Car won't start - video included!

T

thecremeegg

Active member
 North Hampshire
Hi all,

Went to go to Tesco and the car won't start - it's clicking and all the lights on the dash flash, plus the interior light?
It's got a newish (4 months) battery and the starter is only 2-3 years old.
Video is here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lIQ70WelRWc

What do we think, is it the battery or starter or something else?

Thanks!
 
If the battery is recently new it's probably the alternator not charging it, hence it's flat. Have you driven the car recently and for how long ?
 
As above. First thought is a bad battery tbh. Solenoid clicking, not enough power to turn the starter motor. How long since you last used the Zed?
 
I would say flat battery too. Do you do lots of short trips? Probably needs a good charge overnight every couple of weeks if so.

Alternatively it could be something draining the battery. Need to see how long it lasts after a full charge to decide on that.
 
Charge the battery up and put a multimeter across it and it should read 12 volts or thereabouts. Start the engine and it should read 13 - 15 volts approx which means the alternator is working. If it doesn't your alternator is goosed :thumbsup:
 
Can you start it by using another vehicle and battery jumper cables, if it starts then your battery is the problem, its flat. As to why its gone flat then take a look at what the alternator is putting out with the engine running, you should see around 14volts with it running with a voltmeter across the battery posts if the alternator is working correctly.
 
colb said:
Can you start it by using another vehicle and battery jumper cables, if it starts then your battery is the problem, its flat. As to why its gone flat then take a look at what the alternator is putting out with the engine running, you should see around 14volts with it running with a voltmeter across the battery posts if the alternator is working correctly.
Click to expand...

Just tried that, still won't start! The starter is trying it's hardest but it's like the engine is refusing to fire despite its best efforts. Going to try and get my hands on a multimeter to check the voltages but yea, it won't start even when jumped so I'm looking to rule out the battery and perhaps put the blame on the starter itself.
Going to give it a scan this afternoon see if anything appears as well.
 
If it's manual then enlist some help and get it push started, that will point to the starter if successful or other issues if not.
 
Update!
So as everyone was so sure it's the battery I went out and cleaned all the connectors in the bonnet and tried a jump start again. Left it 10 minutes and it started, woo!
I've jumped loads of cars over the years, this one included and they've ALWAYS started straight away when connected to a car that's got the juice, so it's strange that this time round it didn't! Battery had enough juice for the radio etc hence my confusion.

Anyways, thanks all, got there in the end!
 
thecremeegg said:
Update!
So as everyone was so sure it's the battery I went out and cleaned all the connectors in the bonnet and tried a jump start again. Left it 10 minutes and it started, woo!
I've jumped loads of cars over the years, this one included and they've ALWAYS started straight away when connected to a car that's got the juice, so it's strange that this time round it didn't! Battery had enough juice for the radio etc hence my confusion.

Anyways, thanks all, got there in the end!
Click to expand...

Yup, sometimes it takes a while to build up the juice a little before it'll start.
So the immediate issue is resolved, but I suspect now you still need to find out why it was flat?
Most likely all the short trips you're doing?
 
Yea could be, alternator is charging it fine. I have a battery isolator switch that I use if I'm not using the car for a while so there is that!
 
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