Car won't start!
Discussion
Hi all, picked up my car yesterday and all well until tried to start it this morning after leaving it for the night in a hotel car park and - nothing! Lights all working so battery not flat. Oil warning and handbrake warning light on dashboard when ignition on, but no battery light. Just a click from the starter solenoid when I press the starter button. Eventually got going with the help of the AA by bump starting the car. Had to stop for petrol later and same thing happens - no joy starting. Waiting for the AA again now - anyone got any ideas??
Cheers
James
Cheers
James
steveobes said:
Had this with mine,light working but would not turn over,turned out was battery.
ok for lights but nowhere near enough power for starter moter to work.
need to jack up car remove panel about 20 screws take out battery from underneath car
You need to jack the car up, but, what 20 screws ?ok for lights but nowhere near enough power for starter moter to work.
need to jack up car remove panel about 20 screws take out battery from underneath car
One thing to bear in mine; if the car has been stored a long while then the battery could well have fully discharged and that could kill it, especially in the cold weather. Another thing is that if it's been stored but has had a trickle charger on it; this can mask the problem of a dead battery. When I bought mine ( from a dealer ) I had just that very thing happen. The next day the battery was dead and it needed a new one.
I made it home after a couple more bump starts ! Having to stop for fuel was a pain!
So, I have tried jump starting it from a booster pack and still no luck. Just the same clicking but not turning over.
AA man tried to jump start it as well and he thought the starter motor had given up the ghost. Is this likely ?
Rocking in gear and giving the starter motor a bit of friendly encouragement with heavy metal pole made no difference.
thanks !
So, I have tried jump starting it from a booster pack and still no luck. Just the same clicking but not turning over.
AA man tried to jump start it as well and he thought the starter motor had given up the ghost. Is this likely ?
Rocking in gear and giving the starter motor a bit of friendly encouragement with heavy metal pole made no difference.
thanks !
snuffy said:
You need to jack the car up, but, what 20 screws ?
One thing to bear in mine; if the car has been stored a long while then the battery could well have fully discharged and that could kill it, especially in the cold weather. Another thing is that if it's been stored but has had a trickle charger on it; this can mask the problem of a dead battery. When I bought mine ( from a dealer ) I had just that very thing happen. The next day the battery was dead and it needed a new one.
The panel where you get access to battery which is under car from what i can remember has aboutOne thing to bear in mine; if the car has been stored a long while then the battery could well have fully discharged and that could kill it, especially in the cold weather. Another thing is that if it's been stored but has had a trickle charger on it; this can mask the problem of a dead battery. When I bought mine ( from a dealer ) I had just that very thing happen. The next day the battery was dead and it needed a new one.
20 self tapping screws,bloody pain as iv done this on the side of road when my battery died
Do you mean the panel that is in the wheel arch ? That is indeed held on with self tappers but you dont need to take it out to change the battery, but I agree it's easier if you do.
All you need to do is undo the bar that holds the battery in place, then turn it though 90 degrees and drop it down thought the hole - that's the easy bit !! Then comes the hard part of getting the new one back up though the hole !
All you need to do is undo the bar that holds the battery in place, then turn it though 90 degrees and drop it down thought the hole - that's the easy bit !! Then comes the hard part of getting the new one back up though the hole !
Starter motor from ford probably wont fit... its a very specific one that needs to clear the petrol tank... basically the same but with the solonoid cantered to one side rather than on top.
Im also in favour of it being the battery... when my battery failed even putting a jumper pack wouldnt turn the bloody thing over... once the battery goes flat its going to always die overnight in my experience.
I had years of it starting every time on the button even after a couple of weeks being left etc... battery went flat one time and it played around as you describe until i fitted new battery.
Im also in favour of it being the battery... when my battery failed even putting a jumper pack wouldnt turn the bloody thing over... once the battery goes flat its going to always die overnight in my experience.
I had years of it starting every time on the button even after a couple of weeks being left etc... battery went flat one time and it played around as you describe until i fitted new battery.
Battery is easier to replace than starter motor, but if the battery was fine the day before and you only left it overnight, I'd still bet my £1 that it is the starter motor! Usually they will 'free' up temporarily by rocking the car in gear, but when truly knackered they won't. In fairness to the bloke you got it from, if he knew the battery/starter motor was duff there isn't any way he could ensure you would effortlessly drive away away when you brought it. So chances are he wouldn't have known about it either. Just one of those things 
Let us know how you get on.
Let us know how you get on.
The points go to RobP on that one
, nice bit of fault diagnostics there.Ok here is another one for you, i am taking my car to the auto electrician tommorrow to find out what is going on, but the problem is that my car is eating batteries, i assume due to not recharging, if i start the car and leave it on tickover, after about 1 hour the battery is flat and the engine dies, the car can not be restarted until i put another fully charged battery on.
What do you think is going to be found as causing the problem?
If you have not got the dashboard ignition light connected then the alternator doersn't charge the battery, I know this as I did a similar thing but went out at night in the p***ing rain, broke down, got towed home and the tow car pulled part of the front of my car off. Also, LED lights on their own do not allow it to charge, you still need the original lamp to complete the circuit.
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