Help - my car won't start either!

adisciple

I'll apologise in advance for being completely thick about cars - I normally just get in and drive it, everything else the garage does - so please be gentle with me!:o

The engine started briefly then died. I stopped waited and tried again but all I got was a clicking sound - coming from the door locks not the engine. Stopped and tried again a few times. I got a bit of noise out of the engine once but the rest of the time it just set the door locks off.

Any ideas anyone? It could be something to do with the fact that there is about 4 inches of snow on the bonnet and I don't even know what antifreeze is let alone ever used it - is this likely to be the problem?

The car hasn't been used for about 4 days either which probably hasn't helped.

Any advice much appreciated!

Hintza

Flat battery and when u started it the first time too many electrical items running (heater fan, demister etc).

Get it jump started and and drive it for a while with minimal electric draw and hopefully that might help.

How old is battery? Get it changed (alternator might need checked first)

adisciple

I've had the car about 5 years and don't remember ever changing the battery. If the battery is dead would it be possible to get it jump started and then drive to halfords to get a new one or does a dead battery mean it's well and truely gone?

harz99

adisciple wrote: »

I've had the car about 5 years and don't remember ever changing the battery. If the battery is dead would it be possible to get it jump started and then drive to halfords to get a new one or does a dead battery mean it's well and truely gone?

It should be possible to do just that - make sure that whoever is jump starting you knows what they are doing.

And you might wish to think about doing the following; make sure every electrical accessory is switched off (which you should ideally do before leaving the car each time you park it), and depress the clutch pedal to reduce drag from the flywheel when starting.

DaveMacD

harz99 wrote: »

lectrical accessory is switched off (which you should ideally do before leaving the car each time you park it), and depress the clutch pedal to reduce drag from the flywheel when starting.

Noticed that they stopped teaching that at driving schools nowadays. Since I always leave the car in gear (another thing they don't seem to teach) it's yet another reason why I don't like other people driving my car.

Wig

Your battery is probably flat, but that does not necessarily mean a new one is needed.

Your alternator could be the cause of the dead battery, once the alternator is fixed, your battery could be fine for another few years.

You need someone with a jump start and a multimeter and the ability to test the alternator. But a very big clue it is the alternator will be if the car starts under jump lead conditions, and as soon as you release the jump leads your car stops - then it is likely your alternator is duff.

Make sure the donor car engine is running with a bit of high revs (1500 - 2000rpm) when you jump start your car.

commodore09

Women are not alone in being unable to deal with this sort of thing. Don't feel bad. My Toyota Celica will not start today. Last used 2 days ago and all it does when the key is turned is to make a fast ticking sound. Have tried jump starting it but same result. Do I have a flat battery or need to buy a new one. Should I just take the battery out and put it on charge or fetch in Green Flag. Don't want to misuse the system for something insignificant and would value some advice

Wig

Commodore,

Sounds like a flat battery, the problem is it did the same when you jump started it, lets be clear here, you have some jump leads and you had another car nearby, with its engine RUNNING and the throttle pedal applied to increase the engine speed of that car to about 2000rpm

You connected positive to positive and negative to negative

And then you turned the key to start your cars engine....What happened?

hothothot_3

flat batteries due to cold weather, and using electrical equipment more often (heaters and lights) due to early darkness equals alot of flat batteries this time of year. I got tired of jump starting mine - the danger is also there that one day you will be stuck and it doesnt jump start. Just replace the battery and your back and running again - 5 years is quite a long time for a battery IMO and has served you well.

Avoid, turning the ignition (hearing the clicking sound) for more than 5 seconds too (can flood the engine).

iamana1ias

commodore09 wrote: »

Women are not alone in being unable to deal with this sort of thing. Don't feel bad.

jamesb1239

Wig wrote: »

Commodore,

Sounds like a flat battery, the problem is it did the same when you jump started it, lets be clear here you have some jump leads and you had another car nearby, with its engine RUNNING and the throttle foot pedal applied to increase the engine speed of that car to about 2000rpm

You connected positive to positive and negative to negative

And then you turned the key to start your cars engine....When you do all this what happens to your car?

I was always told that it was positive to positive, negative to chassis. Something to do with surges etc