Car won't start. Advice?

[pzkpfw]

Turn the key, and all the dashboard lights light up like normal, but all I get is a very fast ticking from somewhere in the dashboard (could be sound coming through from the engine bay) - like a relay turning on and off very fast.

In the past I've seen this due to a simple low battery (when it has enough juice to turn on the starter solenoid, but not enough to turn the engine), so I pulled it out and charged it - but no change, I get the same symptoms.

Any clues as to what's up?

(I found the fuses, but none I could see were blown. There were some of a type I've never seen before, so wasn't sure about pulling them out).

I'd be happy to pay the garage to fix - but the cars at home and it's a long way to push. Dunno if they charge a mint for pick up... will call on Monday if no luck.

[Latte]

Turn the key, and all the dashboard lights light up like normal, but all I get is a very fast ticking from somewhere in the dashboard (could be sound coming through from the engine bay) - like a relay turning on and off very fast.

In the past I've seen this due to a simple low battery (when it has enough juice to turn on the starter solenoid, but not enough to turn the engine), so I pulled it out and charged it - but no change, I get the same symptoms.

Any clues as to what's up?

(I found the fuses, but none I could see were blown. There were some of a type I've never seen before, so wasn't sure about pulling them out).

I'd be happy to pay the garage to fix - but the cars at home and it's a long way to push. Dunno if they charge a mint for pick up... will call on Monday if no luck.

stuck solenoid perhaps, personal preference is a few wacks on the starter with some timber.

[steve_t]

What kind of car? Does Welly have some mobile mechanics? Any mates AA members? :innocent:

[DangerMice]

I had the same thing. New starter motor was required.

[pzkpfw]

2006 Toyota Avensis. Maybe it heard there's been (another) recall and it wants to be taken back to the dealer...

[Mully]

Try jumpstarting it - your battery might not be holding enough charge even when you've charged it.

[NighthawkNZ]

Car won't start. Advice?

Ride your bike... :yes:

[hayd3n]

if its a manuel find you could get some ppl to give ya a push start and drive to a garage
or try jump starting first
its still far easier just to take the bike

[superman]

Ride your bike... :yes:

+1. Do it!

[Juzz976]

clean battery terminals and make sure they clamp tight.

most likely thats all thats wrong

[george formby]

stuck solenoid perhaps, personal preference is a few wacks on the starter with some timber.

+ 1 The chancellor's jeep has a nice bit of Ti tree in the glove compartment for said purpose.

[Bikemad]

you could try this...........
<iframe title="YouTube video player" width="480" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/78b67l_yxUc" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[Wannabiker]

Battrey is probably stuffed and not holding a charge. Need to get it load tested after charging it. Most garages used to ne able to do this in the "old days"...but alas, will only sell you soft drink and groceries now. Chargs battery, fit, turn headlights on, and try cranking the motor..if the headlights go out, then its poked.

Try a substitute battery. Check all terminals are tight...including the one at the starter motor. Thats the simple fix for a Sunday afternoon. Without knowing the make / Model then it may wel be something more deep seated, and require further investigation....where in wellington are you?

[pzkpfw]

Tawa.

Haven't had a new battery since the car was new in 2006, so I guess it may well be time to just get a new one "just in case" that's the issue.

(If it wasn't so sudden, from "car OK" to "Car won't start" I'd have maybe known the battery was on its' way out...)

[Wannabiker]

A battery will do that...one day OK..next day, poked. Especially in June, when the first cold snap / frost hits. 5 years is good for a battery these days.

[notme]

Borrow a battery from the neighbor (or whoever) before opening the wallet....just in case it's the starter motor or solenoid.

There is a problem with the ignition barrel of some Avensis's around 2005 IIRC, but that should result in no noise or clicks at all when you try to start.

[pzkpfw]

OK, I'm a muppet. (You knew that, right?)

Fooled by the sudden transition from Go to No-Go, I definitely had been over-thinking it. (I mean, I kind of knew it was just a poked battery, but was also worried about the immobiliser, the mongoose alarm thing, the odd behaviour of the right rear indicator lately, global warming, all that stuff).

Finally managed to steal the Wife's car and go get a battery (with two cars and one bike in the household, not much urgency really.)

...then had to go swap it for another one (more expensive, with "European" written on it, woo hoo) because the normal one wouldn't fit.

And then it started first turn of the key.


Thanks to everyone who commented. It was all useful.



Now I'm off to the I.T. forum to ask about setting the clock...

[Wannabiker]

Excellent...I was worried that as you hadn't reported back after a couple of weeks, that it was a major, and the car was in a million bits... waiting for some part from overseas, which is on back-order....

[SMOKEU]

Excellent...I was worried that as you hadn't reported back after a couple of weeks, that it was a major, and the car was in a million bits... waiting for some part from overseas, which is on back-order....

Come on, it's not a Nissan.

[pzkpfw]

Come on, it's not a Nissan.

He's not far wrong, really.

It's a Toyota, but English assembled.

Just getting brake pads was a mission; for a start my model is not in most of the parts books.

(The embarassing thing was, after struggling with Repco and Supercheap and everyone I could phone, I got new pads for the back from an actual Toyota dealer - for about the same price as the Repco/Supercheap pads usually are. I still shudder, though, at the $360 EACH price they quoted for new rear drum/rotors. (I say drum/rotor because it's a disk brake, but the disk has an in-built drum for the hand-brake which uses shoes.))