My car will not start, what could be the issue?

a1fan

Hi,

I drove about 6 miles to a friends house for lunch yesterday. Got there fine and parked on her street.

When I left I got in the car it started then just cut out a few seconds later and would not start again. I turn key and it makes that choking sound, I tried this about 3 times.

A neighbour who was passing by heard my car struggling to start and said that if I keep trying, I could 'overflood' it. He was so sweet and helpful, I put my car in 2nd gear and released hand break, he pushed my car then I tried to start but still nothing. He tried jump starting my car with his own but still nothing. I've have to just abandon my car on my friends street overnight and this morning I came back with a can of petrol (in case I had run out of petrol and had a faulty dial/gauge) that did not work too neither did trying to jump start again (all electrics work so doubt it's battery fault). It is strange how it's just suddenly stopped working, though I'm glad it's happened in a place where there's no lines or parking restrictions.

I'm not a member or aa or rac.

Could I join the aa now and call them out during the week?

Or any other suggestion of what I could try?

angrycrow

So many possibilities and so little to go on.

If petrol and it cranking over ok most likely culprit is the crank sensor, no signal for this means no fuel is injected so no start. Other options are to many to list.

agrinnall

It'll cost you a fortune to join the AA or RAC now for an existing fault, better to get a recommendation for a local garage who will come out, take a look at the problem, and if necessary tow it for further diagnosis.

SailorSam

If you're only 6mls from home, is there anyone who'll tie a rope to it to get you home.
You'd still need to sort out the problem but better when you're at home.

AubreyMac

Could join the AA now and not report the problem until a week later and say it just happened?

AdrianC

When you say you turn the key and it makes "that choking sound" - what do you mean by that?

Richard53

AubreyMac wrote: »

Could join the AA now and not report the problem until a week later and say it just happened?

Advising the OP to commit fraud? Tut tut.

Strider590

Ask your friends if there are any people in the street who are "funny" about people parking there and then check for foreign objects stuffed into your exhaust back box.

konark

I assume the choking sound is the engine cranking and not firing.

Is the cambelt going round when cranked? Does the fuel-pump prime itself, a buzzing noise from under the back-seat, when the key is turned. Almost certainly fuel or ignition-related.

arcon5

It's the nearside falange not engaging with the falupa wheel. That's why your car won't start

almillar

Starter motor is turning the car over, but engine isn't firing up.
It's not getting fuel, or a spark.
Is the immobiliser active? This would give this behaviour (I've had this with keys I've had cut, but not coded for a car).
Fuel pump? Fuel Filter?
What's the car and when was the last service?