Why won't my car start?

angel00079

I was trying to get up a steep hill in snow, a couple of people pushing it. It was sliding about too much and reving. As I live just round the corner I decided to get my brother, less of a wimp then me. He went to start the car and wouldn't start.

I only put some petrol in yesterday but the light was on and thought that may be all be at the back. I put more petrol in and still not starting. We have tried jump starting it but no joy.

I realise that this is similar to how long is a piece of string question but I suppose that I am worried that I have done something like burnt something out. On the other hand it was running and I switched the engine off rather than it cutting out. We can't really try to bump start it due to weather conditions. Given that jump starting did not work probably irrelevent.

I know the sound that it makes as you try to turn it over makes a difference. I would say it is a ck, ck sort of noise.

Any idea of likely causes?

Inactive

angel00079 wrote: »

I was trying to get up a steep hill in snow, a couple of people pushing it. It was sliding about too much and reving. As I live just round the corner I decided to get my brother, less of a wimp then me. He went to start the car and wouldn't start.





I know the sound that it makes as you try to turn it over makes a difference. I would say it is a ck, ck sort of noise.

Any idea of likely causes?

First of all the car was in all probability not " revving " but being revved by the driver.

It sounds like your battery is flat or has a loose battery / earth lead.

JPS29

Or if its a "click click" it could be your starter motor. Try bump starting it, if it goes off this it will be your starter motor.

harveybobbles

I only put some petrol in yesterday

Hope its not a diesel car then...

anewman

If you got a substantial distance up the hill you can just turn the car around, let it run down the hill with the key turned into the on position, 3rd gear selected, and the clutch down - when you get sufficient pace bring up the clutch slowly it may be worth turning the key to engage the starter at the same time as sometimes the starter can just get stuck (making it go click when you turn the key but not turn).

maninthestreet

Does the starter motor engage and actually turn the engine over?

LandyAndy

anewman wrote: »

If you got a substantial distance up the hill you can just turn the car around, let it run down the hill with the key turned into the on position, 3rd gear selected, and the clutch down - when you get sufficient pace bring up the clutch slowly it may be worth turning the key to engage the starter at the same time as sometimes the starter can just get stuck (making it go click when you turn the key but not turn).

???????

Even if you do get it turned round and try this make sure you have a plan for what happens if it doesn't start.

Hodge4ever

Inactive wrote: »

First of all the car was in all probability not " revving " but being revved by the driver.

It sounds like your battery is flat or has a loose battery / earth lead.

We tried jump starting it with another car & the battery is only just over 12 months old so I don't think it's that?!? - OP's brother by the way

Hodge4ever

harveybobbles wrote: »

Hope its not a diesel car then...

No it's a petrol - OP's brother by the way

Hodge4ever

LandyAndy wrote: »

???????

Even if you do get it turned round and try this make sure you have a plan for what happens if it doesn't start.

That's the problem, we didn't have enough road to try it and my plan to tow\bump start it couldn't work as I my FWD car was struggling up the hill on its own so would have no chance towing as well.

We have managed to roll it backwards into a side road as we were worried about it causing an unnecessary obstruction in the snowy conditions.

I think it's pointing towards the starter motor \ loose connection maybe? I'll have a quick look before it goes dark to see if I can see anything obvious, otherwise it'll just have to wait for the snow to melt before we can tow it to a garage :mad: - OP's brother by the way

JPS29

So have you tried bump starting it?