Non-starter

nicky1480 · Nov 25, 2011

Started her up this morning but the power to my audio player was intermittent so I stupidly stopped -while pulling out- and switched off the engine. I tried to start her again but poor Megan was having none of it, making clicking noises and putting on a flashing light display she stayed put, diagonally strewed across the our whole road!

She passed her MOT last week, the battery is less than a year old, I commute to work almost daily, but it's a mile or so down the road and back,

soooo....

I think maybe the battery has lost some charge, and there wasn't enough power to the starter motor, but would like lots of second opinions please.... solutions would be great too!

gotenks1321 · Nov 25, 2011

Flat battery. Only a mile down the road won't be enough to restore the charge taken to start the car :doh:

COPPERKNOB · Nov 25, 2011

+1 on what he said, day by day you are taking out more than you are putting in

Get it charged and if youve got or know someone with a meter check the alternator is putting out 14-14.4 volts when its running.

nicky1480 · Nov 25, 2011

I hoped that's what people would say!

I can get a jump from Hubby, but what do I need to do to stop it from happening again?

COPPERKNOB · Nov 25, 2011

nicky1480 said:
I hoped that's what people would say!

I can get a jump from Hubby, but what do I need to do to stop it from happening again?

There'll be time for that after youve sorted the car :rofl:

It needs more use is the short answer

Or a trickle charger over night, i believe some of the guys use these during the winter when stored??

luckymarine · Nov 25, 2011

Work 1 mile down the road - walk....

Check the tension of your alternator belt, if its slipping then the small amount of driving you do wont charge the battery enough.

Also you really dont want to experience a thrown alternator belt, if it takes the cam belt with it then worse case scenario is whole new engine.

nicky1480 · Nov 25, 2011

luckymarine said:
Work 1 mile down the road - walk....

Check the tension of your alternator belt, if its slipping then the small amount of driving you do wont charge the battery enough.

Also you really dont want to experience a thrown alternator belt, if it takes the cam belt with it then worse case scenario is whole new engine.

Dude, you try and walk 1 mile and back in my heels!! :daft: lol

Thanks for the advice, she's been recently serviced by Jon Norris, and last year I had Russell give her a once over, so I'm quite content for now that the Alternator belt it fine.

So if it is now to me progressively draining the battery, can I assume the cure is some longer trips more regularly??

higgy748 · Nov 25, 2011

If you are only doing 1 mile journeys apart from draining the battery the engine will never get warm enough to burn off all the combustion by products.
You need to do at least 30 spirited miles to burn off those nasty by products.

jrproudfoot · Nov 25, 2011

Copperknob said:
There'll be time for that after youve sorted the car :rofl:

It needs more use is the short answer

Or a trickle charger over night, i believe some of the guys use these during the winter when stored??

Good answers, this ain't a Punto or a Commutawagen... get out at the weekend and DRIVE that *****

These cars love to be ragged, get her up to temperature on a twisty road, and hit that redline!

Drive safe

blackoctagon · Nov 25, 2011

Why did you choose to stop the car diagonally in the middle of the road?

Mr Forgetful · Nov 25, 2011

Situation normal ? :beer:

Non-starter

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