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Another car won't start thread. :(


Lukeyboy2k

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Seems many cars won't start at this time of year - mine included. I've look through various posts, but hopefully someone can help me a little more quickly.

 

Haven't run the car for a couple of days. Try to turn it on and get lots of clicking (sounds a bit like a quiet machine gun), dash lights flicker. Can't hear anything like a starter motor attempting to turn (i.e. doesn't sound like other cars I've ever tried to start with flat batteries). Stereo turns itself on and off.................

 

So, is this likely to be a flat battery? Or something worse? Any help most appreciated. I was kind of hoping to be somewhere tonight to meet a girl I've been "tuning" for ages........ :(

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Possibly dirty/corroded terminals on the starter (seems easy to get crap in there). Mine went exactly like this. There is a thread about refurbing the starter on here somewhere, I just got my friendly garage bloke to sort it for me for a couple of notes :) Worked a charm after that.

 

(It could also be the battery, even if things seem good like the radio etc)

 

Edit: FYI, in case you are interested: http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=51682

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Yup Classic signs of a dead battery. Though this time year takes a toal on them, lights, heater, radio, demister all usually on constantly seeing its dark most of the time were driving.

Try a different battery or try giving it a good charge. If a new battery does the same after a while you could be looking at an altenator.

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Thanks. (everyone)

 

I'll try and get a friend to jump start me - if that doesn't work I guess more investigation tomorrow when it's light. (Or push my car over 1/4 from my house and see what the AA say).

 

The refurb thread looks interesting...........hopefully it's only the battery though.

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Sounds like the battery - How old is your existing one ?

 

Halfords HCB005 will do the trick.

 

Update:

 

I used a charger to restore life to the battery (it was fairly old I think - came with the imported car), but it still kept draining fairly quick. So off I went to Halfords (had to go to three separate branches) to pick up a HCB005. Don't know if they put up battery prices during the winter but it came to £70 (including 20% sale discount) - I was reading the 'definitive battery thread' (http://www.mkivsupra.net/vbb/showthread.php?t=30238&highlight=definitive+battery) and they used to be a fair bit cheaper - never mind though, I'm not that bothered if it lasts a couple of years.

 

A problem solved..........................hopefully.

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Must be the season for this. Just bought a HCB005 from Halfords this morning myself - 69.99 (on 'sale') plus 4.99 to have it fitted and dispose of the old one (worth the saved hassle I thought). 510 cold crank rating, but I'm sure it said 105 A/H, rather than what is quoted in the FAQ thread. Could be wrong though, will check when I get home tonight.

 

:looney:

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  • 3 weeks later...

been reading this thread...

Seems many cars won't start at this time of year - mine included. I've look through various posts, but hopefully someone can help me a little more quickly.

 

Haven't run the car for a couple of days. Try to turn it on and get lots of clicking (sounds a bit like a quiet machine gun), dash lights flicker. Can't hear anything like a starter motor attempting to turn (i.e. doesn't sound like other cars I've ever tried to start with flat batteries). Stereo turns itself on and off.................

 

So, is this likely to be a flat battery? :(

 

I had the same a few weeks ago.

thought it was the starter motor, then replaced the battery and the stereo!

car is sitting in drive for a few days and this morning the new battery is dead!:blink:

 

Try a different battery or try giving it a good charge. If a new battery does the same after a while you could be looking at an altenator.:(

 

could this be the problem?

help?:D

 

edit: i seem to have all the symptoms of a dead battery but with the new one!!

... so did a further search on here and...would it be worthwhile purchasing a volt meter and checking for drain by pulling fuses one at a time?

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Think...well hope... i have found the problem!!:)

I remember the chap who removed the ugly foglight on the back and altered my rear light cluster to incoroporate the foglights saying that the switch that worked these had not been wired into the lights correctly. i.e. switching the lights off did not switch off the power to the dash switch. I have just checked and sure enough - the switch was on from when i was pulling the dash apart to fit the stereo. My problem may be as simple as leaving the lights on so to speak!:D

I hope i have found the culprit - but need to get the battery charged again and see what happens over the week.

Take note all you J-spec owners!:D

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