Technical Help - wont start

[Bale03]

Morning All,

So this morning my 58 plate Grande Punto wont start. (60k on clock)

History...
We have had an issue with the passenger side rear indicator cluster about 4weeks ago and replaced that no problem, for about a year or 2 had the problem that the fact it says the boot is open even when it isn't.

Went in for Full Service and MOT 2 and half weeks ago with local garage, no reported faults.

So on Monday morning i went to start the car and seemed a bit 'different' it did start but didnt sound as healthy, when turning from ignition to start all lights went off on dash, radio went off, needles dropped to zero and the made the sound that it locked(??).

It started though and then did the same again on Tuesday & Wednesday, this morning went to start the car and it did the above but didnt start at all, nothing, not even a attempt just a strange noise (like a click, click, click) i applied the accelerator and it flashed up for prob 0.2secs something about Radiator??

Help - im not too technical if you couldnt guess

 

[DGPunto]

Sounds Battery related to me. The click can be the starter trying to engage with a flattish battery.


A few checks:
1. Check battery earths at both the battery and car ends
2. If you turn headlights on are they bright?
3. Check the battery is being charged - easiest to check voltage when the car is running (you might have to jump it from another car). You should see somewhere around 14v when running
4. Check battery voltage when the car is turned off - should be a little over 12v
5. Have you tried charging the battery?


If you're getting boot open when it isn't could the boot light be on draining the battery?

 

[Avocet]

Sounds like an absolute classic earth strap fault. If you have some jump leads, put ONE of them from the battery negative terminal to the engine block (the top engine mount at the cam belt end is a good place). make sure contact is good and on to clean metal at each end.

Try and start it.

If that doesn't work, take a SECOND jump lead (leaving the first connected,) and run that one from the battery negative terminal to the BODYSHELL. Again, it will have to go to something that is clean metal and electrically connected to the bodyshell.

Try again to start it.

Report back and let us know what happens.