04 Almera - wont start?

Curran

Yesterday evening, the car started fine - first turn!
However, this morning, the car wouldnt start for herself! So she comes in and tells me that the battery is dead and that she thinks the lights were left on. I didnt think so, cos all I did the pervious evening was move the car, in the driveway and it wasnt dark when I did it!
Anyways, I went out to have a look, the car was turning over, but wouldnt kick in! It was almost starting. The electrics were working, radio, windows, and central locking!
Is it possible that the cold (even though it wasnt extreme) weather last night has killed the battery slightly? Enough not to be able to start the car, but not enough that other electrics will work?
Tried to jump the car in 2nd but no joy! Was reading that extreme cold can effect the battery and that you can bring it indoors, heat it up for about an hour and it might work again! Car is sitting in direct sunlight now, so might give it a bash again in a while!

Its a lil strange, as the car starts first time every time! Its the original battery afaik - I know they only have an average life of 4 years, but would they not start to give a bit of trouble before dying completely! Is it common to work one day and not the next?

Any experiences or suggestions to what the problem might be?
Cheers!

ianobrien

How fast was the engine turning on the starter? Was it turning normally or did it sound slow & strained? If it sounded normal and rotated at normal cranking speeds, it isn't the battery.

Just a wild stab in the dark - Did you drop the car key last night?

A battery goes from starting a car to not doing so overnight quite frequently. Although if it is cranking away as you say it sounds like the battery is fine. If the crank is strong you might either have no spark or no fuel. While cranking if you spray some dampstart into your airintake and it starts then fuel is your problem. Spark is a bit harder to check if you are not under the bonnet inclined. If there is enough electrics to get dash lights and headlights she should jump start no probs.

In saying that jump starting a car with a cat converter isn't ideal, which nowadays is the vast vast majority of cars. Try it with jump leads is the easiest way.

I presume tis not a diesel Almera you have.

AM

Curran wrote: »

cos all I did the pervious evening was move the car, in the driveway

I've a petrol Almera, the old 99 model, and this has happened to me after doing the exact same thing. The engine had flooded so to clear it I held the accelerator to the floor and turned the key for about ten seconds. It struggles then eventually starts.

By the way, don't push the starter motor too hard for too long!

ianobrien

AM wrote: »

I've a petrol Almera, the old 99 model, and this has happened to me after doing the exact same thing. The engine had flooded so to clear it I held the accelerator to the floor and turned the key for about ten seconds. It struggles then eventually starts.

By the way, don't push the starter motor too hard for too long!

We had the same in a 96 Mirca. It was a regular occurance as we would have to juggle cars at night on the drive for who would be first out in the morning. Our solution was to pull the fuse for the fuel pump. We would crank the engine and it would fire eventually. After a while, it would die. We would switch it off, put back in the fuel pump fuse and the engine would start no bother.

I've never heard of a 03 to 07 Almera do the same. My thinking behind the key was that if the key was dropped, the immobiliser "chip" could fall out. and the car wouldn't start. I've seen that happen to Fords, VWs, BMWs etc

Curran

AM wrote: »

The engine had flooded so to clear it I held the accelerator to the floor and turned the key for about ten seconds. It struggles then eventually starts

Just as an update for anyone, who might be searching for a similar problem!!

Went out at about 11 and tried it again! It was turning over and it was maybe a little slower than normal, but nothing unusual! (to answer Ian's theroy)

Usually dont use the accelerator when starting it, but it was so close to starting that it seemed it just needed a bit! Gave it a lil juice with no success, so put the foot to the floor and then it eventually kicked it - it was spluttering when it got going for a few seconds and a bit of blue smoke from the exhaust - obviously cos I had flooded it at bit from earlier and when I went back to it! Chugging and spluttering only lasted 5-10 seconds and then back to the normal exhaust emissions!

Anyways, took it for a 20 mile blast, down the motorway! Parked it up for about an hour, started like normal when i went back to it, like nothing was ever wrong with it!

Wonder would it have gotten damp - there was lots of dew on it this morning!
Strange - but anyways - problem sloved for now - hopefully there'll be no issues tomorrow morning! Missed my lie on today :mad:

Thanks for the feedback people!!

ianobrien

Curran wrote: »

Just as an update for anyone, who might be searching for a similar problem!!

Went out at about 11 and tried it again! It was turning over and it was maybe a little slower than normal, but nothing unusual! (to answer Ian's theroy)

Usually dont use the accelerator when starting it, but it was so close to starting that it seemed it just needed a bit! Gave it a lil juice with no success, so put the foot to the floor and then it eventually kicked it - it was spluttering when it got going for a few seconds and a bit of blue smoke from the exhaust - obviously cos I had flooded it at bit from earlier and when I went back to it! Chugging and spluttering only lasted 5-10 seconds and then back to the normal exhaust emissions!

Anyways, took it for a 20 mile blast, down the motorway! Parked it up for about an hour, started like normal when i went back to it, like nothing was ever wrong with it!

Wonder would it have gotten damp - there was lots of dew on it this morning!
Strange - but anyways - problem sloved for now - hopefully there'll be no issues tomorrow morning! Missed my lie on today :mad:

Thanks for the feedback people!!

The car flooded - Leaving it for a few hours was a good move as it gives time for the fuel to evaporate off the plugs. The damp morning had nothing to do with it, and the car will propably do it again. It was a regular occurance for us in a 96 Micra, but never heard of it in an Almera until now.

The 20mile blast was a good move as well - recharge the battery after all that cranking.