Partner just rang to say the Panda won't start. I went over with jump leads expecting it to burst into life... Nothing. Every electrical thing works, but the car won't turn over at all, no clicking or anything. The battery was new in 2017 according to the receipts I have.
Over the past few days when cold starting, the first crank sounds a bit laboured for a split second, then it cranks quickly and starts.
Could this just be a case of a bad battery?
Or a starter motor?

Thanks

Failed earth cable

varesecrazy said:

Failed earth cable

Click to expand...

Is this common? The weather was grim, so Ive left it now and my partner is going to call the RAC whilst she is at work tomorrow to see if they can sort it, if not it'll get towed to my work for me to do

Starter motors fail. A similar type on a BMW R1200 motorbike failed twice in 75,000 miles.

Connect a jump lead between engine and battery earth. If the starter spins on the key you have a failed earth link. Clip the positive lead to the starter input terminal and clip the other end to the battery positive. Now put power to the starter solenoid trigger. If it turns, you have a wiring fault and/or failed ignition switch. If it does not turn you have a failed starter motor.

Diagnosed as the starter motor failing.

hi, sounds just like a problem i had with our 2005 multipla recently, same symptoms, i thought originally it was a broken cam belt, as turnover very fast, but when i checked through the inspection cover all ok, start was then very slow, suggesting a flat battery, i carried out the following, lifted the bonnet to check for loose wires, sprayed wd 40 over certain electrical connections, charged the battery for two hours, sprayed door locks with wd40,including our previous sticking boot lock, after two hours turned the key ( after removing charger), engine started running on three cylinders for a couple of min`s, engine management light was illuminated, then light went out, all ok, all happy four cylinders purring!!!, what caused it?, i really do`t know, no problems at all since.

Car runs fine now the RAC man got it going. Just wouldn't turn over. I haven't got time to do the job, so the local garage are putting a new starter in today

Got the car back. Starts so quickly now. The new starter is much quieter too.