Hello well the issue started on a drive home from work, the engine warning light came on and the check steering light came on and off which i thought was due to the battery (which i changed and also had a new alternator fitted).

Anyway, battery tests fine but now when i go to start the car nothing happens at all, electronics come on but no ticking or whining noise and obv the car wont start, trying using a jump start unit on it but no joy.

Which leads to the starter motor right? thing is i know the rough where abouts of it but can't get to it to try give it a little knock to see if that helps.

Any advice? also i'd like to check the fuses but no idea where to start, i checked fuse F35 under the bonnet (which the manual says thats the one for the starter motor) but there isn't even a fuse in that slot?

Help please.

hi, which engine..??,

the starter is normally on the REAR of the engine,


best to clean the battery terminals then refit + tighten the clamps,
possible to use a jumplead to go from NEGATIVE battery terminal to large metal part of engine too,( or exhaust..)

Charlie

Check earths

It's the 1.2 and ive cleaned the terminals connecting to the battery, but what do you mean check the earths?

Update - Managed to pull the car up my drive (wasn't long enough to bump) and have bump started it no problem however the engine light is on and the power steering light (works fine) and car still won't start without a push - just grinding noises now, been quoted £70 for a new starter motor plus £30 fitting, should i go ahead? will they check earths/fuses and stuff before fitting?

Follow the earth lead from the battery to where it bolts to the chassis and give both sides a tug - I had one with similar problems and the lead had corroded & broke under the insulation but looked fine.

Sorry i'm no good with this sort of thing, which one is the earth?

The black one. Follow it down under the battery to where it bolts onto the body then give both sides a wiggle & tug.

I concur with Maggers,

I have just had the same problem and thought it was the starter. Turned out to be the earth cable had rotted inside the covering. One way to check is to get a set of jump leads, attach one to the black terminal on the battery, the other end onto the engine, then attach the other to the engine and the other end to the chassis. This will then create a temporary earth, turn it over and see if it starts, if it does, replace the black earth lead off the battery complete, not a difficult job.

Thanks will try that in the morning, just fit a new starter motor but guess what, the one i just took out tests fine! no big deal tho as i can return it for a full refund. will try the thing with the jump cables in the morning, if that fails i guess i will have to take it to an autoelectrician?

Just give the black wires a tug and they seem fine, assume we where talking about the black one on the left? which is quite a short lead and goes to a bolt on the body

danny19891 said:

Just give the black wires a tug and they seem fine, assume we where talking about the black one on the left? which is quite a short lead and goes to a bolt on the body

Click to expand...

sounds correct, battery NEG. cable to chassis earth point.

where are you / the car based,
somebody may be able to help with a recommendation,

charlie - Oxford

I'm based in Bradford. I've been told about an auto electrician which is £35 p/h ?