Starting problem - wont restart

[John Mac]

Just started the car in the garage and backed out - power felt oddly a bit down.
Switched off, closed garage doors got back in wont start!!
All lights and dials seem to function, turn key and all that happens is the alternator clicks over but engine doesn't fire. Noticed also that the red alarm diode that was previously flashing now isn't.
Pay good money to the nice man from the AA so expecting his visit shortly.
Any ideas?

[Shnozz]

Not great with car electrics but have you tried a the multimeter on the coil feed leads?

[Podie]

I'm a little puzzled... why did you switch it off in between shutting the garage door anyway?

[Shnozz]

Podie said: I'm a little puzzled... why did you switch it off in between shutting the garage door anyway?

ok - my go first. key to lock garage door on same key ring as ignition key

[bugmeister]

I would investigate the immobilizer as well - assuming you have one.

[keirangrogan]

Noticed also that the red alarm diode that was previously flashing now isn't. Any ideas?

Take Your Battery Off before you do anything else.

This happened to me and it turned out that the immobilizer had gone dis.

I took me a while rooting around looking for it, when I eventualy located it and pulled it towards me it shorted causing a huge power drain resulting in the whole ignition system (Inside The Car) to set on fire and melt several wires completely.

By time I had legged it in to the garage took out my trusty 1/2 inch spanner and removed the positive terminal (around 30 seconds) I had a major rewire on my hands.

This resulted in the car being off the road for the majority of this year.

On the plus side I now know my way round the passenger footwell and Fusebox very very well.

[John Mac]

Ooops!! flat battery.
Now why didn't I realise that? according to nice AA man car started on "surface charge" left in battery, cold weather caused drain on possibly "tired" battery even though I had taken the car for a run only a couple of days ago, he connected his charger to my battery and left it for a few minutes, Iv'e since been out for a run and its fine now.
Why did I switch it off? - drive is on a slight slope back and handbrake isn't holding tight, switch off, in gear as simple as that. No prizes today !!!
10/10 for the AA 30 mins. from first call and they were here.

[Justin S]

crikey,who'd have thought that a handbrake won't hold on an 'S'!!!! ;-)