Car Not Starting : Ignition Problem?

Warling00

Warling00

Warling00

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Joined
17 Oct 2004
Posts
7
Basically ive got a 1997 R reg Clio, 1.2, and i tried to start it up this morning with no luck. I turn the key all the way and just nothing, no "rrr-rrr-rrr-rrr" and certainly no "vroom", the engine just doesn't do anything and the rev meter doesn't move at all either.

The lights on the dashboard come on, along with the headlights and radio, so im guessing its not the battery?

Anyone got any ideas what it could be and how much it'll cost? i only just passed my test yesterday and now my cars broke :(
 
my megane has done the same thing before, either leave it and the problem fixed it self. or more weirdly, dont know if it will work for you. hold the horn down and at the same time, with horn going try to start the engine and should work. no idea why.
 
it might still be the battery as the radio and headlights don't need that much power
Try jump starting it or a another battery
 
My 205 DT does this often. Though you can hear the starter motor click when you turn the key.

It's either the starter, battery or a bad earth somewhere.
 
Warling00 said:
Basically ive got a 1997 R reg Clio, 1.2, and i tried to start it up this morning with no luck. I turn the key all the way and just nothing, no "rrr-rrr-rrr-rrr" and certainly no "vroom", the engine just doesn't do anything and the rev meter doesn't move at all either.

The lights on the dashboard come on, along with the headlights and radio, so im guessing its not the battery?

Anyone got any ideas what it could be and how much it'll cost? i only just passed my test yesterday and now my cars broke :(
Click to expand...

Do you hear a low-pitched whine? I.e. the fuel pump? Does the starter motor turn over?

I'll assume that you don't get any noise, but if the lights come on I'd say the battery is ok. What you can do to test, is turn the ignition so that the electrics are on and have someone stand at the front of the car. Turn the dipped beams on and turn the igntion on. If it's the battery they will dim.

But I'm going to go with either a bad earth or a knackered starter motor. You could try cleaning the terminals on the current starter if you like. :)
 
not sure if it applies to the clio mk2 or not, but the mk1 had flimsy starter motor connectors. could simply be a case of reconnecting them :)
 
When u try to start the car does all the lights and the dash go out, if so i'd say this is the battery similar problem with my renualt 5, the lights on the dash would come on but when i went to start, no starter motor turned all the lights on the dash went out.

thedazman
 
do you hear a click when you first turn the ignition?

possibly sounds like a seized starter solenoid to me, try hitting it with a hammer :) worked on our old chevy motorhome
 
Either dead battery, bad earth (unlikely if it's never given you problems and you have't touched the wires) or it's a dead solenoid.

Stick some jump leads on it and whack some charge in, if that doesn't do it try a new solenoid (£15) if not then try a new starter motor which will be about £50.
 
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