My car won't start! :(

The Big Red Button

In the last few weeks, I've had trouble starting my car. The first few times I turn the key, I get pretty much nothing. Then she starts coughing a wee bit, like she's at least trying. Then I might leave it a few minutes, and try again, and she'll usually eventually get going. It takes about twenty goes before she'll actually start. But then, if I try, she'll start again no bother within the next couple of hours, once she's going.

It's a '98 Mitsubishi Colt. I'm just wondering if this is likely to be an expensive problem? She's due a service, but if it's going to cost a couple of hundred to sort out, I'd nearly be inclined to just scrap her and not bother with the service or anything.

Could be a weak battery, could be ignition related. How due a service is it?

mondeo

On a 1.3 lancer I used as a work run about not so long ago I had a similar issue. It was the starter motor. Same engine as the colt but I would check your battery first for a dodgy connection before looking into a starter.
Starter motor is a fecker to get to on those cars!

The Big Red Button

RoverJames wrote: »

Could be a weak battery, could be ignition related. How due a service is it?

Had a full service in September and passed the NCT after that.

Since then, she's been doing maybe one return trip between Sligo and Dublin a month and sitting idle apart from that. Probably not good to leave her for so long between drives I'm guessing?

The Big Red Button

mondeo wrote: »

On a 1.3 lancer I used as a work run about not so long ago I had a similar issue. It was the starter motor. Same engine as the colt but I would check your battery first for a dodgy connection before looking into a starter.
Starter motor is a fecker to get to on those cars!

If it's just a connection, is it likely to be expensive?

I'm just trying to work out if it's worth my while trying to fix this, or should I just look for a new car?

It doesn't sound like a starter or loose connection to me, pop into a reputable garage and ask them to load test your battery

Imbatman

it could be a number of things,main culprit is battery,spark plugs,earth leads,spark plug leads..start with the battery and check connections are tight,check earth lead onto the body.if battery and plugs are ok and leads are tight then check starter connections,friend of mine had similar problems on same model it turned out to be a faulty receiver on the ignition barrell that was playing havoc with the immobilizer

unkel

I doubt it's the battery. That it lets you have 20 attempts at starting the engine shows it's in pretty good nick

Could be a lot of things though. My first guess would be ignition / fuelling. Do the plugs spark? Did you check the fuel pump relay?

The Big Red Button

unkel wrote: »

I doubt it's the battery. That it lets you have 20 attempts at starting the engine shows it's in pretty good nick

Could be a lot of things though. My first guess would be ignition / fuelling. Do the plugs spark? Did you check the fuel pump relay?

Ha yeah I was thinking the 20 attempts at starting probably isn't a good thing for the car!

Getting her serviced tomorrow to see what the story is. Really hope it's something easily fixed - she's a great wee car and I don't want to get rid of her just yet!

no1beemerfan

To me it sounds like a sensor issue, the starter motor going, loose wiring or mabey a coil pack going. I'd need to actually have the car physically in front of me to know exactly as there are a number of issues that stop a car starting.

I'm a wee bit intrigued so keep us posted

The Big Red Button

no1beemerfan wrote: »

I'm a wee bit intrigued so keep us posted

The battery is, in the words of the mechanic, "w*nked"! So I need a new one. Also the oil was full of water (if that makes sense?!) Also I need new brake pads and discs. And spark plugs and various other bits and pieces.

chatterpillar wrote: »

Had a full service in September and passed the NCT after that.

Oh and turns out I was wrong about this. Turns out I haven't gotten her serviced since I bought her, 20,000 miles ago! I know that's really really bad, but I genuinely thought my dad had gotten her serviced when he was getting the NCT done (I was away at the time) ... apparently not though!

Looks like it's going to cost around €500 between everything. Guess it's worth it though if I get another couple of years out of her!

BostonB

I dunno this fascination with service. I bet not once do they check a battery top up the levels, or the alternator and check the output.

If you have a good battery but a poor connection it might let you for a long time but still not start it.