Car won't start

Wossi

Wossi

Wossi

Soldato
Joined
27 Oct 2003
Posts
4,996
Location
East Mids.
My sisters car seems to have a problem starting when it's cold outside. I just went to try it myself and it doesn't even try to tick over. When you turn the key nothing happens at all not even a sound. Could this be the starter freezing up in the cold and if so, is there a semi-easy way of getting it started just so we can move it so I can leave the house in the morning as her car is currently blocking me in.

As soon as the weather is slightly warmer the car starts first time no problem.
 
Just so you know, ticking over is what a car does when it is running. Idling is another word for it.
You mean "turn over" which is when the engine is cranking, - ie it is trying to start but not acually firing.

As beermonster says, it sounds like the battery is flat. Are the dashboard lights dimming/not coming on when you turn the key? That's always a giveaway.

You may get some joy from a jump or bump start, or charging the battery for a few hours. Cold weather tends to expose weak batteries and kill off the ones that are past their best.
 
Lopéz said:
You may get some joy from a jump or bump start, or charging the battery for a few hours. Cold weather tends to expose weak batteries and kill off the ones that are past their best.
Click to expand...

This saves me typing. :p
 
Wossi said:
My sisters car seems to have a problem starting when it's cold outside. I just went to try it myself and it doesn't even try to tick over. When you turn the key nothing happens at all not even a sound. Could this be the starter freezing up in the cold and if so, is there a semi-easy way of getting it started just so we can move it so I can leave the house in the morning as her car is currently blocking me in.

As soon as the weather is slightly warmer the car starts first time no problem.
Click to expand...

Probably battery as said but when I had this problem on my 205 years ago, I replaced the starter motor (which involved a new connection of course). This fixed it and it started flawlessly in all conditions; whether it was the connection or a duff motor I don't know as I replaced the whole unit.
 
The blue solenoid wire on the 205 corrodes at the terminal which is what causes the majority of "broken" starter motors on any XU engined Peugeot.
 
All the lights on the dash work when you turn the key, not sure about the headlights though. I could try giving it a jump start when I get home to see if that helps.
 
Wossi said:
All the lights on the dash work when you turn the key, not sure about the headlights though. I could try giving it a jump start when I get home to see if that helps.
Click to expand...

It'll be very likely that a jump start will work. My old motor had the same problem. Lights and dashboard would work, but the damn thing refused to ignite. I replaced the battery and it worked again, but then a couple of weeks later, the starter motor went :p

Last time I ever buy French.
 
Mine's getting like this, only had a new battery a couple of years ago annoyingly. Will have to get round to looking at it.
 
It's not the battery, I had forgot we had bought a new battery for the car last week and that didn't work, looks like possibly the starter motor? Either way, the car isn't going anywhere right now.
 
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