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Car struggling to start

  • 12-01-2010 1:08pm
    #1
    Mister Sifter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,798 ✭✭✭


    Apologies if this is a well-worn topic, but i'm a bit of a car novice and just looking for some advice.

    I went to start my Fiesta last night for the first time in about 5 days and it wouldn't start. It made all the right noises of being about to start but then just cut out. I tried 2-3 times at 30 minute intervals, and then eventually on the 4th try it started. Giving it a bit of acceleration straight after turning the key seemed to do the trick.

    My initial thought was that it was likely the battery. Once i got it started i took it on a half hour drive just to give it a decent run out. My thinking was that this would help the battery.

    The car had been sitting in the elements and was parked facing slightly downhill during this time.

    The same thing happened in the summer on a very damp and windy day. it has since passed its NCT and been serviced with no problems.

    Just wondering whether anyone can shed any light on what the problem might have been/is and if this is a signal of an underlying problem?

    Car started perfectly this morning.


Comments

  • #2
    biko
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 81,220 ✭✭✭✭biko


    Probably just the battery affected by the cold.
    Does the engine sound good once it's started? No misfiring, hesitations etcetera?
    As you pointed out, there's been lots of threads about this issue.


  • #3
    anbrutog
    Closed Accounts Posts: 386 ✭✭anbrutog


    Hi Mister Shifter ,

    Exact same thing happened with my car at the weekend ( 01 Honda Accord). Car parked on a slope , hadn't been used in a week because of the weather, with some ( not a lot of petrol ) in the tank. Turns out my battery was low, I got it replaced but unfortunately the car still wouldn't start , albeit with different symptoms. I put some extra petrol in the car and while it wouldnt start straight away , after a few go's it started , and its now running fine. My dad's theory is that the fuel filter is dirty ( supposed to be changed every c.30k ) and that because it was lying on a slope that the fuel was having difficulty getting from the tank to the engine, but by adding some extra petrol this increased the pressure and made it easier for the fuel to get to the engine. Does this make sense to anyone??


  • #4
    Mister Sifter
    Registered Users, Registered Users 2 Posts: 3,798 ✭✭✭Mister Sifter


    Magnus wrote: »
    Probably just the battery affected by the cold.
    Does the engine sound good once it's started? No misfiring, hesitations etcetera?
    As you pointed out, there's been lots of threads about this issue.

    Thanks Magnus, i'll have a better look through the previous threads.

    Once it started going it was fine and this morning there were no strange signs.

    I just wanted to check that there wasn't an obvious underlying problem that i was ignoring.


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