Astra won't start - clicking noise

sbsquarepants

Hi,

Girlfriend has an 07 astra, low mileage and has never given any problems whatsoever. However yesterday, after being driving fine in the morning, it just refused to start in the afternoon, instead there is a loud clicking noise when the ignition key is turned and the engine doesn't make any attempt to turn.
Any ideas?

bcmf

Dead Battery. A bit of cold weather will drag an old battery down!

Alanstrainor

bcmf wrote: »

Dead Battery. A bit of cold weather will drag an old battery down!

Yup sounds like the battery alright

JR79

Same thing happened me a few months ago, Have an Astra as well.
Dead battery alright

Paparazzo

Yeah, definitely the battery not giving the starter enough power. You could charge the battery and get you through the rest of the cold weather this year, but better off just getting a new battery.

I had the same problem on my bike, i could almost tell when i'd have trouble starting it by checking the outside temperature! Got a new battery last week and not a bother on it.

sbsquarepants

Tried jumping it though and made no difference

bcmf

Just let the cables sit and charge the battery for a bit. The more you try and jump/start it the harder it will be.
Connect jump cables to a car with a decent battery.Start good car. leave for as long as possible.Before trying to jump the astra make sure all electrics int he astra are off.When the astra starts bring it for a good long drive.
Buy new battery.

marley123

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination BUT same thing happened to my jeep - had issues over couple of mths, needing constant jumps - then last wk just the loud clicking sound when trying to turn it over. turned out to be starter motor & zero issues since last wk when I had it replaced.

listermint

sbsquarepants wrote: »

Tried jumping it though and made no difference

it wont make much of a difference, get a new battery, Batterys last around6-8 years. if its the original in the car then just take it that it wont last forever.

things like car kits, badly fitted HIDs and aftermarket stereo / sound systems will bring this lifespan down

mickdw

Check if anything was left on first before getting a new battery.

sbsquarepants

Cool, thanks for the advice folks. I'll charge the battery up and hopefully that will be all it is. She only has the car about 18 months but it does look like the original battery alright.

cormie

If you're in Dublin and the recharge doesn't work, give boards.ie user Lucifer a shout, he's an opel mechanic based in D12 area.

Cedrus

The clicking is the starter solenoid trying to turn on the starter motor. The low tension side is working but there's not enough power in the battery to energise the high tension side.

Battery + 5 years + cold weather = New battery

You might be able to charge the battery overnight to keep going, but it'll get to be more and more hassle.

In an older car it could also be damaged/corroded HT leads or the motor itself but unlikely in an 07 (unless it's normally parked on a beach).

Shane Fitz

Cedrus wrote: »

The clicking is the starter solenoid trying to turn on the starter motor. The low tension side is working but there's not enough power in the battery to energise the high tension side.

Battery + 5 years + cold weather = New battery

You might be able to charge the battery overnight to keep going, but it'll get to be more and more hassle.

In an older car it could also be damaged/corroded HT leads or the motor itself but unlikely in an 07 (unless it's normally parked on a beach).

Quick question, I have been having similar issue with my 03 Almera, and am pretty much resigned to replacing the battery. So can those of you in the know give me an indication of prices I might expect, please.

Many Thanks

listermint

Shane Fitz wrote: »

Quick question, I have been having similar issue with my 03 Almera, and am pretty much resigned to replacing the battery. So can those of you in the know give me an indication of prices I might expect, please.

Many Thanks

40-60 bills for a battery, bring the old one with you they take that to recycling for you.

Alanstrainor

Quick question, if a battery is dead, but healthy, how long would it take to fully recharge? Would a 50 mile drive sort it out?

R.O.R

Alanstrainor wrote: »

Quick question, if a battery is dead, but healthy, how long would it take to fully recharge? Would a 50 mile drive sort it out?

Should do in less than 50 miles. I knew I finally had to replace the battery in the Honda after the 62km trip home didn't charge it enough to start again the next morning (thankfully I'd stuck the booster pack in the back seat just in case)

Alanstrainor

R.O.R wrote: »

Should do in less than 50 miles. I knew I finally had to replace the battery in the Honda after the 62km trip home didn't charge it enough to start again the next morning (thankfully I'd stuck the booster pack in the back seat just in case)

Cool, had the battery tested and it was fine, its less than a year old. I think its my aldi stereo that's drawing off it, will pop it out over the weekend and see what the story is! Cheers man!

sbsquarepants

Spot on folks, charged up the battery and it's starting up no prob. Hopefully it was just a light or something left on and nothing more serious.
Thanks for the help:D

fitz265

a clicking noise when starting i would say your starter wouldnt be in the best of health charging your battery wouldnt make a difference if the altinator wont do that for you when you jump start it and drive it

Twas a drained battery in this case, as suggested by folk.