Car won't start

[tyranical]

My girlfriends car won't start. If you turn the key it clicks once and that's it.

Any suggestions? Starter motor frozen was my guess but I don't know if that's possible lol.

[sunbeam_alpine]

Battery has died. Happens a lot in this sort of weather.

[kambites]

Flat battery, I'd guess.

[g3org3y]

As above, check battery first.

[tyranical]

The lights all come on and radio etc though?

[varsas]

As above or it's an issue with the starter.
Try jumping it first of all.
If you still get no joy check the battery connection and cables to the starter, especially the earth. If that's OK you could try shorting the starter directly to the battery to see if that helps otherwise it could be the solanoid, although if you can here a click that's probably OK....

[Huntsman]

tyranical said:

The lights all come on and radio etc though?

Yes, but they require a few amps, maybe 3 amps, starter requires a whole lorry load of amps, like a few hundred!

[tyranical]

Bit buggered now, the car is in a slanted drive we can't push it out and can't get another car close enough to jump it.

[silverthorn2151]

tyranical said:

Bit buggered now, the car is in a slanted drive we can't push it out and can't get another car close enough to jump it.

Bump start it if it's on a slope.

[oldcynic]

Dead battery - the output drops as the temperature falls, which is why failed betteries normally show up in winter. Of course the engine probably needs more energy to get started at lower temperatures too.

[E21_Ross]

starter motor i reckon

[Superhoop]

Huntsman said:

tyranical said:

The lights all come on and radio etc though?

Yes, but they require a few amps, maybe 3 amps, starter requires a whole lorry load of amps, like a few hundred!

A few hundred amps - what does his girlfriend drive? A Cheifton tank??

[tyranical]

It's slanted to the garage there's literally half a metre infront of it so can't bump start, we could get multiple leads and join them together.

[oldcynic]

tyranical said:

Bit buggered now, the car is in a slanted drive we can't push it out and can't get another car close enough to jump it.

Call the breakdown service. It's their job to sort this out.
Just don't buy one of their overpriced batteries.

[tyranical]

Are they gonna come and fix it if it's on her drive?

[kambites]

tyranical said:

Are they gonna come and fix it if it's on her drive?

Depends on the service she's got.

Alternatively, you can buy what is basically a battery and two jump leads in a box, which you can use to jump start a car and then plug into the wall to charge back up.

[fido]

Bad timing eh? .. Halfords shut at 17:00 - else you could have bought a battery - none of your friends have a spare battery then? I always keep a spare one handy for moments like this. Sounds like Mr Recovery Man then.

[sunbeam_alpine]

You know that you can bump start in reverse, don't you? Or have I misunderstood something?

[gingerpaul]

If didn't want to buy a jump pack and you've got another car you could take the battery out of that and jump start it using that assuming it's powerful enough. Depending on the car you might find the battery is in the boot so that's worth checking too.

[Parrot of Doom]

Borrow a few jump leads, chain them together. Make sure the clips are well connected, lots of metal between the two. Don't let red and black touch.

Or, nick a battery from another car, and start your car from that. Once the engine is running, move it off the drive, put your battery back in, and jump start it. Then take it for a long drive, at least 20 miles or so.

Edited by Parrot of Doom on Sunday 28th November 17:25