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Original poster

Car non starter

15 replies

UrsulaBursula · 07/06/2022 16:12

On the school run this morning my car broke down. No indication of any problem - just shut off and wouldn’t start again. This hasn’t happened before but after checking online it seems it may be a fault with the battery. I had to park it and leave it as I had a day of errands to run and get to work. I’m going to attempt to start it up when I go to collect it in about an hours time but I’m wondering; do you think it will start up and drive me and DC home or will I most likely need to buy a new battery?

OP posts:
LIZS · 07/06/2022 16:16

Do you have any roadside cover? It may need a start from another battery to get it going, then a drive to recharge. It might be a low battery charge or the alternator failing to charge it up as you drive. Likely to recur either way.

MarmiteOnToast · 07/06/2022 16:18

Could be an issue with your key /immobiliser.
Is it turning over?

Hardertobreathe · 07/06/2022 16:18

Are you friendly with any other parents who you could ask to give you a jump start? Or if you parked near a house you could knock & ask?
DH would happily jump start someone’s car for them, we’ve been in that sort of situation in the past. Or are you in the AA or something?
if it’s the battery I’m not convinced it will just start if it didn’t have enough oomph to drive, but you might get lucky. Fingers crossed.

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8thecake · 07/06/2022 16:19

This is very much a how long is a piece of string question.
It might start it might not, you might not a new battery you might not. Get it looked at by a mechanic is the best bet and if you have a portable jump kit definetly take it with you or as PP said roadside cover.

Original poster
UrsulaBursula · 07/06/2022 16:22

Thanks all. I have roadside recovery but was hoping for a quick fix as I’m knackered and will have to go with my children on the bus to get the car then if it doesn’t work - wait for roadside recovery with the kids in the car. After a long day I just want to drive it home 😢

I will see what I can do and ask around if someone could help.

The key is going inside the ignition and turning however it’s just making a ticking sound and the lights on the dashboard and flickering but the engine won’t start.

OP posts:
User310 · 07/06/2022 16:24

That is what had happened to mine the 2 times I needed a new battery.

AA will supply one but they are around £140.

Shade17 · 07/06/2022 16:54

A knackered battery is unlikely to cause a running car to just stop, a failed alternator would do that once the battery had discharged to a certain level but the charge indicator light would be lit on the dash.

Original poster
UrsulaBursula · 07/06/2022 17:01

Thanks for the suggestions. I honestly have no clue what it could be. The car is relatively new (late 2018) and I have only had it for about a year so I’m stumped what it could be.

No warning lights came on until the car shut off then when I tried turning the key; the engine was clicking and then all the lights on the dashboard flickered.

OP posts:
MumE78 · 07/06/2022 17:11

Your battery light would have been on if that was the issue
When was the cam belt last changed?
Or even the just the drive belt?

Original poster
UrsulaBursula · 07/06/2022 17:13

@MumE78

i haven’t changed anything yet as it’s coming up to a year since I bought the car from the dealership

haven’t had a reason to change any belts as the car has driven fine until today 😢

OP posts:
Tomikka · 07/06/2022 18:06

The recovery will get you a level of diagnosis of the fault
As a minimum you will have someone there who can work out the problem, and be able to tow you home if not resolved

If it can be sorted they will endeavour to do so, but if you can’t / don’t want to pay now for a battery if that’s the problem then you would have it confirmed, be towed home and can deal with it later

Tomikka · 07/06/2022 18:09

(Note that if work needs doing then you have the option of being towed to a garage or home, if you opt for home and it’s undrivable then their could be an extra expense later for a garage to tow from home)

whatdoidonowffs · 07/06/2022 18:22

Sounds like alternator
did the steering seem heavy before it stopped ?

Original poster
UrsulaBursula · 07/06/2022 19:44

Hi all
thank you for the advice. It turns out the battery died but as soon as we got in; the car started and got us home.

strangely, the battery light showed up initially after starting up the motor however disappeared after 2 minutes. Think I will have it looked at to avoid this happening again

OP posts:
Shade17 · 07/06/2022 20:13

That doesn’t sound like a battery issue, I wonder if it could be a loose battery terminal connection or similar.

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