Hi everyone , I've got a problem with a 2001mk1 focus - 1.8 zetec - that I'd  like some advice on.

On Tuesday , my other half went to start the car but it just made rapid clicking noises. Tried rocking it in gear to see if the starter motor was stuck but with no joy. I wondered if the battery was dead so I charged it over night and stuck it back on this evening and lo and behold it started first time. Feeling rather chuffed with myself , I turned the engine off and tried it again and although it started straight away , it was sluggish to start with.......tried a 3rd time and nothing apart from the rapid clicking again. Could the battery die so instantly or do you think there could be another cause ? 

5 hours ago, Nomadpaul said:

Could the battery die so instantly or do you think there could be another cause ? 

A battery can die instantly. I had one, one cold start was fine, the next start just failed.

But dodgy starter motor solenoid or wiring to it can give the same symptoms you have described. Use the headlights to check if the battery voltage is falling fast. Or a voltmeter on the battery, ideally.

Thanks Peter for your reply. In the end I tested the battery for voltage and found it was only storing 10v which I think I read means one of the battery cells has failed.  Anyway , bought a new battery and it has been fine since. Amazing how the battery is fine one second , faulty the next. Thanks for your help anyway. 

More often than not, in my experience anyway, batteries just up and die rather than slowly getting weaker and weaker.  That's why I always say that the two most unpredictable things in cars are the batteries and belts, because either can suddenly go without warning, unlike most other parts which show warning signs in advance.