I have a VW Polo 2001 and it always starts without any problems, after not using the car for about 10 days today I was trying to start the engine for at least 2-3 minutes, at the end it started but now I'm thinking if I should change the battery, I've just tried again and it started without any problems again.
My car almost did not start today - change the battery or not?
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If it was cranking for 2-3 minutes it's unlikely to be a problem with the battery.
Will be down to other issues. Petrol or Diesel?
Will be down to other issues. Petrol or Diesel?
Why do people instantly blame the battery?
If the engine is cranking at the normal speed then the battery should be providing sufficient power to start the car.
You don't have a PC that hangs on boot and instantly think "Ah, that'll be the PSU" do you? Use simple process of elimination to find out where the weak link in the chain is.
If the engine is cranking at the normal speed then the battery should be providing sufficient power to start the car.
You don't have a PC that hangs on boot and instantly think "Ah, that'll be the PSU" do you? Use simple process of elimination to find out where the weak link in the chain is.
Actually... that'd be one of the first things I'd try. But then, people always have neglected the PSU, when in reality its possibly the most single important component
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Be sure to run it long enough to ensure you don't end up with a flat battery.
This is strange as it did look like it was battery releated, however Im not an expert and thats why I came here to get some advice. It did sound like there was just not enough of power to start the engine.
I do not know what you mean by 'engine is cranking' as the engine sounds just normal.
Also I remember once long time ago when I was sleeping in a van overnight and I had the radio on all the time, in the morning the engine would almost not start, luckly it did at the end, it was just almost the same this time.
I do not know what you mean by 'engine is cranking' as the engine sounds just normal.
Also I remember once long time ago when I was sleeping in a van overnight and I had the radio on all the time, in the morning the engine would almost not start, luckly it did at the end, it was just almost the same this time.
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Cranking = Turning over with the starter motor. As it was doing it for "2-3 minutes" There is nothing wrong with the battery as already stated, if there was it would stop after a couple of attempts.
For a dying battery to crank an engine for 3 minutes is a sterling effort. Was it really 3 minutes of solid cranking!?
If you are sure it was cranking significantly slower than normal, then yes I would check the battery terminals are free from corrosion, the earth lead is not significantly deteriorated, and then look at replacing the battery
If you are sure it was cranking significantly slower than normal, then yes I would check the battery terminals are free from corrosion, the earth lead is not significantly deteriorated, and then look at replacing the battery
apatia,
I think we had exactly the same problem with my g/f's Polo. Hers is a 55-plate 1.2 64PS model, petrol. The lights came on on the dashboard as normal, the car would crank but wouldn't catch. I tried jumpstarting it, in case it was some sort of voltage issue as I had no idea what her starter motor sounded like. Still no joy.
Eventually whilst cranking I pumped the acc. and the car kinda spluttered. This seemed promising so I started pumping the pedal rapidly and after a lot of spluttering the thing actually started. It has been running fine ever since.
A bloke at work has an 07-plate 1.0 Polo and has reported the same problem. Maybe they don't like being left out in the cold/damp!
I think we had exactly the same problem with my g/f's Polo. Hers is a 55-plate 1.2 64PS model, petrol. The lights came on on the dashboard as normal, the car would crank but wouldn't catch. I tried jumpstarting it, in case it was some sort of voltage issue as I had no idea what her starter motor sounded like. Still no joy.
Eventually whilst cranking I pumped the acc. and the car kinda spluttered. This seemed promising so I started pumping the pedal rapidly and after a lot of spluttering the thing actually started. It has been running fine ever since.
A bloke at work has an 07-plate 1.0 Polo and has reported the same problem. Maybe they don't like being left out in the cold/damp!
I've got a similar problem with my Rover. Starts up fine most of the time, but recently, after it starts, it just cuts out after a few seconds then won't start again, which is really annoying. Even pumping the pedal does nothing as it never gets close to starting after it dies.
I have exactly the same on my 54 plate Focus C-Max (petrol). A tad annoying, but once it does start, it'll be months before it becomes a pain to start again.