Car not starting, then starting

[Pleasekin]

Car not starting, then starting

Hi all

My partner’s car (2015 Suzuki Swift, 1.2 Petrol) just failed to start.

I gave it a try myself, it had power, light radio etc working no problem. When I turned the key I couldn’t hear the whine of the fuel pump, but I’m not sure this is audible or not on a normal day with it not being my car. Assume it is normal though.

I tried turning the engine over and it was trying and trying, it sounded like it was right there but then it would cut out. Tried a few times, waited a couple of minutes and it’s now decided to turn over. Drove around the block, parked up on the drive again, turned over no problem.

Was is this likely to be? I personally don’t think it’s the battery as I mentioned above, plus that was only replaced around 12 month ago. Possibly starter motor? The fact that there was no fuel pump whine when I turned the key though is throwing me off.

Would appreciate any advice.

Cheers

[Pickled]

Could be a dodgy earth, or something as simple a a loose battery terminal

[E-bmw]

The fuel pump only runs to prime the fuel lines up to pressure when there isn't any pressure in the lines.

When you have tried it or ran it recently there is already pressure there.

As for it not starting, there are many many causes to explain that one, battery/starter wiring is certainly one, but that would not normally mean the car turns over as you seem to be explaining, unless it is intermittent/slow.

Have you or a friend/family member got a decent code reader in case there are any pointers to be found to help identify a starting (no pun intended) point for investigations.

[Pleasekin]

Hi,

Thanks for the reply. Appreciated.

No reader sadly.

I think I can rule the battery out as there is no clicking or whining like you usually get with a flat battery. Could be wrong though and it may be a wiring or earth issue as the other poster said.

When I attempted to start it earlier it just sound like it was about to turn over but never did and crapped out.

Worth nothing, once I got it going, did a trip around the block, it started again no problem and drove to the supermarket, started again and has made its way back here without any issues whatsoever. Started on the button flawlessly without any hints of issues.

Very strange one

[GreenV8S]

Pleasekin said:

it was trying and trying, it sounded like it was right there but then it would cut out. Tried a few times

What does 'trying and trying' mean?

Was the engine cranking over?
Was it cranking over at the normal speed?
Were there signs that the engine was firing?

Pleasekin said:

it’s now decided to turn over

What does 'turn over' mean? Was it actually running?

[E-bmw]

Pleasekin said:

When I attempted to start it earlier it just sound like it was about to turn over but never did and crapped out.

Well that makes zero sense as earlier you said it was "trying & trying and then it would cut out" implying that it was turning over & over & over and fired up but then cut out.

And above you are saying that it never actually turned over but that it "crapped out", I have no idea what that is actually describing as those 2 are completely at odds with each other.

Try again from the start & give us the full story & then we stand a chance of being helpful, and this time don't use phrases like "crapped out" tell us what actually happened.

[anyoldcardave]

E-bmw said:

Pleasekin said:

When I attempted to start it earlier it just sound like it was about to turn over but never did and crapped out.

Well that makes zero sense as earlier you said it was "trying & trying and then it would cut out" implying that it was turning over & over & over and fired up but then cut out.

And above you are saying that it never actually turned over but that it "crapped out", I have no idea what that is actually describing as those 2 are completely at odds with each other.

Try again from the start & give us the full story & then we stand a chance of being helpful, and this time don't use phrases like "crapped out" tell us what actually happened.

It is confusing, tried and tried, nearly got there, suggests it was turning over.

Could still be battery related, but probably not if it started, low voltage shutting down sensors would not improve turning it over,

My guess is the car needs plugs, maybe never changed on a 2015 car ? And a flooded engine caused by plugs on their last legs. A few minutes on a warm engine, they would dry enough to start.

[Pleasekin]

Apologies, I’m extremely ignorant when it comes to motor vehicles, I’ve never claimed any knowledge on said subject.

I will try answer as best as I can, the engine was cranking (what I meant when I said trying and trying, pardon the incorrect terminology) over, at a slow stutter, it seemed to pick up but then stopped (what I meant when I said it crapped out). The engine wasn’t firing. After a few attempts, I waited a few minutes, tried again and the engine started firing, which is when I took it for the test drive.

Hope this helps

[E-bmw]

In that case a good close proper check on all of the main electrical connections & earths is the first job.

A fully charged (overnight) battery and a multimeter to measure the battery voltage precisely is the first second job.

Tell us what EXACTLY happened is the third job.

[Dynion Araf Uchaf]

I’m calling it as a failing fuel pump relay.

[Pleasekin]

Would this throw up a code that could be read by an obd2 reader?

[richhead]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

I’m calling it as a failing fuel pump relay.

It could be, it also could be a hundred other things. the op needs to replicate the fault while someone more knowledgeable about cars there, if this is possible tho is another thing. Intermittent faults can be hard to find.
Good luck op.

[GreenV8S]

Dynion Araf Uchaf said:

I’m calling it as a failing fuel pump relay.

How do you figure that would cause slow cranking and eventually not even cranking?