Help my car is dead and won't start

[TimR26]

Car has been starting fine with no problems until tonight. I stopped turned engine off then tried to start it few minutes later but nothing happened, completely dead. Battery is fine, lights on dash come on as normal before turning the ignition but it won't turnover.

Is it the immobiliser as I can't think of anything else that would stop the car from turning over? Heard the tdc sensor can be an issue but would that stop it cranking?

Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[Dangerous_dave]

tdc can affect starting i.e making it turn over rough or longer than usual to start, it wouldnt be that sudden unless disconnected,

disconnect the battery for 15-20 mins reconnect and try, also ensure that batterry has a good ground...and all main cables are connected on the loom...to where they go in the engine bay etc.

Have you got petrol?
battery could have lost most of its charge?
does it try and turn over at all or is it just nothing?
Breakdown cover ftw

 

[TimR26]

The car was misfiring couple of weeks ago until the plugs were changed so don't know if that's related. Also the speedo sometimes jumps up and down when accelerating. Car is outside my mates house so I'll have to try the battery in morning.

 

[Dangerous_dave]

The car was misfiring couple of weeks ago until the plugs were changed so don't know if that's related. Also the speedo sometimes jumps up and down when accelerating. Car is outside my mates house so I'll have to try the battery in morning.

could be tdc then, does that to the revs on some cars...dunno about clios.

try the battery, if not then the tdc... clean the tiny probe end of it as its prob coked over will be good to clean it anyway even if its not the problem.

 

[TimR26]

Ok cheers I'll give it a try.

 

[TimR26]

Got to my car at lunchtime and it started up first time. Guessing it may be my immobiliser having a spaz?

 

[Beef-Mc]

I'd be tempted to have a look at a new battery.

 

[Jonff]

When it does decide it doesn't want to start, do you just get a clicking from the engine bay? If so it'll be a starter motor issue, mine was exactly the same.

 

[H182]

As said possibly starter motor. My 1.2 wasn't turning over and it turned out to be a dodgy cable.

 

[TimR26]

I'd be tempted to have a look at a new battery.

Don't think its battery related looked through the window and it's still green.

When it does decide it doesn't want to start, do you just get a clicking from the engine bay? If so it'll be a starter motor issue, mine was exactly the same.

Think there may have been a clicking. Apart from last night mine usually starts perfectly. What was yours like?

 

[Whiteley]

Not turning over at all? That'll more than likely be sticking starter/solenoid. If the immobiliser was active then it'd still allow it to turn over.

Give it a tap with a hammer and it'll probably go. A bit awkward down between the manifold though.

 

[TimR26]

Not turning over at all? That'll more than likely be sticking starter/solenoid. If the immobiliser was active then it'd still allow it to turn over.

Give it a tap with a hammer and it'll probably go. A bit awkward down between the manifold though.

Wasn't turning over at all last night but started first time when I tried it at lunchtime and been fine since.

 

[Jonff]

Think there may have been a clicking. Apart from last night mine usually starts perfectly. What was yours like?

When mine wouldn't start, there was nothing there at all, the lights came up on my dash, imobliser would disarm but when I tried to start it there was nothing at all, wouldn't even crank. Just got a clicking noise from the starter.

Mine started off just doing it occasionally, it gradually got worse over time and in the end I needed a new starter.

 

[mini-valver]

Not turning over at all? That'll more than likely be sticking starter/solenoid. If the immobiliser was active then it'd still allow it to turn over.

Give it a tap with a hammer and it'll probably go. A bit awkward down between the manifold though.

The immobilisor will stop it from cranking unless you try literally straight away. If you turn ignition on, wait a few seconds, then try, nothing happens. If you flick the key straight round to start it, it wil crank like 4 times then stop. Older ones will still crank over in my experience. UCH cars, will not.