Hi,

I've made an account here as I can't find any help elsewhere. I've been having an issue with my car for a few weeks now and can't get it looked at due to the current issue.

When I go to start the car it doesn't, at first I thought it was a battery issue but the electronics of the car all work fine (lights and usb ports).

With some help from family, we think its either the starter motor or the alternator which is causing the problem.

Anyone have any ideas?

Have you tried jump starting it from another car?

 

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21 minutes ago, TomsFocus said:

Have you tried jump starting it from another car?

 

 

Sorry should've mentioned this. Yes i have tried it but after a few days it happens again and requires another jump start

If it jumps starts ok it is definitely not a starter motor problem

Sounds like battery or alternator or is something left on draining the battery. If car is 2017 I would have thought battery or alternator should not have failed

21 minutes ago, isetta said:

Sounds like battery or alternator or is something left on draining the battery. If car is 2017 I would have thought battery or alternator should not have failed

I took it to a garage that was open about 2 weeks ago and did a battery test, everything came back good. We did a test this morning to see if anything still charges or on and nothing is taking power.

Can you actually describe what happens when you try to start it. Does the starter motor make a 'normal' noise or a different noise, or no noise at all? When you attach the jump leads, do you wait 10.minutes for it to give the battery some charge THEN start it? If yes, does it start OK? If it does, then I suggest putting the battery on charge overnight and see how it goes. . 🤔 

'did a test this morning to see if anything still charges or on and nothing is taking power' 

Can you explain what your test was? Have you got access to a voltmeter/multimeter? 

1 minute ago, nicam49 said:

Can you actually describe what happens when you try to start it. Does the starter motor make a 'normal' noise or a different noise, or no noise at all? When you attach the jump leads, do you wait 10.minutes for it to give the battery some charge THEN start it? If yes, does it start OK? If it does, then I suggest putting the battery on charge overnight and see how it goes. (so few car owners seem to have battery chargers anymore.. 🤔) 

when it refuses to start it makes a sort of ticking noise (Its a keyless car fyi) kind of like when you try to light a gas oven. When this first started it would start immediately when jumping it, today however we had to wait a few mins for it to start.

Tbh, it DOES sound like battery is low on charge... Can you borrow a battery charger and give it a few hours charge. I'm assuming all battery connectors are tight? 

5 minutes ago, nicam49 said:

Tbh, it DOES sound like battery is low on charge... Can you borrow a battery charger and give it a few hours charge. I'm assuming all battery connectors are tight? 

I dont and have no idea where i would get one. Also if it was the battery, wouldn't none of the electric work? (I no absolutely nothing about cars)

Cranking the engine takes a lot of Amps in a short space of time, the electrics draw lower loads over a longer time I believe, so a battery might have sufficient energy to run 12v electrics, it might not have enough oomph to turn the engine over. 

I'm sure I butchered that explanation though.

But as nicam49 states, a battery charger would help towards figuring out if it's just more than a flat battery. Or running the car for 20 minutes, if you can jump start it.

Can you borrow the battery that you're using to jump start and fit it in place of your own just to see... 

Battery charger... Argos,  Halfords, was a time when every car owner would also own a battery charger.. almost mandatory! 🙂

also Euro car parts (free Same day delivery over £15 if you are in their van round area.). Or machine mart.  Starter motor uses vast amount of power compared to lights etc.    Rough alternator test. Start car when dark, warm up properly so tickover is low. Whilst engine is running on tickover turn everything electrical on, all lights, heater fAn, heated screen. Now increase throttle slightly, do headlamps go a bit brighter? If they do it does suggest the alternator is at least working to some degree.    Ps screwfix and toolstation do chargers also. I think people don’t often think of these two shops for car related stuff

If it has one, it could be a faulty starter solenoid or the connections on the starter and other connections on the solenoid are loose/dirty, look at these connections and tighten/clean and see if it cures the problem.