Car just died outside work

Matt82 · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:00

but still, if it got him to work then wouldnt start, that seems a bit off, more likely to be an electrical issue is my gut feeling.

as for temps going crazy... sounds like its looked after well lol

Hequn · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:13

Matt82 said:
but still, if it got him to work then wouldnt start, that seems a bit off, more likely to be an electrical issue is my gut feeling.

as for temps going crazy... sounds like its looked after well lol

its been serviced at the correct intervals, but its not been amazingly well looked after, my own fault blah blah

Matt82 · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:21

try and listen for that pump priming, should be a buzz that comes from the back for a few seconds when you turn the ignition on. even if thats the case youll need either a new relay or a fuse etc so rac help maybe necessary as theyll have more tools/parts and will know where to start looking to diagnose the issue. mention the cooling issue too, they may be able to do it all in one go

Thebug · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:44

How about the engine management light on the dash is that on at all?

Should look like this:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/Images/eng_man_light_72.jpg

Glaucus · 29 Oct 2007 at 12:52

with the new info about the cooling, you almost certainly have stupidly low levels of coolent, if you have a leak, then it wont necessaryly, replace liquid for the overflow bottle.

it won't be battery, by over heating it you could have knackered any number of things.

fuel pump is a good start, but before anything, top your rad up.

Hequn · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:07

"Thebug" said:
How about the engine management light on the dash is that on at all?

Should look like this:

http://www.theaa.com/motoring_advice/Images/eng_man_light_72.jpg

Can't see that at work

Hequn · 29 Oct 2007 at 13:09

AcidHell2 said:
with the new info about the cooling, you almost certainly have stupidly low levels of coolent, if you have a leak, then it wont necessaryly, replace liquid for the overflow bottle.

it won't be battery, by over heating it you could have knackered any number of things.

fuel pump is a good start, but before anything, top your rad up.

Ok thanks theres a petrol station a few seconds away, ill go grab some coolant at dinner.

BigglesPiP · 29 Oct 2007 at 16:43

Is it getting fuel? Remove a spark plug and smell it.

Is it getting a spark? Rest the plug on the block/head and crank it.

Hequn · 29 Oct 2007 at 17:38

oddly enough, after a little splutter it started up fine when i tried it in my dinner, sounded just like normal, didnt cut out or anything, ive bought some coolant to put in before i drive home anyway. so now thats happened anyone got any further ideas?

edit: off home in a minute, ill update later if i make it haha

Tom|Nbk · 29 Oct 2007 at 21:24

Hope he made it

Wicksta · 29 Oct 2007 at 21:30

Hequn said:
p.s. further to the coolant temp sensor idea, the car's temp gauge has been going crazy upto 100c when idling in any kind of traffic for more than a minute then the fan in the engine bay goes mental to reduce the temp back to normal as much as it can, im assuming that cant be good then? ive not had chance to book it into a garage or anything since that started as im working 9-6 every day

100 degrees isn't especially high, the water in a car is pressurised which means boiling point is higher than 100 degrees.

http://auto.howstuffworks.com/cooling-system3.htm

BigglesPiP · 29 Oct 2007 at 23:43

Engine's supposed to run that hot, in fact, if there was a cheap enough fluid that boiled at 150*C, they'd run engines at 150*C.

Hequn · 30 Oct 2007 at 08:00

Got home fine, car started first time when i went out to it and ran just as normal all the way home. Still gonna book it in for the garage on saturday as the rear bush arms need looking at so i'll ask them to have a peek then.

GeX · 30 Oct 2007 at 10:52

Acolyte said:
Fuel, Compression, Spark

Take your pick

why was this sound advice ignored? They'd be first three things to check, and by fuel - not fuel in the tank, fuel in the cylinders where it needs to be!

I don't know your engine at all, but if it were my car doing that then i'd be looking at the TDC sensor.

Hequn · 30 Oct 2007 at 11:03

GeX said:
why was this sound advice ignored? They'd be first three things to check, and by fuel - not fuel in the tank, fuel in the cylinders where it needs to be!

I don't know your engine at all, but if it were my car doing that then i'd be looking at the TDC sensor.

because i dont know what im doing so im booking it into the garage on saturday

Matt82 · 30 Oct 2007 at 11:18

and at the time he was at work, if it had been me i wouldnt have had the tools to get my plugs out, let alone test for a spark.

BigglesPiP · 30 Oct 2007 at 13:29

Matt82 said:
and at the time he was at work, if it had been me i wouldnt have had the tools to get my plugs out, let alone test for a spark.

You don't need tools to test for a spark.

With modern 8, 16, and even 32 Ampre coils, the engine bay is all full of spark if you just pull a plug lead off.