Car failing to start

Rob O brien · 24-11-2025 10:27PM #1

Hey, tonight my wife's opel mokka failed to start, when I stick the key in and turn the tries to start but isn't quite igniting.

I know I'll prob need to get jtntowed to a garage but thought I'd chance someone here has come across similar before.

Ive recorded what I'm hearing in the video below

https://youtube.com/shorts/Z0QtFXxccS8?si=uYv5z-0qxF8-e5Te

BlakeS94 · 25-11-2025 09:19AM

Probably not a coincidence it's when the cold weather hit, cranking sounds strong so my guess is glow plugs if it's a diesel

CPTM · 25-11-2025 09:32AM

Did you give the glow plugs a good chance to warm up? Just turn the key to ON without cranking for 15 seconds. Turn it off, turn it to ON a second time to give them a 2nd boost, then start cranking..

Rob O brien · 25-11-2025 11:43AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124016602#Comment_124016602

Hey, its a petrol engine. would a spark plug give the same issue?

Rob O brien · 25-11-2025 11:43AM

ill try that out later on, would it be a similar issue since its a petrol car?

Rob O brien · 25-11-2025 11:54AM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124016638#Comment_124016638

thanks ill try it, would it be similar in a petrol car?

blanchwill · 25-11-2025 12:09PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124017110#Comment_124017110

No petrol cars don't have glow plugs

o1s1n · 25-11-2025 12:16PM

Is this just not a flat battery due to the cold?

I've one of these on standby for whenever that happens.

https://www.halfords.ie/motoring/battery-maintenance/jump-starters/noco-gb40-1000a-jump-starter-721898.html

GavPJ · 25-11-2025 01:31PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/2058428899/car-failing-to-start

Your battery is dead. A cold snap like we are having at the minute will kill a weak battery.

Get someone to jump start it.

CPTM · 25-11-2025 02:02PM

It does sound like a dead battery. Don't forget that most insurance companies give free roadside assistance. The AA might be able to come out for free. Maybe check your policy

cml387 · 25-11-2025 02:20PM

Batteries start to fail after about five years. And cold weather will definitely find them out. If it's over five years old, change the battery and save yourself future grief.

o1s1n · 25-11-2025 02:26PM

Something handy by the way, my car has a parasitic draw on the battery that I can't figure out. I don't drive it much so the battery will have gone flat after two weeks of not driving.

I installed one of these on one of the battery terminals.

You just unscrew the green knob and it disconnects the battery from the car. The battery now lasts for an absolute age without dying as it's basically like it's just being stored.

When I want to drive it I just pop the hood, screw in the green dial and it connects back up again.

Saved me quite a few jump starts!

GPoint · 25-11-2025 04:12PM

are you getting sick of opening your bonnet at the start and end of your journeys

Also this will reset all settings in head units etc

o1s1n · 25-11-2025 04:14PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124017923#Comment_124017923

No as I only drive my car every couple of weeks or maybe even longer, sometimes once a month. I cycle everywhere. Car is only really for emergencies or if I need to move some items about.

Only down side is the clock on my radio having to be reset. I have a watch to deal with that 😁

I'd rather pop the bonnet and turn a screw then having to jump start it or go on a battery maintenance drive every couple of weeks just to charge it up.

cml387 · 25-11-2025 04:23PM

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/124017932#Comment_124017932

Have you tried fixing the problem? Put an ammeter in series with the battery and pull each fuse in turn until the current drops.

Car failing to start

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