Car wont start

[Cotty]

Its been left standing for a week which is not unusual but never had a problem before.

So I turned off the imobiliser put the key in and turned, dash lights come on and then turn the key a bit more and nothing, not even a click. The radio works.

What do you recon…..battery?

Must admit that I was ragging it a bit last time I took it out so could have shaken something loose, especially with the new hard suspension

Help

[Globulator]

Do the lights stay on when the key is fully turned (starter engaged posn)?
Have you checked all of the fuses?

If none of the above, check the engine is earthed well, then measure the voltage on the start solenoid signal wire when the key is turned.

[Ant]

Check the inhibit switch paul, try her in park and neutral mate

any chance the battery has gone flat dude ?

[Cotty]

Do the lights stay on when the key is fully turned (starter engaged posn)?
Have you checked all of the fuses?.

Yes the lights stay on when the key is fully turned. All fuses are good

If none of the above, check the engine is earthed well, then measure the voltage on the start solenoid signal wire when the key is turned.

I havent got anything to test that with. I dont have a lot of tools/kit

Check the inhibit switch paul, try her in park and neutral mate

any chance the battery has gone flat dude ?

Where is the inhibit switch?

I have put the battery on charge and see if that will help

[Cotty]

Im gutted as I really wanted to go to Billing

Three years and never a problem starting then as soon as there is a big meet to go to it throws a wobbler

[Cotty]

Well battery was on charge for an hour, put the leads back one and she cranked into life on the first go. Strange

[Globulator]

Glad it got going! Cound be a dodgy connection or solenoid. Go to Maplins and splash out the £5 on a digital multimeter - so you're ready for next time - go on, you know you want to

[Cotty]

Glad it got going! Cound be a dodgy connection or solenoid. Go to Maplins and splash out the £5 on a digital multimeter - so you're ready for next time - go on, you know you want to

I have never used a multimeter, do they come with instructions and are they easy to use.

I must admit that electrics are not my strong point. I have put a reasonable sized stereo in my old 316, head unit, pair of 2 ways, pair of 3 ways, tweeters, amp, crossover and bass tube, I understand how things go together but my problem is not understanding faults and how to trace them.

The worry is that it could happen again.

Cheers,

[Brianmoooore]

Shorting together pins 11 and 14 of the diagnostic socket will (should) engage the starter motor, regardless of whether the ignition is on or not, or the car is in P on autos.

[Cotty]

Well I got up early, had a bath, got my gear together, remembered my camera, went out to the car and its dead again.

By the time I disconnect the battery, charge it up and put it back on will make me to late too make billing

[mrLEE30]

mate seems quite obvious the battery is the problem, you may have damaged one of the cells inside on your last drive by cracking a plate etc etc (not impossible on a car with hard suspension) and now this is why it will hold charge for an hour but no longer. This is unrepairable (although i have seen some of the backstreet workshops here do it!) and you will need a new battery. note your battery rating (i think 75-90Amp/hours) and on which side the positive and negative terminal is and grab a new one, should solve all your problems.


worth also noting that once a car battery goes flat for any period of time (i.e. a week) they very rarely will hold charge again due to oxidisation etc on the internal parts.


mrlee

[Cotty]

Getting a new battery will be a bit of a pain as I have no other transport. Will have to get a bus to Halfords or would it be worth trying a dealer.

Not sure the battery will come out easy as the strut brace looks to be in the way

[Brianmoooore]

Well I got up early, had a bath, got my gear together, remembered my camera, went out to the car and its dead again.

By the time I disconnect the battery, charge it up and put it back on will make me to late too make billing

OP said radio stayed on when you tried to start it?
What happens now if you turn the key with the radio on?
Is radio affected? Do dash lights go out?

[Globulator]

I have never used a multimeter, do they come with instructions and are they easy to use.

Get one and have a play with it - it's the best way to learn.
Think the analogy with water pipes - Voltage(volts) = pressure (potential), current(amps) = speed (flow).
A diode = a one way valve.
A voltage regulator = a water pressure regulator.
Too much current makes wires hot and fuses blow, too much voltage makes sparks. Stay away from anything over 50v.
Measuring a car battery with the V (voltage) scale should be 13.8 or thereabouts for a happy battery - in theory about 12V.
Measuring a car battery with the A (current) scale will fry the multimeter and smoke your leads, or blow a fuse in the unit.
Car batteries are high power items. They are low on volts (12) but high on current (600+). Power(watts) = volts x amps. Therefore a 24W lamp will use A = P / V = 2 Amps.
Another useful equation is: resistance(ohms) = volts / amps. Not everything has linear resistance - hence electronics are born...

Easy - see

[Cotty]

Well I got up early, had a bath, got my gear together, remembered my camera, went out to the car and its dead again.

OP said radio stayed on when you tried to start it?
What happens now if you turn the key with the radio on?
Is radio affected? Do dash lights go out?

Just been having another go and if I try to start it with the radio on the sound breaks up then stops (silence) the radio lights dim slightly.

When the key is fully turned the dash lights stay on but dim a little. The iluminated symbols above the light switch/knob go out when the key is fully turned.

[Brianmoooore]

Turn the ignition on, wait a minute or so, and see if anything around the battery leads and their connections is getting hot, indicating a poor connection.
Doubt if you will find anything, though. Sounds like the battery is flat.
Next thing will be to find out if it's died, or something is draining it.
Check the boot light!

[Cotty]

Check the boot light!

I dont think I can open the boot in the garage, if I push it forward there is a slope so not sure I would be able to get it back in after

[Cotty]

There looks like a bit of dirty water around one of the (dam what do you call those things you unscrew to top up the battery fluid). Not sure if something leaked onto it, unlikey. So wonder if the battery is leaking

[Cotty]

Well I think I need a new battery, my question now is do you think I will need to take the strut brace off to get the old one out.

This isnt my car (pic nicked from the Zone Shop) but I have the same brace

[Cotty]

Tried a couple of things then realized I have home start on my AA cover so called them out this morning. He checked it over and declared the battery was well and truly dead. The good news is there is nothing draining so when the new battery goes on it should be fine.

Just walked to the car shop and got a bus back with the battery, just having a cup of tea before fitting it.

Oh and I don't need to get the strut brace out of the way, the battery just about squeezes through

[Globulator]

Good to hear it is sorted. Still cover the bootlid switch to push it in another 2-3mm - it can kill batteries.

[Brianmoooore]

. Still cover the bootlid switch to push it in another 2-3mm.

OR ADJUST THE BOOTLID CATCH!