My car won't start :( Just makes a whirring noise so I guess the starter motor is ok - anyone any ideas ?

If it's just whirring it sounds like the starter isnt turning the engine over......old remedy put it in second gear and rock it back and forth a bit to unstick it ...or if that doesn't work try bump starting it...it could be the starter motor

Thanks, I've already tried that but will go and try again just in case.

Or if all else fails and you haven't got a hill or willing voluteers ...see if anyone is willing to tow you to start it.....I would but I'm a bit far away (about three hours)

All fixed. It seems that when I moved it a short distance this morning, I , err, flooded the engine

Still, a valuable lesson learned for the future !

Kinda surprised about that, thought it was a modern car :eek:

It's a late 1999 car so I suppose it's getting on a bit

Jane, buy a Skoda!

Jane, I know this won't help with a flooded engine, but do you keep a pair of jump leads in the boot? I've done that for years, so to beg a jump-start from a kind motorist nearby

My Skoda has a warning beep if I leave the lights on (thank goodness), though my interior light did play up and flattened the battery once, so still worth doing. Also given two or three neighbours a boost when theirs have conked out.

Glad you got yours sorted out relatively painlessly

Mo

Jane - don't know if you're the helpless female or not -though if you've come on to a car site i'd guess not -my little sis - all 5 ft of her grew up with my old bangers and my servicing - oily gear lever etc - so when she got married and found out her hubby was a technophobic enrolled in car classes - (Don't worry - surgical gloves will keep your hands clean ) - and it helps when she takes their car in to a garage - she has a field day with some fitters - also handy if you need a jump start and bloke can't even open bonnet.

Point of all this is - with the older car - flood it and turning it over don't really help a lot. Once it's flooded the spark plugs are soaked in petrol -so no spark. Quickest way to solve problem ,before battery dies is to remove plugs(MARK PLUG LEADS FOR CORRECT REPLACEMENT), dry them out --then turn engine over a few times to get excess petrol out of bores- REPLACE PLUGS and leads, start engine , with less throttle than before .Jump leads are usefull if you've got a low battery .

Hopethis helps.

Thanks,

Oddly enough I have thought of doing some car maintenance classes - sounds like I should!