Focus not starting

inquisitive_emu · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:06

Gutted to wake up and find my car not starting this morning (Focus Mk1 1.8), it's not turning over, simply making a fast ticking noise while the dash lights flash. Any diagnosis's before I call a garage tomorrow? Cheers

Janesy B · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:07

Flat battery.

The battery doesn't have enough power to turn the starter motor so it will just click. This happened to my Fiesta and my Dad's Focus.

LEK-89 · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:09

Janesy B said:
Flat battery.

This.

Liam

inquisitive_emu · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:09

Sorry, forgot to mention tried to jump start it this morning but got nothing. Also headlights/interior lights still work, so I thought that wouldn't be it?

*Moangroan* · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:12

depends how flat....it may not jump start.

Janesy B · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:15

inquisitive_emu said:
Sorry, forgot to mention tried to jump start it this morning but got nothing. Also headlights/interior lights still work, so I thought that wouldn't be it?

I tried to jump mine when the battery died, you have to give the connectors a good wiggle to scratch through any corrosion or grease on the terminals otherwise it won't wanna know. Just replace the battery, it's probably going to do the same thing to you shortly.

LEK-89 · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:18

inquisitive_emu said:
Sorry, forgot to mention tried to jump start it this morning but got nothing. Also headlights/interior lights still work, so I thought that wouldn't be it?

My lights & interior lights still worked when the battery was nearly dead in my Peugeot 205 but the central locking & electric windows barely worked. As already mentioned you may as well just replace the battery.

Liam

inquisitive_emu · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:26

Fair enough, I'll try and give it another jump and/or get a new battery, cheers guys

Clarkey · 20 Oct 2010 at 21:37

Probably the battery died because of the cold snap. You'll need to replace it, but should be able to jump start it. You can jump just about anything, just make sure the leads have a good contact and rev the donor car for a few minutes before trying to crank.

Malc · 20 Oct 2010 at 23:01

The state of your car battery shouldn't make a difference on a jump start. You're just bypassing your battery and using the other car's.

Locky · 21 Oct 2010 at 09:43

Malc said:
The state of your car battery shouldn't make a difference on a jump start. You're just bypassing your battery and using the other car's.

This is true, but other factors come into play

1) the quality of the jump leads make a massive difference.
2) how good the contact is on each terminal
3) before trying to start, leave the donor car idle for a bit to get some charge into your batt, this will help.

Gaygle · 21 Oct 2010 at 09:50

Locky said:
1) the quality of the jump leads make a massive difference.
2) how good the contact is on each terminal
3) before trying to start, leave the donor car idle for a bit to get some charge into your batt, this will help.

This ^^

1 and 2 are often forgotten in particular - I remember when i had to jump start my car and it wouldn't work, i even left it connected for 5 minutes to the donor car. When the RAC man turned up he just laughed at my puney jump leads and proceeded to fit his own and within a minute the car was started.

Leave good quality cables attached from the running donor car for 5 minutes before attempting to start yours.

Dutch Guy · 21 Oct 2010 at 10:12

As said, dead battery or malfunctioning security system blocking startup.