Dropped the car off to get polished today and got a phone call 20 mins later to say it wouldn't start. It's not even attempting to turn over. Has anyone got any ideas?

Cheers

Ross

Check the solenoid connection at the starter motor, possibly a broken wire.

Engine management fuse

Battery is now flat or battery terminal is loose.

That would be the first checks.

Possible,

They opened the doors & hatch and that interior light & boot light on was enough to flatten the battery.

Is there any special Alarm or Immobiliser procedure required?

george

Battery is fine, lights, stereo and everything else come on. It doesn't even attempt to tick over and die as if it doesn't have enough power. Had a quick search of the sight and found a couple of people have had problems with broken wires at the starter motor so going to have a look there and see how i get on. Not very clued up on the electrical side of things but should be able to spot a broken or loose wire lol.

cheers

Ross

Battery.

Sounds like they left the ignition on

20 minutes is long enough to drain a battery which was already fairly low in power

If the lights and everything else work, with no apparent signs of a drained battery, then I'd guess it's the starter motor solenoid signal wire.

Good news is that the car can be bump started and it's a simple minor wiring job to fix (until next time).

The bad is it's an awful place to get to to fix. Battery out job, under the battery box.

To see it... Shine a torch down from in front of the engine to under the air inlet pipe/battery box. You should see a connector on top of the starter (black with a small red tab, red wire off it)... Or a counter-weighted gearshifter... In which case move the gear lever slightly to see it. Or wriggle your hand down there and gently see if the wire appears connected or flying free.

Edited 22 June, 201313 yr by vindaloo

Just because the radio comes on doesn't mean it will turn the car over.

Yep I say battery too.

Mine went last week, still had stereo etc but wouldn't start.

New battery fixed it!

And me. Went to the cinema, car was fine. Came out and would turn over. See if it will jump. If it does then that wire can't be broken.

Wouldn't

Just picked it up there and the glow plug light is flashing now. Bumped no bother so got it up the house at least. Turned it off and went to start it and nothing. I now have a nice shiny car that doesn't move :(

See here:

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/264387-dodgy-starter-connection-found/

Well it's not that cable. Looks like an auto electrician is required.

Did you try starting the car from another one with good jump cables to see if it is just the battery?

Or taking a reading from the battery.

george

I tried jumping it off my mates car and nothing. I need to get a code scanner to see if there are any fault codes.

Edited 22 June, 201313 yr by armstrong21490

Well it's not that cable. Looks like an auto electrician is required.

"Not that cable" because it's not obviously/visually broken like the one in the link a few posts back?

Bear in mind that sometimes the copper wires within the insulation may fatigue and break without the outer PVC jacket actually parting as well.

Try measuring the voltage at the loom connector while someone else turns the key to the last position, and see if you never/sometimes/always get 12V there as you waggle the wire where it goes into the connector housing. If the answer is always, then it's "not that cable", I agree.

All sorted. Needed a new starter motor.