Help, Car will not start and MOT booked for Monday

M

Mike6

Senior member
Strange how you can offer help to others but then get stumped when its your own car. I noticed a few weeks ago when filling up with petrol that when turning ignition key everything was dead apart from usual warning lights . Took key out waited a few seconds and then everything fired up. Just thought it was having a strange moment in the heat and didnt think anymore about it. Car then sat in garage on trickle charge for a few weeks then today I set about pre MOT checks. Tried to start car and got the usual dashboard lights, whirling sound (fuel pump?) but nothing from engine not even a click. Tried jump leads from my day car but nothing again so presumably not battery (it is original).
Disconnected battery for 10 minutes and then tried again, nothing including a second attempt at jumping. Reconnected trickle charge and it is showing 13.3V so presumably that should be enough to turn engine over.
MOT booked in for Monday so going into panic mode. Hope it isnt the dread key battery (there is a different looking spare but that didnt do anything) or the ignition barrel problem.
Any ideas welcome. Thank you
 
Updat, just rechecked trickle charger and showing fully charged at 14.4V so presumably that discounts battery completely.
 
Quarry motors will send you one, used for about a tenner.

New they were around £80 three years ago.

My used one has been fine though, so that's what I'd opt for.
 
Have you tried hitting your starter motor with a hammer? this has been a real big problem with the hot summer, worth a try
 
Thank you for ideas. I have ordered an ignition switch from ebay as previous posts have suggested this and it is the easiest/cheapest solution. I will also trace the starter motor and give it a whack but I would have thought some sort of clicking would be audible if motor has packed up, unless it is the solenoid in which case whacking the motor will not achieve anything. Ignition switch will be with me Tuesday/Wednesday so will post up results. Does seem that Ignition switch is becoming a common problem so fingers crossed!!.
 
Decided to check out the price of a starter motor just in case it isnt the ignition switch and cannot believe how cheap they are -£86 at Eurocarparts with a £25 deposit and thats without using a discount code. I checked older threads and members have previously paid hundreds of pounds. Hardly worth messing about so might change that as well for good measure.
 
Pretty sure they pay a fair whack more as someone is fitting for them? I swapped mine out for a Bosch from ECP for about £90 after the surcharge (or maybe people include that in the price?).
 
If you can’t get to the starter moter
Put it in second gear ( if not auto ) and rock the car back and forth with IGNITION OFF , take out of gear and switch on ignition, I’ve freed starters this way before, (that’s if it’s starter )
 
Had high hopes with the ignition switch as key seemed to turn much smoother. But no luck. Now ordered the starter motor from ECP - same day delivery so may still be a quick fix. Almost impossible to see the motor in situ but removing the airbox etc allows you to lean (fall) in.
 
Also, is there a clicking noise when you turn the key? And.. remove and replace the battery terminals. Sometimes it's as simple as that.
 
Pleased to report that ECP delivered my starter motor before I had even got the old one out. A bit of a bugger gaining access as there are loads of pipes/hoses in that area and replacing motor was even worse due to limited access. Motor is held in by 2 torx bolts and a protruding lug which is very tight fit. Whilst you can whack it with a length of wood to remove had to use some mole grips when replacing and gradually tighten them to get motor over lug whilst gradually tightening the bolts, should possibly have greased lug beforehand. Anyway all fixed, car fired up immediately. There was no clicking from the old motor just silence so presumably the solenoid had packed up rather than the motor. I count that as a good repair so might have a few beers tonight. MOT in the morning!!
 
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