We have a '10 reg 1.6 Petrol Fiesta Titanium, a few days ago were driving and at moderate speed (30-40mph) noticed a rapid thudding sound as if there was a flat or maybe an exhaust problem, but there was no evidence of either. In any case it stopped soon after and has been fine until now.

Today, I've gone to start the car and nothing happens when you turn the key, apart from a very rapid thudding/clicking/hammering noise, almost like a pneumatic drill, from under the bonnet.

Any ideas what's going wrong? Hopefully a quick and easy fix, although might have to call on Ford Assistance anyway (never used them before so don't know if they'll attend to it on the driveway or not?).

That noise sounds like the one my old car made when the battery was nearly flat, and the starter motor didn't have enough power to turn the engine over. It may be nothing to do with this, but perhaps the first noise you heard was something to do with the alternator breaking so it hasn't been charging the battery? Real stab in the dark there!

Regarding Ford Assistance, from what I read a while ago I believe it's provided by the AA and is their standard breakdown cover with the home start extra, so yes they should come to your driveway.

Thanks Martyn, you're absolutely right. Called Ford Assistance and the AA guy was here very quickly, checked it over and sure enough the battery's knackered. There's nothing draining it and the connections are good so you're almost certainly on the right lines re the alternator conking out... Seems that the battery will be covered by warranty so I'll call the dealers on Monday and get it booked in and the alternator etc checked.

Turns out not so easy. Took the car into dealer Monday evening, was told would be ready 3pm today. Called them at 4pm having not heard anything, I'm told they're going to leave it overnight and see how it is in the morning! Maybe hoping it'll get better by itself. They seem hell bent on refusing to change the battery (even though the AA guy left me with the report of the 3 tests he'd done, each showing around 60 SAE(A) against a rating of 390 SAE(A), and the message "replace battery"). I guess they're hoping they can somehow get it to hold enough charge to drive out of there in the hopes it'll be out of warranty when it fails again.

They haven't even looked at what might have caused it yet, and it's been there 24 hours. Guess I'll have to be a bit patient, and hope (against the indications so far) they know what they're doing and manage to find and fix the fault. The irony is we bought a new car on the basis it would be more reliable!! Had it less than a year and it's already been back to the dealers twice.

:(