Car problems, maybe battery?

justshane

Hi all, i'm useless when it comes to cars so excuse my naivety. I used my car yesterday came home, and about half hour later went to start it again and it wouldn't. I didn't leave lights/radio on. It kind of makes a quick noise that lasts for a second but wont start. The lights switch on so does that mean it can't be the battery? Also i was thinking of trying to jump start it but my car is a 20v and i would be using a Seat inca to jump it, is that ok, enough power?

The car is a 97 Toyota Levin. Any help much appreciated thanks for your time!

aujopimur

Keep the Seat running while jumping, if it starts, it's either the battery or the alternator is faulty.
Your local motor factor will load test the battery for you, use a multi meter to check the alternator output.

Ronnie Beck

20 valve not 20 volt... Might be your starter motor. Does it just click or is turning the engine over.

justshane

Thanks my mistake! Kind of like a caclick if that makes sense?

Ronnie Beck

See if you can jump it. If not its the starter by the sounds of it. Might only be loose wires or dirty contacts. Twidling the wires while someone turn the ignition key might work.

Esel

justshane wrote: »

It kind of makes a quick noise that lasts for a second but wont start. The lights switch on so does that mean it can't be the battery?

A battery that is too weak to turn the starter could still have enough juice to power lights, horn etc.

Check that the connections at the battery are clean and tight.

The starter motor might be stuck. Rock the car in gear to see if that might free it.

You could also try tapping the starter motor with a hammer.

You could try to push-start it. Google how to do this if you're not sure. A hill is handy!

Jump-start. Again google if not sure of the sequence of how to make the connections with the jump leads. Just be sure to connect the negative jump lead to an earth point on the dead car - not to the negative terminal of the battery.