, it would not be able to generate the amperage to turn over a cold engine.

[stevejcompton]

Check the fuse link to the starter, similar type of thing happened to my Chim today, the link had broken. Perhaps its the season for these things to break!

[T88CAN]

Podie said:

Sounds like a knackered abttery to me.

High speed clicking with dimming lights when churning over, if you carry on trying it will eventually flaten the battery completly

[peter miller]

If a battery is going to fail to turn over the engine, It will most probably happen on a cold day like today, so I would check the obvious first, and give it a good overnight charge to see if it helps.
The other thing to be aware of is a cell can fail instantly, and although being able to perform low power tasks, eg dash lights fuel pump etc, it would not be able to generate the amperage to turn over a cold engine.

[M@H]

T88CAN said:

Podie said: Sounds like a knackered abttery to me. High speed clicking with dimming lights when churning over.

Ditto.. BTDT.

Cheers
Matt

[chimhunter]

Bugger. Thanks guys. Might get down to Halfords and get them to swap it on my behalf. I'll try jump starting it first just to confirm.

Rob