Car Will Not Start - Not Sure Wa Problem Is Causing It

[dibz--8]

first of all thought the battery was a dud, but we had another one for free to replace it , brand new one. every time i go to start the car , it will not start, have to use jump leads to get it going. before engine is turned off, i mke sure evrythng is turned off, but then i dun get any luck when i try startin it then ,

any suggestions on how i could solve this problem . would be very grateful

[D Zest]

Sounds like the Alternator is Knackered to me

[James.G]

might be the alternator. charge the battery right up and see if it starts.

along as the battery is okay and you can jump start it its probably a short or alternator.

if the battery is fine and it will bump start but not jump start then its the starter motor .. (just replaced mine due to this)

[wullieboy]

you could check the voltage of the battery while attached to the car then just leave it for a while and check it again to see if something maybe draining it . sound like alternator tbh

[dibz--8]

when to start the car today and it was dead, no life in it what so ever. ad a mess about with a few of cables under the bonnet and when i tried starting it after messing about, it started straight away , alternator working fine and was charging the battery. after knocking the engine off and going to try it later it wouldn't start again. :S

dont know what i done to make it start after messin about and knowing it wouldn't start

help please

[Luke]

Sounds like a loose connection somewhere.

[titch]

Check your earths mate, even though when mine went, it wouldn't jumpstart, by what you was saying about messing with the wires, thats what it sounds like to me, when I had the same problem, I had to wiggle the steering wheel, lol. Got my earths changed and s'all good now :)

[dibz--8]

thanks, il have a look tomorrow and let you know if ive solved the problem

[mikey72]

Hi,
if it's starting off jump leads, but not the battery, check the battery terminals and battery connectors are clean, use a bit of sandpaper inside the battery connectors to get them shiny, and a quick rub round the battery terminals.
Cheers
Mike