Help from anyone with car expertise

[deep3r]

Hi,

So I took my car out for a spin lat night, went up a hill and at the top, it just cut out. At first I thought it would be petrol since I knew it was low and the light came on. My mate took me to a garage so I bought a jerry can and some petrol, filled it up, waited and still nothing, it made some loud clicking noises when trying to start. Me and a few friends rolled it back for a mile or so back home. Had one of my other friends who is a mechanic to look at it. This morning, it now no longer makes the loud clicking, but a quiet ticking from the fuse box, iirc he said something about the things that ticked had to do with the starter motor. Weve tried jump starting it from another car, since we think the problem might be the battery, but nothing came of it. I dont really want to get a mechanic out because of the call out costs, would anyone here be so kind as to give me some advice. I could perhaps make a video of the car starting if that helps. Ive been advised maybe buy a new battery or a coil that has something to do with the battery, and I dont wnat to fork out for one when it could be the other.

Thanks everyone!

[Yakumo]

That could be all manner of differentthings mate. It could be relays or anything electrical. Did the car just cut out or slowly die.?

[Twimfy]

Alternator?

[deep3r]

That could be all manner of differentthings mate. It could be relays or anything electrical. Did the car just cut out or slowly die.?

Straight away cut out, but like I said, right after it made that clunking noise, and now it doesn't.

Alternator?

Thats what we thought, but if that charges the battery, a jump start wouldve got around that surely?

[Twimfy]

Hmm ok I'd put money on it being a dead starter solenoid.

[retro]

Uhh, tell us what car it is, at least!

Your best bet would be to post on an owner's forum for that model, really.

[H360]

Sounds like the battery is dead. Get yourself a multimeter and see how many volts it is giving you. Should NOT be less than 12 volts. If it is, the battery is ruined. Also, check what the voltage is when under charge (when you get a new one to start the car that is). Should be greater that 14 volts.

[Dano2k0]

First thing first, you say you don't want to call out a mechanic because of cost, however you say your friend who is a mechanic has had a look at it. Just to keep it straight, if your friend likes to think hes a mechanic or know it all pretty much like alot of young lads, don't let him mess with it unless you are confident he knows what hes doing. You could open / create a whole can of worms.

First thought was the battery being flat, but its odd with how you describe it cutting out. Obviously in use, the battery doesn't just go flat, the alternator would have to have been at fault, you would usually get a battery looking symbol on the dash if this is the case prior to the car coming to a stop.

Did you try to restart the car as soon as you stopped?

Are you positive the jump leads were on correctly?

I know you say the car basically cut out, but in what sense? grinding to a hault quickly? did you push in the clutch and coast to a stop?

The thing for me is, if its not the battery or alternator, the engine could be seized, or perhaps have snapped its timing belt / chain - both of which are pretty serious.

Some details on the car would be a start, make, model, engine type.

If someone pushes the car with you in it, and you drop it in 1st or reverse if going backwards and let the clutch up, does the engine turn over ok?

The clunking sound may be no more or not as loud if the battery has become flat/er due to having headlights etc on for a long period of time, especially if the battery health wasn't great to begin with.

We deffinatly need info though, at the moment its a total guessing game.

[HEX1GON]

This happened to my mother's car, it's usually the battery, but of course it could be other things too.

[deep3r]

First thing first, you say you don't want to call out a mechanic because of cost, however you say your friend who is a mechanic has had a look at it. Just to keep it straight, if your friend likes to think hes a mechanic or know it all pretty much like alot of young lads, don't let him mess with it unless you are confident he knows what hes doing. You could open / create a whole can of worms.

First thought was the battery being flat, but its odd with how you describe it cutting out. Obviously in use, the battery doesn't just go flat, the alternator would have to have been at fault, you would usually get a battery looking symbol on the dash if this is the case prior to the car coming to a stop.

Did you try to restart the car as soon as you stopped?

Are you positive the jump leads were on correctly?

I know you say the car basically cut out, but in what sense? grinding to a hault quickly? did you push in the clutch and coast to a stop?

The thing for me is, if its not the battery or alternator, the engine could be seized, or perhaps have snapped its timing belt / chain - both of which are pretty serious.

Some details on the car would be a start, make, model, engine type.

If someone pushes the car with you in it, and you drop it in 1st or reverse if going backwards and let the clutch up, does the engine turn over ok?

The clunking sound may be no more or not as loud if the battery has become flat/er due to having headlights etc on for a long period of time, especially if the battery health wasn't great to begin with.

We deffinatly need info though, at the moment its a total guessing game.

Yes, I tried restarting it when it stopped, thats wher it made the clunking noise.

Yes Im positive they were on correctly.

It came to a quick hault on the hill, I used the brake at the junction, which made it stop, then it stopped and wouldnt go again.

Its a Y reg corsa (c model) 1 litre petrol.

I wouldnt know, I havent tried. The engine doesnt start at all, no sound nor any lights come on, even on the dash, it is fully dead.

Thanks for your help, I really hope it isnt anything serious.

[Dano2k0]

So to clarify even with the key in the ignition you get no lights on the dash? Does the radio work? Headlights?

Do you have a multimeter? Would deffinatly be worth while checking the battery voltage, I do expect theres a pretty good chance its flat.

Did you leave the jump leads on for a while before attempting to start the car? What exactlly happened with the leads on? Did the dash lights work while they were on?

If your battery is completely flat and isn't taking a charge you may not be able to start the car with jump leads alone. However you should be able to get the dash to illuminate etc.

It could quite possibly be the alternator that has gone, or could be a wiring fault, leading to the battery having become flat and leaving you in the position you are in now. Worst case scenario would be if the alternator regulator failed, over volting the whole system could have caused huge damage, though I expect this not to be the case based on what you have said.

When you stopped, was the dash lights still working, then later died?

[deep3r]

So to clarify even with the key in the ignition you get no lights on the dash? Does the radio work? Headlights?

Do you have a multimeter? Would deffinatly be worth while checking the battery voltage, I do expect theres a pretty good chance its flat.

Did you leave the jump leads on for a while before attempting to start the car? What exactlly happened with the leads on? Did the dash lights work while they were on?

If your battery is completely flat and isn't taking a charge you may not be able to start the car with jump leads alone. However you should be able to get the dash to illuminate etc.

It could quite possibly be the alternator that has gone, or could be a wiring fault, leading to the battery having become flat and leaving you in the position you are in now. Worst case scenario would be if the alternator regulator failed, over volting the whole system could have caused huge damage, though I expect this not to be the case based on what you have said.

When you stopped, was the dash lights still working, then later died?

None of the lights work with the key in ignition, nor does the radio or headlights work.

I unfortunatley dont have a multimeter, though I am able to take the battery out and take it to halfords, I know they check batteries for free.

Not for too long really, a couple of minutes maybe, but again, no lights or anything.

Yes, when I stopped, the lights worked, they did the next morning for a little while too, but now there is nothing.

Thanks once again.

[Dano2k0]

Battery deffinatly sounds suspect to me mate, take it down to Halfords if you have that option and let them check it, odds on it will be flat.

Fitting a new one may get the car going again, but if it fires up, you need to check the dash and make sure the battery symbol comes on as you turn the ignition on, then goes out once the engine is running, this is the usual sequence.

Oh and it should be illuminated in red, unless someone has swapped the lights.

If the battery light doesn't go out, the alternator or something else is dead, would place a bet on the alternator. Also possible the reg could be faulty, or just general low-output from the alternator, meaning its shot.

I am abit concerned if you got no lights on the dash with the jump leads on though, might just be they didn't make a good connection, or worst case, you had them on in reverse which I sure hope not!

Failing that, it could be a different electrical failiure, though it wouldn't quite add up as the typical stages were that of a flat battery.

Get the battery checked anyway, I expect you'll be coming away with a new one, let us know how you get on then.

Oh and if you have another small local motor factors, visit them instead of halfords, 99% of them will stick a meter on the battery for free and usually the battery will be much less than halfords, especially if you get one who will do a cash deal. ;)

[ma777]

If you can manage to charge the battery/ jump, turn the headlights and the radio on you should have enough juice to pop the clutch and get the car going. If you ever do get the car started take the leads off the battery. If it still runs with the battery disconnected the battery is bad. If it dies with the battery disconnected it's the alternator. Once a car has been started it doesn't need the battery. All power comes from the alternator. Actually I take that back. It works for some cars, not all. You can always try it though.