Still not starting

[Matt]

Hi,

I changed my spark plugs today after the fd hasnt started for about 4 weeks, new battery and and still wont start. It jump starts ok, but without its completley dead. Any ideas of what else it could be or do i need to do anything else??

Cheers

[20B_boy]

? you mean if you hook it up to another car it starts fine??

[Glenn Butcher]

Are all the connections in good order?

Was the new battery fully charged when you put it in?  Good idea to test the new battery as once or twice in the past I have had problems with a new battery.

[michal marzec]

is your dash lit up when key in and turned to on?
does the engine turn over?
are your battery terminals tight?
chave you checked ALL your fuses?(ones next to battery/ones under steering wheel?)
well at least there\'s something to keep you busy on sunday

[gsb876]

When you manage to get car started with jump, take it for a long drive to charge battery up, although its a new battery it might be empty depending on how longs its been sitting there b4 you bought it???

Dont stall it though!! doh!!:(

If you\'ve tried this already sorry thought it was worth a shout as i had this prob with one of me cars a few years ago, a Vauxhall Carlton! yea i know but it was only £400 to buy lasted over 1 year:D

[Matt]

the battery was charged when i got it, i have been charging it over night so ill test it again today. when i put the battery in yesterday and put the key in all the lights come up then when i try to turn the engine on nothing happens at all it didnt even try to tick over, all the lights just go off and the ingition lights wont come on again.

a few weeks ago i jump started it from another car and took it for a good run, but when i stopped the engine it just wouldnt start again.

[michal marzec]

if you can try to jump start it again. if it starts as normal then i guess it can Only be your battery that is faulty.
well, thats my humble opinion anyway.
hope this helps
michal

[Matt]

Thanks mate,

MIght have a duff batt then, ill try to charge up my old one and try that.

[Wav]

Hi m8,

Buy a cheap multimeter from maplins or machine mart and put it on voltage check mode. Put it across the battery terminals and see if it is 12v or there abouts with the engine and ignition is off. Then jump start the car and check the voltage across the terminals again, now the alternator should be charging the battery so the voltage should now read between 13.8-14.5ish volts either side of this and something is a miss somewhere, either the alternator isn\'t charging correctly or that the bat is duff. Then if you put the volt meter across the alternator +ve and -ve terminals and you get a good reading within the parameters listed above then you know it is ok and will probably be your battery or the wiring/earthing to the battery.

If you don\'t fancy doing this, then i\'d take your new battery back and excahange it for a new one and try that first:)

Hope this helps, Paul:)

[Matt]

thanks mate thats helpful, when i put the battery in and turn they key it keeps to drain the batt dead straight away. i hope its nothing more than the battery, but ill try the other battery i have charging tonight.

[michal marzec]

let us know what the outcome is..:confused:

[Matt]

My old battery didnt work, but i think that one must be completely knackered cos that didnt even bring the dash lights up, i think ill take the new battery back to cafco to get them to test it. If that doesnt do the job then maybe a mobile auto electrician.

Cheers