Help! Car not Starting!!

[Red Phoenix]

Hey Folks!

Since the last two mobile mechanic's i've contacted seem to have fallen off the face of this earth, I thought i'd post my issue on here

I'm open to have any mechanic In the Glasgow Area come have a look if there are any out there, or any recommendations would be good.

I am having issues with my 05 Vauxhall Astra Club 1.4

The car will not start at all, I have tried a few thing's already but no cigar!

1. When ignition is turned on the battery light never goes off
2. When the key is turned the starter motor does not attempt to kick in
3. When I turn the key, there is a clicking noise coming from the fuse box/ all fuses and relay's have been checked and are fine.

4. The car will NOT jump start
5. The car will BUMP start but same issue returns after driving it for an hour.
6. The battery has been charged from a battery charger in the house but i'm not ruling out a faulty battery.

I have been told two separate things, one is that I may have burned out my starter and the other is I have a faulty battery. The battery in the car is only 4months old but again I am not ruling out the battery being faulty.

does this paint a clear picture for anyone?

any info would be appreciated

[Over Carl]

I'm guessing either the starter's knackered or maybe the solenoid. If you get someone to turn the key, I know you get clicking from the fusebox but do you get any from the starter?

If it was battery, and you can bump start, then you should be able to jump start or start after charging battery.

[Ginnerfreak]

I hade the same problem years ago with a fiesta. It turned out to be the solenoid.. Not sure is cars still have solenoinds as this was some time ago..

[Red Phoenix]

thank's Ginger, If I knew what I was doing with solenoid's I'd have a look but I'm at the limit of my knowledge with regards to cars

[Red Phoenix]

didn't see your post Overcarl, the battery has been fully charged from a battery charger in the house, when the key is turned there is only a clicking from fuse box, nothing from the starer. Not even attempting to chug into action.

I get the same issue when jump starting which leaves me with a dodgy starter but i'm not an expert in cars

[psxcity]

try putting car into 1st gear then rocking it back n forth hard,,,might be a sticking bendix spring on starter,,,then try starting on key

[Red Phoenix]

thanks psxcity, I'll give it a go, when I bump started the car i did take it for a drive for about an hour, wouldn't that have cured the issue your referring to?

[Over Carl]

Got to be the solenoid - that makes a click sound as it activates the starter motor. If the battery was knackered you sometimes get the solenoid continually clicking (chattering) as it tries to do it's thing but when the starter pulls power suddenly there isn't enough to energise the solenoid.

If the starter itself was knackered, you should hear one click from the solenoid when the key moves to position 3 then another click as you let go of the key.

[Red Phoenix]

Well chap's I have got a Mechanic coming out on Saturday, so I shall let you all know what the outcome is

[MsDG]

Isn't this the yeah olde thing where you drive around in a 1980 mini city with a hammer in the drivers door pocket cause before you start the car you have to twat the starter motor/solenoid with a hammer?

[lithho]

there could be a few things here, you say the battery light never goes out, even if after being bump started? that would point to a fault on the charging circuit, ie either battery or alternator faulty. The clicking you here is cause there is no juice in the battery to turn over the starter, it needs quite alot of amps. First thing to do, as the battery is only 4 months old, take it back saying its faulty, get a new one, and see. If the same fault persists i would say alternator but with out seeing or testing the charging i wouldnt be 100%

[HELPERS]

Call the RAC or AA

[windy1603]

Could be a faulty ign switch (quite common on vauxhalls) they can fail and often leave the starter engaged when the engine is running this kills starter motor and can kill battery and possibly alternator. The switch can be purchased as a seperate unit and fitted to existing lock.

[Red Phoenix]

Thanks for all the extra info guys;

lithho the battery light does go out after the car is bumpstarted, I've got a mechanic coming out on friday now to have a look at it so hopefully it's something simple. I tried to get a hold of another battery but was unable to

If it turns out to be a faulty battery i'll be returning it straight away, but thanks Lithho for the advice

[welshman443]

i would try and find the relay that is clicking and change that im sure it was the vauxhall that had problems with the chargeing relay

[tigro]

Sounds like your battery isnt holding the charge or the alternator isnt recharging the battery, personally I think its your battery. Very same symptoms I have on my last car.

Before you pay money to a mechanic why dont you try someone elses battery on your car, as im sure it would be easier than paying a £50 call out fee or whatever they may charge, only takes 5 minutes, maybe a neighbour maybe able to lend you their battery?

[lithho]

if the light goes out, i would say its the starter motor that needs replacing.

[MIKE M]

If the starter has gone 90 % of the time it takes out the relay and switch

Mike

[2e1cys]

check the earth from the battery too engine and the small one from engine too alternator easy way is put the jump lead on the neg term on batt then straight on too the engine block thats a common fault this time of year due too salt and corrosion .failing that yea starter or realay proby
good luck pitty you wern't closer i'd of sorted it for you !!

[jaguar982]

Check battery connections to battery and to earth and to solenoid also when its running are you able to turn key ( as if starting ) does starter turn if all fails you can locate solenoid and CAREFULLY cross terminals on solenoid with a screwdriver make sure its out of gear and dont touch any other body/engine parts with screwdriver this should bypass solenoid if faulty. If your not too mechanical dont try the above get somebody else to try it

jag