help with my car please!!!!

[gardeningmum05]

dadsnetters, i need your help. just gone to my heap of a car and it wont start! when i turn the key, absolutely nothing no sound at all.
any suggestions as to why gratefully received!

Battery is dead if there is no sound at all and the lights or radio don't work either.

Where are you?

Just seen that you're in Nottingham - so I can't physically help.

Do you have a set of jump leads and another car or a friendly neighbour with a car??

but can a battery do that,wouldnt there be some kind of warning? i did not leave the lights on. there is absolutely no sound

the lights or radio do not work so it must be the battery, thankyou 27T.
not the end of the world, have some jump leads so can jump it when other half gets home.
will i need a new battery?

The root of it could be your alternator dying (expensive unfortunately if you take it to a garage) - the car would then work normally until the battery drained down. Or it could be an interior light left on.

The thing to do is get it started either by jumping it or charging the battery up. There are then tests that can be done. If it is a new alternator then it is an easy job if you are reasonably handy with a spanner.

Happy to talk you through it all.

If it is the alternator you will probably not need a battery (but if the battery was on the way out this will kill it off).

If it is just the battery drained down by a light etc then you will just need to charge it and see how it goes.

If the battery is dead and there's nothing else wrong then I recommend the batteries at Costco.

What have been your patterns of use of the car over the last two weeks??

interior light not left on. will jump it later and take it from there.
thanks for all your advise, really appreciate it

just use it as a runaround really, go out in it maybe 3 or 4 times a week but only for short journeys. not been at work this week so furthest journey it has had since a week last wednesday is a couple of miles at a time.

Is it manual or automatic?

manual, mondeo 1995, pre war model

Oh, OK. I only ask cos my car is an automatic and if it is left in gear then it will not start and makes no noise at all as you described. Had a mild panic the first time it happened, dp is the culprit of leaving it in gear!! Good luck, hope it turns out to be something inexpensive!!

The short journeys are a bit of a battery killer if the battery is old. Especially in cold weather and with the lights on.

1995 isn't an old Ford. My daily driver is a 1955 Anglia and I have a 1927 Model T. Both super reliable.

thanks for the help, will jump it later, take it for a run and see if it starts tomorrow morning. if it does then touch wood and see how it goes. if it doesnt start then a new battery.
can any one shop at costco, dont you need a card or something

just had a thought, when i went to my car the boot had been left open,not shut down properly. i am sure there is a light in the boot, so does it come on as soon as the boot is opened, if so that would flatten the battery wouldnt it

That'd would do it if it was left for a few hours. All being well you can either charge the battery (best option) or jump it and take it for a run.

Fingers crossed

i will let you know
thanks for all your help

thankyou once ahain for all your advise. jumped the car and it seems better now
even treated it to a wash
happy motoring dadsnetters