Bugger - won't start

[aussiebeano]

Just got back from 3 weeks away and went to start the pride and joy, but she won''t go. Car is an 04 111R.

Plenty of battery power to the cabin fan, radio, etc - even the headlights work nice and bright. When I turn the key I can hear what i guess is the fuel pump starting, when I go to actually start the engine, I get a "clack, clack, clack" noise from the starter and the dash lights flash on and off. No hint of the engine even firing. When I take out the keys, speedo and tacho are reading about 1 centimeter above the zero mark.

Appreciate any help.

[island s2]

exactly the same thing happened to me last week (car is an 04 exige btw). There is not enough power to run the starter motor. Jump start it and take it for a decent run to charge the battery.

Regarding the dials, you just need to reset them. Think the technique is something like open the driver door, press & hold reset button & turn ignition on with door still open or something along those lines.....hopefully someone can clarify but it worked ok for mine & the needles reset themselves.

Good luck

[LivinLaVidaLotus]

Will need jumping, no way it's going to start after 3 weeks I'm afraid, not with the relatively low capacity batteries in them. Just make sure you've not flooded it, else it'll be an arse to start. I ended up replacing my battery with a Bosch Silver Top of a lot higher capacity (and better resistance to deep cycling) for £45 inc. VAT.

[aussiebeano]

thanks guys - have a charger coming tomorrow from a mate and will get it on an overnight charge. Wife thinks its very funny as hers started 1st go.... Will see what happens with the dials and do the reset procedure in the handbook if needed

cheers
antony

[F.C.]

Stack re-set procedure.
Turn off the ignition
Open the driver's door
Press and hold the trip-meter reset button
Whilst still holding the reset button turn the key in the ignition to the second position.
HTH
F.C.

[jondude]

If you have flooded the engine, the procedure for clearing is to hold the accelerator/gas pedal to the floor.....then crank. The fully down position cuts off the fuel flow and she should splutter into life.

The reason your wife's car started is probably just down to the battery in her car being younger, or more cared for. ( The best care is using the battery - get out and drive more, especially long trips! )

[bencollins]

summer in Aus, jammy sod! solar trickle charger

[aussiebeano]

bencollins said:

summer in Aus, jammy sod! solar trickle charger

it was tough in Oz at xmas - flies, sunburn, low prices. So tough that spent the last week in Thailand...

btw - car started up without the charger at all.

[MilnerR]

Put a trickle charger on it, I had exactly the same thing happen to mine, I jump started off my Impreza and ran it for a while but I don't think the battery gets a huge amount of charge from this if it's very low, I got a trickle charge for about 40 quid and it's been fine ever since. It also means that I know everything is going to be ok next time I start it.