'05 Ford Focus not starting this morning

WakaWaka88

Yesterday morning, when i went to start my car, it struggled but started. Same when i came out of work yesterday evening. Now this morning it won't start at all. I don't think it's my battery as when i put the key in and turn it, all the lights light up on the dash as they normally do. When i turn the key it just sounds like it wants to start but no go! Any ideas? I have AA cover so I think that's my best option at the minute

biko

Bad batteries don't like this cold.

megafan

Yep Battery! well would nearly put money on it.... How old is the battery?

WakaWaka88

Thought that with the lights coming on that meant healthy battery? Sorry lads, totally useless with cars. The battery is in it since i bought the car 13 months ago, so whenever it was put in before that I would imagine. Would a jump start sort me out?

R.O.R

"When i turn the key it just sounds like it wants to start but no go!"

So, the engine is turning over, but not firing like it should? If it's turning over but not catching, it's not the battery, and a jump won't help it there.

Henry Ford III

WakaWaka88 wrote: »

Thought that with the lights coming on that meant healthy battery? Sorry lads, totally useless with cars. The battery is in it since i bought the car 13 months ago, so whenever it was put in before that I would imagine. Would a jump start sort me out?

It's most likely a failing battery ok. Lights mean nowt.

biko

This same question comes up every time it gets cold. Battery has enough juice to light up the dash lights but not to crank engine.

Irish weather is very forgiving since it doesn't get cold often so people drive around with old batteries that would have been recycled in Russia and other really cold countries.

WakaWaka88

R.O.R wrote: »

"When i turn the key it just sounds like it wants to start but no go!"

So, the engine is turning over, but not firing like it should? If it's turning over but not catching, it's not the battery, and a jump won't help it there.

So what would your opinion be?

R.O.R

WakaWaka88 wrote: »

So what would your opinion be?

If the engine is turning over, but not catching like it should, then that sounds like an issue with the fuel getting through.

That exhausts the extent of my mechanical knowledge :pac:

langdang

R.O.R wrote: »

If the engine is turning over, but not catching like it should, then that sounds like an issue with the fuel getting through.

That exhausts the extent of my mechanical knowledge :pac:

Same thing happened me a few times recently, a weak battery is far more likely. A jump start would be a cheap way of confirming, as long as no damage was done. Unfortunately some modern cars dont always like a jump start, eg smart charge fords.

WakaWaka88

Turns out the battery was goosed, started straight away with a jump and is currently having a new battery fitted, thanks chaps

R.O.R

Glad it was something simple, and relatively cheap.

langdang

WakaWaka88 wrote: »

Turns out the battery was goosed, started straight away with a jump and is currently having a new battery fitted, thanks chaps

Dunno if your machine has a smart charge alternator - read up on it if you do. Apparently a jump start/flat battery/very cold battery can cause some alternator weirdness.