Ticking noise and no start

Dundalk Daily

Diesel engine, 4 year old, when I turn the key all electrics comeon ok but engine doesnt start and there is a loud ticking noise like the battery isnt connected or its not sparking up. Any suggestions, is this the starter gone or spark plugs or something. Just happened out of the blue.

BrandonBlock

Well if it was the battery gone or disconnected, nothing would work (like your headlights, fans, radio, etc) so probably not that. When were your spark plugs last changed? You are supposed to change them every 10,000 miles / 2 years as a rough guideline. Could be dampness getting into the electrics (distributor cap/leads/spark plugs) - If it is that the car should start after a few hours/days tho it usually doesnt last. What make/model is it just out of curiousity?

Dundalk Daily

Rover 75 diesel bmw engine. The engine is well covered with original casing. Id say car is overdue a service so hopefully is spark plugs. Do sparkplugs just stop working when they are done ? What about starter does it sould like that ?

bushy...

Diesel ..........so no spark plugs, if its making a loud ticking sound it may just be that the battery is weak , try a jump start and see how you get on

Dundalk Daily

thanks bushy I will try that in fact it sounds like that, doesnt sound like starter to you. If ther starter went would the electrics go on when key is turned ?

JHMEG

On a petrol car if the battery is too weak to start the engine you'll get a loud clicking sound as the starter motor tries but doesn't engage. Since a diesel engine needs to be turned over by a starter motor you probably have a weak battery.

By the sounds of it and its age the battery is prob on the way out and you may need a new one.

As bushy says: try jump start it.

peasant

If, as the ticking is heard, the lights go dim on the dashboard, then it's def. the battery.

If the lights stay bright, you starter could be broken.

A jump start will rule out the battery anyway and you'll know more.

crosstownk

JHMEG wrote:

On a petrol car if the battery is too weak to start the engine you'll get a loud clicking sound as the starter motor tries but doesn't engage. Since a diesel engine needs to be turned over by a starter motor you probably have a weak battery.

By the sounds of it and its age the battery is prob on the way out and you may need a new one.

As bushy says: try jump start it.

I reckon this is the problem. Get it jump started and see what happens.

Anan1

I'll second the above. When the battery is weak, it sometimes has enough power to engage the starter motor solenoid (which clicks) but not to turn the starter motor.

Darth Maul

Had the same thing happening on my van, was the starter motor solenoid, a tap with a hammer usually gets it to engage, the click was the solenoid engaging but the switch wasn't passing the power through to the starter itself, can be tested by shorting the 2 poles on the solenoid (one coming from battery with one going to starter), should hear the starter spin , don't do this for long,

miju

though do try to jump it before you try the hammer approach

Dundalk Daily

job done jumped no problem, thanks guys.

JHMEG

If it happens again for no reason, battery is fooked and time for a new one.

Dundalk Daily

yes im going to change the battery thank again