Please Help Astra J 1.6T A16LET

[Grant533]

So, a few months back I went out to the car, first cold morning. My car turned over and fired up but then cut out.

It then just clicked once and wouldn't fire up?

I tried to jump start it and it turned over a few times and nothing. So had the battery replaced (the battery was knackered) still one click. So had the starter motor sorted. Still one click?

Disconnected coil pack and it still clicked once unplugged? Would this make a difference?

Any ideas anyone?

Astra J 1.6T A16LET engine ??

Thanks in advance.

Edited by Grant533 on Tuesday 5th January 17:16

[GreenV8S]

You're saying you have a new battery and 'sorted' starter motor and when you try to crank the engnie over you just get a click?

I would investigate whether the starter motor solenoid is receiving power from the starter switch. If it is, you have a starter motor problem. If it isn't, you have an electrical problem on the starter circuit - maybe an alarm/immobiliser in the circuit that got upset due to the low battery.

[Grant533]

Hi, thanks for the reply, the solenoid is on the starter motor, had the battery replaced as well as the starter. One click and if held in start position another click. That's it.

Won't bump or jump start

[paintman]

Try & turn the engine by hand to make sure it isn't seized or some mechanical reason - snapped cam belt - is preventing it turning.

[spikeyhead]

If the engine will turn by hand, use a multimeter to check you're getting volts to the starter motor

[E-bmw]

Check all of the high power cables/connections in the charge/start/battery/earth circuits as if ANY one of them isn't 100% perfect a high resistance joint will cause exactly what you describe.

Remove, clean & tighten correctly all of the above.

[Grant533]

Thank you, where would I even start??

[Grant533]

E-bmw said:

Check all of the high power cables/connections in the charge/start/battery/earth circuits as if ANY one of them isn't 100% perfect a high resistance joint will cause exactly what you describe.

Remove, clean & tighten correctly all of the above.

Thanks, where would I even start? It was all running fine. It started and just cut out? Now won't start again won't jump or bump. When I had the starter changed they said they tried to turn engine by hand but wasn't budging? Can an engine sieze out of nowhere?

[catman]

There can be several things that can stop an engine like this. A broken cambelt is one, and mechanical failure is another.

I had a Passat years ago, that dropped a valve. That stopped it pretty fast! The valve head ended up embedded in a piston and jammed the engine.

[E-bmw]

Grant533 said:

Thanks, where would I even start?

As I said battery black & red leads, remove, clean, retighten, alternator big red lead, remove, check, clean & retighten, starter big red lead, remove, check, clean & retighten, engine earth connection, remove, check, clean & retighten.

Obviously taking care not to drop a red lead to earth/chassis or vice versa.

Grant533 said:

When I had the starter changed they said they tried to turn engine by hand but wasn't budging? Can an engine sieze out of nowhere?

That would have been helpful to know earlier.

How did they try?

Is the replacement starter new? Was it tested before fitting? Has it been fitted correctly? Was the replacement battery new? Was it fully charged?

[Grant533]

E-bmw said:

Grant533 said:

Thanks, where would I even start?

As I said battery black & red leads, remove, clean, retighten, alternator big red lead, remove, check, clean & retighten, starter big red lead, remove, check, clean & retighten, engine earth connection, remove, check, clean & retighten.

Obviously taking care not to drop a red lead to earth/chassis or vice versa.

Grant533 said:

When I had the starter changed they said they tried to turn engine by hand but wasn't budging? Can an engine sieze out of nowhere?

That would have been helpful to know earlier.

How did they try?

Is the replacement starter new? Was it tested before fitting? Has it been fitted correctly? Was the replacement battery new? Was it fully charged?

The starter was new and they said starter wasn't the problem and that the old one was ok too. Battery was brand new too.

I believe they tried it by hand/breaker bar.

However another person said that the belt moves slightly when rocked back and forth in gear

[catman]

If the engine won't turn by hand when in neutral, then it's a mechanical fault, not an electrical one.