Help, car won't start

tonyheaney

Hi my car was all fine and dandy until 1 am today. I reversed out and then realised i was only going back because of the hill. my mate gave me a gentle push and the car started up fine. 15 minutes late i arrived to collect my daughter. the car was turned off waiting and then wont start again. so i some how pushed it and started it. it happened again at 10ish tonight when i drove to Tesco. went in came out car wouldn't start. i managed to get home and then the car wound start again. now its dead. I asked my friend for jump lead which he didn't have but instead he gave me them portable charger you plug to the battery and to the house mains. its been charging for at least 20 good minutes and when i went out to start the car it just made the start up sound but didn't start.

The pic below is what is showing up on my board. its very blurry but

• the red blurry image is the battery,
• the green blurry image is the lights,
• the Yellow blurry image is the engine management light,

This photo is the charging device im using:

I have two children that need the car for school and im at my wits end as i only recently had the head gasket fixed and i only had the car a few months. I'm recently unemployed and don't have the money. Id really appreciate any help and advice you can give.

chickenbone

Sounds like you need a new battery.

tonyheaney

chickenbone wrote: »

Sounds like you need a new battery.

Hi chickenbone thanks for replying, im going out of my mind. Since i got the car my poor old bicycle has gathered rust. I don't know what to do im going Gray and bald. One question Cigarette lighter receptacle pretty much never worked from day one i managed one charge a few weeks ago and it no worked since. could this be draining the battery? Its a panda so any idea how m uch id be looking at? also i know Fix It Again Tomorrow lol I have heard them all :rolleyes::(:(

CiniO

If your car can't start few minutes after it was parked, then I doubt anything draining the battery could really matter.
Your batter is dead or is not being charged at all.
This can be checked with something as simple as multimeter which you can buy for below 10 euro in most electronic shops.
If voltage on the battery when car is running is below 14V then most likely your alternator is gone. If that's not the case (and when running voltage is above 14V, and voltage on your battery when car is off is below 11V then it's most likely dead battery.

Batteries are not that expensive so don't worry. It shouldn't cost more than 50- 60 quid.

PS - In the future when you have problems with starting a car or problem with battery, don't try to start it with your lights on. It certainly doesn't help.
Ideally when battery is bad, before tuning on iginition you turn off lights on, you turn off your fan, wipers, radio and any other possible electric devices.

O.A.P

Before spending any money just make sure that the positive and negative cables are tightly connected to the battery.

tonyheaney

Hi guys thanks for your advice really appreciate it. I just went i out to try and start the car and the engine makes the im starting noise (i really sound like a newbie) but doesn't start. note from the more clear pic the lights when the key is turned. At most been charging an hour.

NOW the battery charger says fully charged but its not starting. if it was the alternator would this be the reason the engine worn t turn over? what would one of these cost?

here is the new pic of lights:

roverrules

I would leave it on charge at least overnight on the trickle setting.

Doesn't sound as if you've done many miles since it first went flat and probably needs a good run next time it's going

mickdw

If its making the starting noise as you say and is making that noise as fast as it normally would, well you have an issue other than battery or alternator.
What car is it?
Petrol or diesel?

tonyheaney

roverrules wrote: »

I would leave it on charge at least overnight on the trickle setting.

Doesn't sound as if you've done many miles since it first went flat and probably needs a good run next time it's going

it been driven since 9am this morning on and off through out the day

tonyheaney

mickdw wrote: »

If its making the starting noise as you say and is making that noise as fast as it normally would, well you have an issue other than battery or alternator.
What car is it?
Petrol or diesel?

FIAT PANDA 2004 (169)
1.1 (54Hp) petrol

*Kol*

I had a similar problem. It was the battery. I got a decent one in a motor factors for €60.

tonyheaney

*Kol* wrote: »

I had a similar problem. It was the battery. I got a decent one in a motor factors for €60.

so you think it could be battery not alternator or plugs?

goz83

If you get it to a motor factors, or car garage, they will tell you straight away if it's a battery, or alternator issue. Pray for the former.

tonyheaney

goz83 wrote: »

If you get it to a motor factors, or car garage, they will tell you straight away if it's a battery, or alternator issue. Pray for the former.

sadly its dead on its wheels and will not start
what do i do?

Kevin McCloud

tonyheaney wrote: »

sadly its dead on its wheels and will not start
what do i do?

Get a jump start in the morning.

i57dwun4yb1pt8

battery 60 quid , refurbed alternator about 150- 200 quid

both approx 200 - 250 quid

(if its not anything else .)

i would get both ( if the battery is the original 04 )

tonyheaney

What theoretically would he process of getting rid of car. Serious question here and i know jumping the gun but im crapping myself haven't had the car a year and i already had the head gasket done and wishbone.

cletus

Take the weekend to get somebody with a multimeter and check the village on the battery. Or do it yourself, there's about 1000 videos on YouTube showing how.

It would be crazy to sell a car because on a bad battery, and in my opinion only slightly less crazy to sell it because of the alternator