Avensis Problem

E92

Hi folks,

could anyone offer some advice as to what the problem my dad's Avensis 1.8 Luna (2005)is having?

This morning after he went shopping, he went back to the car, and he turned the key. Nothing at all happened. It didn't even make that sound one normally hears when the battery is flat. He then rang the AA, and they said they would be out to him. In the meanwhile, while he was waiting, he had another go at starting the car. It started first go, but the Clock had now reset itself to 0:00.

He turned it off, and when the AA man came, he tried to start the car again, and again nothing was heard, not even the sound a car makes with a flat battery. Then the AA man put a battery booster on to the car, and it started again prefectly.

Now, my dad thinks it is the battery is flat, but I don't because if it were, surley a car can't not start(or even having the starting motor making no noise) and then without being touched, start perfectly, and then not start again. Like the starting motor wasn't making the sound it makes when a battery was flat, i.e., when the key was turned to start, the car made no noise whatsoever.

I suggested to him to take the car to Kearys as its our nearest dealer, and get them to plug in the computer into the car, and see what fault codes come up(if any) as opposed to just simply replacing the battery.

So has anyone got any suggestions as to what the problem maybe, because while I may know a lot about cars, I'm not that good when it comes to matters under the bonnet.

All advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

Anan1

Just call the dealer - the car's still under factory warranty.

Esel

Could be a loose or corroded connection at the battery - especially given that the clock reset.

colm_mcm

yep, loose earth or battery terminal. just bring it to a dealer,

crosstownk

E92 wrote:

Hi folks,

could anyone offer some advice as to what the problem my dad's Avensis 1.8 Luna (2005)is having?

This morning after he went shopping, he went back to the car, and he turned the key. Nothing at all happened. It didn't even make that sound one normally hears when the battery is flat. He then rang the AA, and they said they would be out to him. In the meanwhile, while he was waiting, he had another go at starting the car. It started first go, but the Clock had now reset itself to 0:00.

He turned it off, and when the AA man came, he tried to start the car again, and again nothing was heard, not even the sound a car makes with a flat battery. Then the AA man put a battery booster on to the car, and it started again prefectly.

Now, my dad thinks it is the battery is flat, but I don't because if it were, surley a car can't not start(or even having the starting motor making no noise) and then without being touched, start perfectly, and then not start again. Like the starting motor wasn't making the sound it makes when a battery was flat, i.e., when the key was turned to start, the car made no noise whatsoever.

I suggested to him to take the car to Kearys as its our nearest dealer, and get them to plug in the computer into the car, and see what fault codes come up(if any) as opposed to just simply replacing the battery.

So has anyone got any suggestions as to what the problem maybe, because while I may know a lot about cars, I'm not that good when it comes to matters under the bonnet.

All advice is much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

It could be a few things. It is possible that it is a faulty battery, but it could also be a dodgy starter motor that is sticking - this could cause a drain significant enough to deprive the clock of current causing it to reset. It could also, as suggested above, be a dodgy/corroded earth strap or positive lead.

If it is put on a diagnosis machine in Keary's, it is possible that no show faults will show in the fault memory - I'd almost bet on it.

Mr.Diagnostic

My money is on a faulty ignition switch.

crosstownk

Mr.Diagnostic wrote:

My money is on a faulty ignition switch.

That actually crossed my mind, but the way the clock resets threw me more towards a power supply problem. The clock should be supplied with power irrespective of ignition switch position.