Car not starting, low oil level?

Ebe_Scrooge

As has been stated previously, a dead / low battery is the most likely cause for not starting ( if it was low on charge for the first start, starting would have pretty much drained it, then a 10-minute run would have put naff-all charge back into it ).

But for all those saying "my car tells me if it's low on oil" - for pity's sake, the dashboard warning light on *most* cars means the oil level and / or pressure is dangerously low. It should never get that low, barring some sudden major leak as you're driving. There's a reason that checking the oil level is included in the "weekly checks". And I don't care what excuses are given such as "My mechanic looks after all that, I don't really know anything about cars" - checking the oil is probably the single most basic, and simple, check there is, and will take at most the grand total of 60 seconds per week.

< rant over >

Strider590

cjdavies wrote: »

Thanks all its a Ford Fiesta 04 1.4 engine.

Last serviced 2/3 years ago, has under 80,000 miles I know that.

Last checked oil August, as I don't use it daily, stupid I know.

My next plan is try again, pray, if not, jump leads for battery and pray.

If it's the original battery, just get a new one, it's long overdue. Jump starting is a "get you home", it's not a fix. I would bet yours is an 063 type.

If my GF can change a car battery, then i'm damn sure anyone else can do it too.

2/3 years from last service is just ridiculous, should be at least every 12 months or less if you do low mileage (low mileage is very bad for your engine and contaminates the engine oil).

You must also check oil level on a flat surface and NOT immediately after its been running, otherwise it will appear low because it's still in the top of the engine and oil galleries. The consequence of checking oil at the wrong time is you could over fill it and cause a serious failure.

Bettie

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

However, Bettie, if you could post the make, model, colour and registration number of your vehicle so we all know to avoid ever buying it secondhand, that WOULD be useful information.

:rotfl:

My new years resolution is to take more care of my car.

Bettie

cjdavies wrote: »

Thanks all its a Ford Fiesta 04 1.4 engine.

Last serviced 2/3 years ago, has under 80,000 miles I know that.

Last checked oil August, as I don't use it daily, stupid I know.

My next plan is try again, pray, if not, jump leads for battery and pray.

I had the ticking noise and flat battery last year plus my dash lights going silly, the breakdown man came and started it and told me to run it for twenty minutes at least. I did that but next day it wouldn't start so tried charging it but it wouldn't hold the charge so I got a new battery and its been ok ever since.

AdrianC

First off, it's almost certainly not an oil level warning - it's a "You've got no oil pressure" warning. You should be checking the oil level weekly. The reason it comes on when the level is low, is solely because the level is SO low that the pump is picking up air instead of oil, and circulating that. You can imagine what the engine thinks of that...

Low oil level won't stop the car starting, though. Without knowing what you mean by "ticking", and how it's not starting, there's not a lot more to suggest.

When you turn the key, is there just a tick and the engine doesn't spin over?
Is the engine spinning on the starter, but not starting?
Does it sound different to usual whilst spinning?

Strider590

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

However, Bettie, if you could post the make, model, colour and registration number of your vehicle so we all know to avoid ever buying it secondhand, that WOULD be useful information.

I know it sounds bad, but it could be far worse...... I've known people who just completely ignore warning lights for weeks and months on end.
I reckon most people never even lift the bonnet and rely on MOT time to fix all the problems.

cajef

Bettie wrote: »

Fiat Panda 1.1

three times I have been low on oil, not empty, just above minimum line, each time the yellow management light came on, three times it took at least one day after topping up to go away. I assumed it would take time for the oil to "get round" and the light needs to reset after turning the engine off and back on. Once I had to turn it off twice before it went away.

Oh dear you actually ran it with the warning light still on, one knackered Fiat Panda!!!!

BeenThroughItAll

Strider590 wrote: »

I know it sounds bad, but it could be far worse...... I've known people who just completely ignore warning lights for weeks and months on end.
I reckon most people never even lift the bonnet and rely on MOT time to fix all the problems.

I know, I know. I just wish there was an indicator which would illuminate when you're looking at a used car to tell you how the previous owner treated it.


There's a reason why motorcyclists call them 'idiot lights'.

Strider590

BeenThroughItAll wrote: »

I know, I know. I just wish there was an indicator which would illuminate when you're looking at a used car to tell you how the previous owner treated it.


There's a reason why motorcyclists call them 'idiot lights'.

Fortunately there are plenty of ways to lead people into confessing to being idiots, because they usually run cars based on the opinions of friends and family and do therefore think some things are OK, when they are clearly not.... Like not servicing a car because it does low mileage.

BeenThroughItAll

Strider590 wrote: »

Fortunately there are plenty of ways to lead people into confessing to being idiots

True. Personally I stop listening when it becomes clear they don't have a clue what they're talking about and rely on my experience and knowledge instead.