I have just had to leave my car outside a friends house because when i try and start the engine it just starts making a loud clicking sound, also im not sure if it's related but I got a temperature warning on the dashboard a few days go telling me to turn the engine off?!?! what can this be as the car is only 2 years old?

Thanks
Liam

Problem one.

Sounds like either flat battery, or sticky solinoid


Problem two.

Are you on about engine temp?

What temp did display readout? Did you stop like it said or just ignore it and carry on

battery is fine, someone suggested getting a insulated screw driver and hitting two 6mm poles on th starter moter to get it going will this work?

The other problem i was just wondering if this was related, also would both of these be covered by the warantee?

Thanks
Liam

bennett said:

battery is fine, someone suggested getting a insulated screw driver and hitting two 6mm poles on th starter moter to get it going will this work?

The other problem i was just wondering if this was related, also would both of these be covered by the warantee?

Thanks
Liam

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How do you know? Starter motor isnt likely to be jammed up on such a new car. I vote loose battery terminal, duff cell in the battery or a flat battery.

Outside chance the starter motor is foobarred...

:yeahthat:

As for the second problem, you've yet to answer my question so couldn't possibly advise as to if its a warrentie job or not.

bennett said:

I have just had to leave my car outside a friends house because when i try and start the engine it just starts making a loud clicking sound, also im not sure if it's related but I got a temperature warning on the dashboard a few days go telling me to turn the engine off?!?! what can this be as the car is only 2 years old?

Thanks
Liam

Click to expand...

Call this dude...

Try giving the car a bit of a rock from side to side, can often get over a broken bit of cog in the started motor. If it then starts then its almost certainly the starter motor.

As said above though its more likely to be battery related.

I work alot with outboard motors and this happens all the time with the starter motor and giving it a chap with the back of a shifter as trying to start it usually frees it off.

THAT SAID, its very very unlikely this is the issue with your newish car.

How can it be the battery when all the dashboard lights come on, lights come on and the radio come on.

Would a push start work with a sticking selanoidy thingy?

Thanks
Liam

bennett said:

How can it be the battery when all the dashboard lights come on, lights come on and the radio come on.

Would a push start work with a sticking selanoidy thingy?

Thanks
Liam

Click to expand...

because "all the dashboard lights come on, lights come on and the radio come on" draws nothing like the power a starter motor does. not even close.

try starting it with your lights on, if they dim right down when you hear this "clicking" its your battery.

EDIT: Bump start will still work with either a flat battery or sticky starter motor so doesnt really help you decifer whats wrong. and not hugely good for the car too tbh.

bennett said:

How can it be the battery when all the dashboard lights come on, lights come on and the radio come on.

Would a push start work with a sticking selanoidy thingy?

Thanks
Liam

Click to expand...

Starter requires LOADS of current, lights just a teeny weeny bit...

So a flat battery or a dodgy cell = no starter, but lights will be fine...ish.... for a short while.

Im going to try all these things tonight to isolate the problem, just for reference how do i get to the starter motor the clicking noise is coming from the right hand side of the engine?

Thanks
Liam

bennett said:

How can it be the battery when all the dashboard lights come on, lights come on and the radio come on.

Would a push start work with a sticking selanoidy thingy?

Thanks
Liam

Click to expand...

Dont push start it. It will dump unburnt fuel into the cat which could damage it.

once will be fine.

JimbbobW1977 said:

Dont push start it. It will dump unburnt fuel into the cat which could damage it.

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:yeahthat:

punto_matt said:

once will be fine.

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But do it once when not needed and then you'll not be able to do it 'the once' when you genuinly need to.

I'd advise against it personaly, but the amount of fuel in question isn't likly to cause that much of an issue.

Id do it. Cat going is very unlikey from bumping it a few times.

Peronally I'd try it with some booster cables from another car, that way if it starts you know its the battery + no risk to the catalyser...

If it clicks just the same (make sure you have good solid connections on the battery clamps) then you know it is something else like maybe the electrical connections to the starter motor etc...

Does it just click once then stop or does it click constantly but not do anything else?

one click would be a duff solenoid a series of clicks will be low battery current (going by past experience)

Ffoxy said:

Peronally I'd try it with some booster cables from another car, that way if it starts you know its the battery + no risk to the catalyser...

If it clicks just the same (make sure you have good solid connections on the battery clamps) then you know it is something else like maybe the electrical connections to the starter motor etc...

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For gords sake though, use surge protected jump leads

Most Easterly Pandas said:

For gords sake though, use surge protected jump leads

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Lol, are you the kind of person that disconnect the negative lead from the battey and adorns safety specs before cleaning out the ashtray??