Trouble starting. Where to look?

JustAnotherSaver

Just wondering what's the most likely culprit here, if you're able to tell from limited info anyway.


Back at Xmas the wife's car was struggling to start. There just wasn't any life there so got a new battery & was job sorted until the other week.


It doesn't do it all the time. It happened this morning & the last time it did it was Friday evening. She'll go to start it and it'll turn over for 2-3 seconds before finally firing up whereas it usually starts right on the first turn of the key.


I think we bought it back end of 2017 IIRC. I'm not sure when the spark plugs were last changed. After this i know alternator & starter motor are all parts of starting it up but i don't know what's most likely / where to start first.


Car is an 07 Astra H 1.6.

Aylesbury_Duck

Had a similar problem last year, the starter motor running for a few seconds before the engine fired up. Among other things it could be a partly blocked fuel filter, could be a worn fuel pump or could be dirty injectors. I put some fuel cleaner in the tank and took it for a good, hard run. Problem solved and hasn't reappeared since. If that hadn't worked the fuel filter would have been my next port of call.

tonyh66

battery not getting enough charge, short journeys?
get a battery charger and charge battery every other week to keep it at max charge.

Car_54

tonyh66 wrote: »

battery not getting enough charge, short journeys?
get a battery charger and charge battery every other week to keep it at max charge.

It's turning over and starting, so it's nothing to do with the battery.


It's most likely a fuel problem (see post #2).

DoaM

It could be the sign of a failing battery (or alternator) - not quite enough oomph to get the starter motor turning effectively. Fairly easy to check -

1. measure the battery voltage with the engine off (should be around 12V)
2. when the engine is being started (should remain around 12V - if it dips significantly then the battery may be suspect)
3. when the engine is running (should be around 14V - if a lot lower or higher then the alternator is suspect)

System

Right lets start at the beginning is it Petrol or diesel? And what car is it? If its a diesel could be glow plugs if its turning over normally just not firing then thats first place id look if its petrol id say its fuel related prob the fuel rail pressure is to low intially . It really wants scanning and see if any fault codes come up.

mchale

When was it last serviced, mileage wise?

EdGasketTheSecond

Re. 'Trouble starting. Where to look?

I'd begin under the bonnet

JustAnotherSaver

I do all the filters etc myself and change them when they should be changed with the exception of the oil & oil filter which i change every 6 months as habit.


I bloody well hope it isn't the fuel filter either as the fuel filter on these is fixed in the fuel tank. Why anyone thought that was a good idea i don't know. but i do hope their contract wasn't renewed.


I've got opcom so i'll plug it in and see what figures it throws up.

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

Car is an 07 Astra H 1.6.

Nikond4 wrote: »

is it Petrol or diesel? And what car is it?

JustAnotherSaver

EdGasketTheSecond wrote: »

Re. 'Trouble starting. Where to look?

I'd begin under the bonnet

a.turner

JustAnotherSaver wrote: »

I do all the filters etc myself and change them when they should be changed with the exception of the oil & oil filter which i change every 6 months as habit.


I bloody well hope it isn't the fuel filter either as the fuel filter on these is fixed in the fuel tank. Why anyone thought that was a good idea i don't know. but i do hope their contract wasn't renewed.


I've got opcom so i'll plug it in and see what figures it throws up.

When did you last change it?